What is it that takes so long when women use the toilet?

[Houdi]

I don't mean when they're hanging around near the sinks chatting and brushing their hair to the sound of other women urinating and defecating (although that still baffles me), I mean when they're actually in the cubicle. The queues for the ladies toilets are always really long. I can use the loo in less than 30 seconds so what takes other women 10 times as long?

[Octavius]

Perhaps they just don't realise that you are standing outside with a stopwatch and are enjoying a quiet moment to themselves.

Wow, less than 30 seconds eh. You must be very proud.

[Houdi]

Not a stopwatch, just a full bladder lol. Perhaps they should enjoy their quiet moment somewhere slightly less inconvenient :o)

[CheekyChops]

Women don't usually defecate in public toilets, that's a man thing :-D

We can't just unzip and lob it out you know, we have to pull down or even remove clothing sometimes. For example, I have a pair of trousers which involve a zip, a button, two hooks and eyes and two buckles to undo them. This can take a few minutes, especially after a few drinks!

I agree that women wearing skirts or dresses could be quicker!

[Houdi]

That makes sense and would explain women taking perhaps twice as long as men but, for example, I had to wait 45 minutes to use the loo at a concert recently when there were no queues at the gents at all. I always wear jeans or trousers at concerts but I couldn't find something to keep me busy in a filthy portaloo for more than 3 minutes even if I wanted to. I'm sure there's some secret activity that I'm blissfully unaware of...

[piggling]

Could be something to do with the fact that while there are several urinals in a mens loo as well as 1/2 cubilcles, there are often only 1/2 cublicles in the ladies - so maybe four times as many men can use theirs at a time, therefore making longer queues.

[Velvetee]

I'm a woman and it baffles me too. You can expect to wait at least 5 minutes for a cubicle and I really cannot fathom why they would be in there so long.

The only time I might spend a little more time in a public toilet, is if I have the "painters" in and need to "organise" myself. Other than that, I'm in and out within 30 seconds.

[Lil O'lady]

The answer is, underpinnings. All that unwrapping and heaving-to of the extra strength lycra essentials takes time, a team of matelots and plenty of elbow room. Achieving this all alone in restricted space with a dirty floor, the need to hang on to your handbag and the need to keep the door shut with one arm requires at the very least, time. Give praise where it is due.

[mydogsandme]

maybe they all have irritable bowel syndrome like I do! It can take me 20 minutes sometimes,although thankfully mostly when I'm at home.

[Houdi]

I think these are all fair points - thanks! I think that the elaborate networks of trusses that hold some outfits together may be to blame as other factors don't seem to be gender specific. Given that there were exactly the same number of male and female portaloos, the only other factor I can think of is that there were more women there than men but this phenomena seems to occur at any and every busy event I attend regardless of gender balance. Perhaps there could be an alternative to the standard gents and ladies. The gents and ladies would be the usual kind of thing but the new 'fast-track' toilets would have an automatic door. It shuts when you go in and automatically opens 60 seconds later regardless of your state of undress. Perhaps I should patent that lol.

[Booldawg]

maybe they wash their hands after?

[Houdi]

These are toilet cubicles that don't have sinks on the inside.

[tara20]

I think the fact that men tend to "go" al fresco, (usually five minutes after you leave the bar/ restaurant/ whatever,) is
one reason for shorter queues.

[Houdi]

Another excellent point. thanks.

[pingping]

probably also something to do with the fact that men can just shake and zip. Us girlies require a bit of toilet paper, and if none there (as so often happens in public loos) we have to rifle around in the bottom of our handbags for a scrap of tissue...!

[karenmac60]

There is also the fact that if you're in a nightclub or something and there are only 2 cubicles, you can bet that there are 2 girls in one of them - one will be crying and the other will be saying 'he's not worth it'. So really, it's all men's fault... ;)

[Houdi]

Another great answer! This is certainly a girl thing.