Talking about poo might still feel taboo, but two female entrepreneurs say that silence could be dangerous.
Holly Brooke and Joely Walker, founders of gut health brand We Are Regular, say embarrassment around bowel habits is leaving women suffering in silence and, in some cases, ignoring potential warning signs.
The venture has already attracted attention on social media, with celebrity fans including Vogue Williams and Kimberley Walsh.
“We’re taught from a young age that it’s dirty and shameful,” Walker tells The Standard. “It’s seen as unfeminine, which is obviously nonsense, but that stigma sticks.”
The pair, who have known each other since their teens, launched the brand after struggling with their own digestive issues, including chronic constipation and bloating.
Brooke, who has experienced chronic constipation since she was a teenager, says it once meant going to the toilet as little as once every seven to 10 days.
“I was told again and again that this was my normal,” Brooke says. “But I knew something wasn’t right.”
Their experience reflects a wider issue. The founders say a survey of 100 women found that 74 per cent wanted to be more regular, but many felt unable to talk openly about it, even with partners.
“There’s a huge gap between what people are experiencing and what they feel comfortable saying out loud,” Walker says.
As part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, the pair are now promoting a “Check Your Poo” campaign, encouraging people to pay closer attention to changes in their bowel habits.
Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer, with someone diagnosed every 12 minutes. Yet if caught early, around nine in 10 cases are treatable.
“The reality is, it’s one of the easiest ways to spot changes in your health,” Walker says. “But people either don’t know what to look for or feel too uncomfortable to check.”
Warning signs can include blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, fatigue or persistent changes in bowel habits.
“Don’t be alarmed, be informed,” Walker says. “Having symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer, but knowing what’s normal for you is really important.”
For Brooke and Walker, humour has become a way to cut through the discomfort. From stopping strangers in the street to ask about their bowel habits to holding signs reading “Have you pooed today?”, they have leaned into the awkwardness to start conversations.
“It sounds silly, but humour really helps,” they say. “Once people start talking about it, you realise everyone has a story.”
They now hope to take that message further, including into schools, where they believe early education could help tackle stigma early.
“We want the next generation to grow up without that shame,” Walker adds. “Because ultimately, it’s just a normal bodily function, and talking about it could genuinely save lives.”
