Constipation

Constipation is a common condition that affects people of all ages. It can mean that you are not passing stools (poo) regularly or are unable to completely empty your bowels.

Constipation can also cause your stools to be hard, lumpy, large or small.

The severity of constipation varies from person to person. Many people only experience constipation for a short time but for others, constipation can be a long-term (chronic) condition that causes significant pain and discomfort and affects quality of life.

Everyone has their own normal bowel habits, which can be different from other people's habits.

For example, some adults normally go to the toilet more than once a day, whereas others normally go only every three or four days. Some infants pass stools several times a day, while others normally pass stools only a few times a week.

Difficulty passing stools

When you are constipated, you feel that passing stools has become more difficult than it used to be. It may feel more difficult for several reasons. For example, you may be going significantly less frequently or much less effectively (you feel you are unable to completely empty your bowel).

Passing stools may also seem more difficult because your stools are:

• dry, hard and lumpy 
• abnormally large
• abnormally small

As well as causing a change in your normal bowel habits, constipation can also cause the following symptoms:

• stomach ache and cramps
• feeling bloated
• feeling nauseous
• loss of appetite

Children

As well as infrequent or irregular bowel movements, a child with constipation may also have the following signs and symptoms:

• loss of appetite
• lack of energy
• being irritable, angry or unhappy
• foul-smelling wind and stools
• abdominal pain and discomfort
• soiling their clothes
• generally feeling unwell

If your child has these symptoms or has spoken to you about having difficulty passing stools, speak to your GP.

Most cases of constipation are not caused by a specific condition and it may be difficult to identify the exact cause. However, several factors can increase your chances of having constipation, including:

• not eating enough fibre, such as fruit, vegetables and cereals
• a change in your routine or lifestyle, such as a change in your eating habits
• having limited privacy when using the toilet
• ignoring the urge to pass stools
• immobility or lack of exercise
• not drinking enough fluids
• being underweight or overweight
• anxiety or depression
• psychiatric problems brought on by sexual abuse, violence or trauma, for example

Medication

Sometimes, constipation may be a side effect of a medicine that you are taking. Common types of medication that can cause constipation include:

• aluminium antacids (medicine to treat indigestion)
• antidepressants
• antiepileptics (medicine to treat epilepsy)
• antipsychotics (medicine to treat schizophrenia and other mental health conditions)
• calcium supplements
• diuretics (water tablets)
• iron supplements

If your constipation is caused by medication, the condition usually eases once you stop taking the medicine. However, under no circumstances should you stop taking your medication unless your GP advises you to.

Speak to your GP if you experience constipation due to a medicine. They may be able to prescribe an alternative.

Pregnancy

About 40% of women experience some form of constipation during their pregnancy, mostly during the early stages of their pregnancy.

Constipation occurs during pregnancy as a result of hormonal changes. During pregnancy, your body produces more of the female hormone progesterone. This hormone acts as a muscle relaxant.

Your bowel normally moves stools and waste products along to the anus by a process known as peristalsis. This is when the muscles that line the bowel contract and relax in a rippling, wave-like motion. An increase in progesterone makes it more difficult for the bowel muscles to contract, making it harder to move waste products along.

If you are pregnant, there are ways that you can safely treat constipation without harming you or your baby. See Treating constipation for more information about this.

Other conditions

Most cases of constipation are not caused by a particular medical condition. However, in rare cases, constipation can be a sign of an underlying condition, such as:

• colon or rectal cancer
• diabetes
• hypercalcaemia, when there is too much calcium in the bloodstream
• underactive thyroid
• muscular dystrophy, a genetic condition that causes muscle wasting
• multiple sclerosis, a condition that affects the nervous system
• Parkinson's disease, a brain condition that affects the co-ordination of body movements
• spinal cord injury
• anal fissure, a small tear of the skin just inside the anus
• inflammatory bowel disease, a condition that causes the intestines to become inflamed (irritated and swollen)
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Babies and children

Constipation in babies and children is quite common. About one in three British parents report constipation at some time in their child's life. Poor diet, fear about using the toilet and poor toilet training can all be responsible.

Poor diet

Children who are over-fed are more likely to have constipation, as are those who do not get enough fluids. Babies who have too much milk are also more likely to get constipation. As with adults, it is very important that your child has enough fibre in their diet.

Toilet training

Make sure that you do not make your child feel stressed or pressured about using the toilet. It is also important to let your children try things by themselves (when appropriate). Constantly intervening when they are using the toilet may make them feel anxious.

Toilet habits

Some children can feel stressed or anxious about using the toilet. They may have a phobia about using the toilet or feel that they are unable to use the toilets at school.

This fear or phobia may be the result of your child experiencing pain when passing stools. This can lead to poor bowel habits, where children ignore the urge to pass stools and instead withhold them for fear of experiencing pain and discomfort. However, this will mean that their condition only worsens.

Treatment for constipation depends on the cause, how long you have had the condition and how severe your symptoms are. In many cases it is possible to relieve symptoms through dietary and lifestyle changes.

Some ways you can help treat your constipation are listed below.

• Increase your daily intake of fibre. You should eat at least 18-30g of fibre a day. High-fibre foods include fruit, vegetables and cereals.
• Add some bulking agents, such as wheat bran, to your diet. These will help make your stools softer and easier to pass.
• Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water.
• Get more exercise by going for a daily walk or run.
• If your constipation is causing pain or discomfort, you may want to take a painkiller such as paracetamol. Make sure you always follow the dosage instructions carefully.
• Children under 16 years of age should not take aspirin.
• Identify a routine of a place and time of day when you are comfortably able to spend time in the toilet. Respond to your bowel's natural pattern: when you feel the urge, do not delay.

Laxatives are a type of medicine that help you pass stools. There are several different types and each one has a different effect on your digestive system.

Bulk-forming laxatives

Your GP will normally start you on a bulk-forming laxative. These laxatives work by helping your stools to retain fluid. This means they are less likely to dry out, which can lead to faecal impaction (read about complications of constipation). Bulk-forming laxatives also make your stools denser and softer, which means they should be easier to pass.

Commonly prescribed bulk-forming laxatives include ispaghula husk, methylcellulose and sterculia. When taking this type of laxative, you must drink plenty of fluids. Also, do not take them before going to bed. It will usually be two to three days before you feel the effects of a bulk-forming laxative.

Osmotic laxatives

If your stools remain hard after you have taken a bulk-forming laxative, your GP may prescribe an osmotic laxative instead. Osmotic laxatives increase the amount of fluid in your bowels. This helps to stimulate your body to pass stools and also softens stools.

Commonly prescribed osmotic laxatives include lactulose and macrogols. As with bulk-forming laxatives, make sure you drink enough fluids. It will usually be two to three days before you feel the effect of the laxative.

Stimulant laxatives

If your stools are soft but you still have difficulty passing them, your GP may prescribe a stimulant laxative. This laxative stimulates the muscles that line your digestive tract, helping them to move stools and waste products along your large intestine to your anus.

The most commonly prescribed stimulant laxatives are senna, bisacodyl and sodium picosulphate. These laxatives are usually only used on a short-term basis, and they will usually start to work within 6 to 12 hours.

According to your individual preference and the speed with which you require relief, your GP may decide to combine different laxatives.

How long will I take laxatives for?

If you have only experienced constipation for a short time, your GP will normally advise you to stop taking the laxative once your stools are soft and easily passed.

However, if you have constipation due to a medicine or an underlying medical condition, you may have to take laxatives for much longer, possibly many months or even years.

If you have been taking laxatives for some time, you may have to gradually reduce your dose rather than coming off them straight away. If you have been prescribed a combination of laxatives, you will normally have to reduce the dosage of each laxative, one at a time, before you can stop taking them. This can take several months.

Your GP will advise you when it is best to stop taking them. 

If you are pregnant, there are ways for you to safely treat constipation without harming you or your baby. Your GP will first advise you to change your diet by increasing fibre and fluid intake. You will also be advised to do gentle exercise.

If dietary and lifestyle changes do not work, you may be prescribed a laxative to help you pass stools more regularly.

Lots of laxatives are safe for pregnant women to use because most are not absorbed by the digestive system. This means that your baby will not feel the effects of the laxative.

Laxatives that are safe to use during pregnancy include the osmotic laxatives lactulose and macrogols. If these do not work, your GP may advise a small dose of bisacodyl or senna (stimulant laxatives).

However, senna may not be suitable if you are in your third trimester of pregnancy (27 weeks to birth) because this medicine is partially absorbed by your digestive system.

Go to the pregnancy care planner for more information on constipation and other common pregnancy problems

Babies who have not yet been weaned 

If your baby is constipated but has not yet started to eat solid foods, the first way to treat them is to give them extra water between their normal feeds. If you are using formula milk, make the formula as directed by the manufacturer and do not dilute the mixture.

You may want to try gently moving your baby's legs in a bicycling motion or carefully massaging their abdomen (tummy) to help stimulate their bowels.

Babies who are eating solids 

If your baby is eating solid foods, give them plenty of water or diluted fruit juice. Try to encourage them to eat fruit, which can be pureed or chopped, depending on their ability to chew. The best fruits for babies to eat to treat constipation are:

• apples
• apricots
• grapes
• peaches
• pears
• plums
• prunes
• raspberries
• strawberries

Never force your baby to eat food if they do not want to. If you do, it can turn mealtimes into a battle and your child may start to think of eating as a negative and stressful experience.

If your baby is still constipated after a change in diet, they may have to be prescribed a laxative. Bulk-forming laxatives are not suitable for babies, so they will usually be given an osmotic laxative. However, if this does not work, they can be prescribed a stimulant laxative.

Children

As with babies and adults, children with constipation will first be advised to change their diet. If this does not work, laxatives can be prescribed, usually an osmotic laxative followed if necessary by a stimulant laxative.

As well as eating fruit, older children should have a well-balanced diet, which also contains vegetables and wholegrain foods such as wholemeal bread and pasta.

Try to minimise stress or conflict associated with using the toilet or meal times. It is important to be positive and encouraging when it comes to establishing a toilet routine. Your child should be allowed at least 10 minutes on the toilet to make sure they have passed as many stools as possible.

To encourage a positive toilet routine, try making a diary of your child's bowel movements linked to a reward system. This can help them focus on using the toilet successfully.

Top tips for parents

• A diet rich in fibre and with plenty of fluids will help, even if your child is being treated with laxatives.
• Children with chronic constipation do not normally have anything physically wrong with them. However, it can take time to correct the problem, so be patient.
• Encourage your child to have a regular toilet habit and allow them plenty of time.
• A reward chart for passing a stool can be useful if your child tends to ‘hold on’.