Natalya Konyukhova, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist at SM-Clinic in St. Petersburg, has set out what she says is the correct way to handle a sudden urge to pass gas at an awkward moment. She shared the advice in an interview with the Russian news outlet Lenta.ru.
Konyukhova told people caught off guard by the need to pass gas to follow what she called the "three P" rule, a mnemonic built from the Russian words for feeling the problem, stopping the conversation and heading to an empty corridor. In practice, she said, that means noticing the urge, cutting the conversation short and moving to a private, empty space before letting the gas out.
Why holding it in isn't the answer
Konyukhova said the rule against passing gas in front of other people is sacred, but stressed that everyone also has a duty to themselves to release gas that has built up in the intestine regularly and promptly, rather than holding it in indefinitely. The key, she said, is simply to do it somewhere private.
Flatulence is a normal byproduct of digestion, produced as bacteria in the gut break down food, particularly certain carbohydrates and fibers that are not fully absorbed in the small intestine. Most people pass gas multiple times a day as part of ordinary digestive function.
Diet tips to cut the risk
To lower the chances of being caught out by a sudden attack, Konyukhova advised paying closer attention to diet, especially ahead of important meetings or events. She recommended cutting back on foods she described as hidden gas producers, naming sorbitol, fructose and legumes eaten in large quantities as key culprits to watch.
The advice follows earlier comments from gastroenterologist Felice Schnoll-Sassman, who identified the causes of persistent gas and linked frequent flatulence to specific dietary habits.
