Alphabetical Index of Articles on Women's Sexual, Pelvic Floor, and Reproductive Health

Dealing With Chronic Constipation? Read On.

Most people experience constipation from time to time. Constipation isn’t just the inability to have a bowel movement, it includes the difficulty associated with bowel movements. Travel, inactivity, illness, and certain over the counter medications taken “as needed” commonly result in short-term or acute constipation. Constipation lasting longer than three months is considered chronic constipation. Chronic constipation should be treated by a doctor to prevent health complications.

Clear communication is essential to working with doctors, but the general public often has only a rudimentary understanding of medical terms - including constipation. There is often a gap between the physician and the patient’s perception of constipation which can lead to confusion. ^{(1, 2, 7, 10)} A study of people who thought they had constipation showed that only a third actually fit the criteria for constipation, while the rest actually had Irritable Bowel Syndrome or other gastrointestinal disorders. ⁽⁹⁾ So what are the criteria for constipation?

Can pelvic floor therapy for bowel urgency and incontinence help you?

It's National IBS Month and our series on bowel health continues. Today’s article is for those with irritable bowel syndrome that tends towards softer stools and diarrhea (IBS-D). Most people have experienced fecal urgency at least once in their lives- the experience of rushing to the bathroom to have a bowel movement or having an accident.

Although management of conditions like irritable bowel syndrome should be multidisciplinary, pelvic floor therapy can play a role in regaining control of your bowel movements instead of allowing them control you.

Your Stress Levels Affect your Bowel Movements and Vice Versa

Psychological stress affects your bowels. Perhaps you know this through personal experience, but research in the past decade has strengthened the link between stress and bowel problems including IBS, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and constipation (Chang et al., 2014).

Chang et al. (2014) found that heightened stress levels increased inflammation and permeability in the GI system, which were tied to increased IBS symptoms.

In 2018, Chan et al. found a dynamic relationship between bowel symptoms, stress, and emotional well-being. Study participants reported stress levels affected bowel function, and that also when they had were experiencing bad bowel function (loose stools, abdominal pain) that this affected their emotional well-being.