Chronic constipation is infrequent bowel movements or difficult passage of stools that persists for several weeks or longer.

Constipation is generally described as having fewer than three bowel movements a week.

Chronic constipation may also cause excessive straining to have a bowel movement and other signs and symptoms.

Treatment for chronic constipation depends in part on the underlying cause.

However, in some cases, a cause is never found.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you experience unexplained and persistent changes in your bowel habits.

Chronic constipation has many possible causes.

Blockages in the colon or rectum may slow or stop stool movement.

Causes include:

Problems with the pelvic muscles involved in having a bowel movement may cause chronic constipation.

These problems may include:

Hormones help balance fluids in your body.

If those changes don’t help, your doctor may recommend medications or surgery.

Your doctor may recommend the following changes to relieve your constipation:

Several types of laxatives exist.

Each works somewhat differently to make it easier to have a bowel movement.

Relaxing your pelvic floor muscles at the right time during defecation can help you pass stool more easily.

The therapist guides you through exercises to alternately relax and tighten your pelvic muscles.

Surgery to remove the entire colon is rarely necessary.

Many people use alternative and complementary medicine to treat constipation, but these approaches have not been well-studied.

Using a probiotic such as bifidobacterium or lactobacillus may be helpful, but more studies are needed.

Fructooligosaccharide, a sugar that occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables, may be helpful as well.

Researchers currently are evaluating the usefulness of acupuncture.

You’ll likely first seek medical care for constipation from your family doctor or general practitioner.

Here’s some information to help you get ready, and what to expect from your doctor.

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions.

Being ready to answer them may allow more time to go over additional questions you may have.

Your doctor may ask:

The following can help you avoid developing chronic constipation.

Updated: 2016-10-19

Publication Date: 2000-07-05