How often is a client advised to irrigate their colostomy?

Irrigating a colostomy is typically recommended to help manage bowel function, allowing for greater control over when and how often a person has a bowel movement. The most common advice is to perform this irrigation once a day. This frequency is sufficient for most individuals to maintain regular bowel elimination and to help keep the stoma clean and functioning properly.

Irrigation typically takes place during a specific time of day that the individual finds convenient, which can help in developing a routine. Once-daily irrigation also minimizes the stress of managing bowel movements and allows for more predictable lifestyle planning.

Daily irrigation is more than adequate for most clients, as excessive irrigation could lead to over-distension of the bowel or may cause discomfort. Therefore, recommending once daily supports both health management and personal comfort.