Causes of women having difficulty defecating (constipation)

Constipation or difficulty defecating can happen to anyone. The causes can also vary, from not drinking enough water to eating less fiber. However, women also have specific causes of constipation that do not occur in men or children. So, what are the causes of constipation in women? Come on, see the following reviews.

The cause of constipation that only occurs in women

According to a Medscape report, constipation problems that require hospitalization due to illness in the United States are more common in women than men. If you estimate the ratio of the numbers is 3: 1.

After investigating, it turns out that there is a cause of constipation that only affects women. Causes of constipation that only occur in women include:

1. Menstruation

Menstruation is the cause of constipation in most women. Constipation during menstruation, says Donald Ford, MD, a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic, is closely related to changes in body hormones.

Ahead of menstruation, the more progesterone hormone that is produced will experience a buildup. This hormone is actually responsible for thickening the lining of the uterine wall. On the other hand, an increase in progesterone can cause constipation during ovulation or the days after.

Meanwhile, for some other women, menstruation can actually trigger diarrhea.

2. Pregnancy

The cause of constipation in women that is still related to changes in hormone levels in the body is pregnancy.

Constipation during pregnancy occurs because the body needs to increase certain hormones to support fetal growth. However, a large increase in hormones causes the intestines to move more slowly. The slowed bowel movements will make the stool stay longer in the large intestine.

The longer the intestine is in the large intestine, the more fluid is reabsorbed by the body. Finally, the stool will become denser, hard, dry, and difficult to pass.

In addition, you will experience many physical changes, especially your stomach. An enlarged belly indicates an enlarging uterus. This puts more pressure on the intestines, making it slower to push feces into the anus. As a result, feces accumulate and harden in the stomach, making it difficult to pass.

Constipation during pregnancy can also be triggered by the side effects of pregnancy vitamins, especially iron supplements. Sometimes doctors recommend supplements to prevent iron deficiency.

Unfortunately, a high intake of iron can be a cause of constipation in pregnant women. Iron makes the stool darker black and has a hard texture.

3. Irritable bowel syndrome

It has been explained previously that menstruation is the cause of constipation in women. Even so, not all women will experience it.

Constipation before menstruation is very likely to occur in women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), even with more severe symptoms.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a digestive problem that is disturbed by damage to the way the intestines work, but it is not characterized by tissue damage. Apart from constipation, IBS also causes other annoying symptoms, such as heartburn and cramps, diarrhea, and bloating.

4. Endometriosis

Apart from IBS, a health problem that can cause constipation in women is endometriosis. This condition indicates that the tissue that should line the uterine wall grows outside the uterus.

Endometriosis causes symptoms, such as constipation, diarrhea, and pain in the hips. During menstruation, these symptoms will get worse because hormone levels rise.

Common causes of constipation in women

Apart from specific causes, there are also common causes of constipation that occur in both women and men. These causes are closely related to diet, activity, bad habits, use of certain drugs, and certain health problems.

To be clearer, let's discuss one by one the causes of constipation, such as:

Lack of fiber intake

The fiber in food is responsible for drawing fluid into the intestine to keep the stool soft. However, not all foods contain fiber.

Fiber is mostly found in fruits, such as pears, vegetables, peas, and wheat. Meanwhile, fast food tends to be low in fiber. If you frequently eat low-fiber foods, constipation can occur.

Not drinking enough

Fiber in food works together with water to soften stool. If you rarely drink, fiber will not work optimally. As a result, constipation can occur accompanied by the risk of increasing other health problems, such as dehydration.

Actually, everyone has a different fluid intake. However, you can prevent constipation by drinking 8 glasses of water per day.

Lazy sports

The most common cause of constipation in women and men is lazy exercise. Yes, reluctance to exercise can be caused by many things, such as a busy schedule of activities or fatigue.

In fact, the intestines will move more stable if you are actively moving. If you are lazy to exercise plus insufficient fiber intake, you will be more prone to experiencing constipation.

Other causes

Often holding bowel movements can cause stool to get stuck in the intestine. This will make the stool harder and harder to pass.

Not only that, the use of certain drugs, such as antidepressants and antacids can also slow down bowel movements so that stool does not pass through the intestines smoothly.

You also have an increased risk of developing constipation when you go on a long trip. This activity changes the routine, starting from food choices, drinking habits, and defecating. In addition, the cause of constipation in women and men can also be caused by problems with the intestines.

Constipation in women is easy to treat

Generally, constipation is not a sign of an emergency. Even so, constipation may still make you uncomfortable with activities because of the annoying symptoms of having difficulty defecating.

The good news is, this condition can be treated easily according to the underlying cause. Doctors usually recommend home treatments, such as increasing fiber intake, drinking lots of water, regular exercise to improve digestion, and eliminating the habit of holding back bowel movements.

If it is not effective, then you are allowed to take laxatives.