What is a common use of laxatives?

Laxatives are commonly used to facilitate bowel movements and help empty the intestines before surgical procedures. This is important because a clear bowel can reduce the risk of complications during surgery, such as injury to bowel tissue or contamination of the surgical area. Ensuring the bowel is empty allows surgeons better access and visualization during procedures that may involve the gastrointestinal tract.

In contrast, other options do not align with the primary purpose of laxatives. For example, promoting weight gain is not a typical use for laxatives, as they do not contribute to weight increase and may actually lead to weight loss due to fluid expulsion. Similarly, laxatives do not treat urinary incontinence, which is a separate medical issue requiring different types of medications or interventions. Lastly, an increase in abdominal discomfort is also not a goal of laxative use; rather, effective laxatives should relieve discomfort associated with constipation. Thus, the role of laxatives in facilitating emptying before procedures stands out as the accurate and relevant application.