Constipation can feel like many different symptoms, including fullness in the stomach or pelvic region, cramping in the bowels, or feelings of heaviness or discomfort. Diet and lifestyle measures can help treat these symptoms.

Constipation is when you have stools that are hard to pass, you don’t feel like you pass all your stool, or there are fewer than three bowel movements per week.

Constipation can make you feel constantly bloated or uncomfortable. You may also experience harmful side effects, such as bowel obstructions, due to chronic constipation.

An estimated 15% of people living in the United States experience problems with constipation.

It might help to first look at the path your food takes when it’s being digested.

Along each point of the gastrointestinal tract, nutrients are absorbed, and the wastes from food breakdown are ultimately released from the body.

Special motions, including churning in the stomach and peristalsis (a rhythmic movement) in the intestines, help propel food material forward through the digestive tract.

The softer and bulkier the stool is, the more likely it is to activate the intestinal movements and move forward. When it’s time for you to go to the bathroom, muscles in your pelvic floor work together to help push stool out of the rectum.

Constipation can happen due to one or more breakdowns of the expected pathway where stool is excreted.

These can include slow-moving stool, hard stools, or experiencing a problem with the muscles and nerves needed to pass a bowel movement.

As a result, constipation can “feel” like many symptoms. Examples include:

  • fullness in the stomach or pelvic region
  • cramping of the bowels
  • feeling like stool remains in the rectum but cannot pass
  • feelings of heaviness or discomfort in the stomach and abdominal regions
  • aching feeling in the back

Sometimes, it’s difficult to distinguish between discomfort in your stomach and intestines. You might feel cramping or bloating in your intestines that pushes upward on your stomach.

As a result, you could feel stomach discomfort while the area of constipation is really in your intestines.

Constipation in pregnancy

Pregnant people also experience constipation at a higher rate than the general population.

Research published in 2021 evaluated the prevalence of constipation in pregnant women and women at the 6-week mark post-pregnancy via an observational survey. Results showed up to 40% of the pregnant women reported constipation.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels that occur inside or outside the rectum. They can bleed and make bowel movements painful to pass.

This can be especially difficult if you have hemorrhoids with constipation because your bowel movements may already pass more slowly or be hard to pass.

Sometimes constipation can be a medical emergency.

Seek medical treatment right away if you experience any of the following

  • blood in the stool that is more than a small amount
  • dark or tar-colored stools
  • severe abdominal pain

Get immediate medical advice and treatment if you experience the following:

  • symptoms not getting better or worsening even after trying at-home self-care measures, including laxatives
  • continued pain after trying to have bowel movements or pain that gets worse
  • constipation that alternates with diarrhea

These symptoms can be a sign of bleeding in the digestive tract or that you are experiencing an intestinal blockage. These can be life threatening emergencies.

Constipation treatments can range from lifestyle changes to medication treatments. If you have an obstruction or scarring that is blocking your stool movement, you may require surgery.

Some at-home, self-care measures you can use to reduce the incidence of constipation include the following:

  • Drink plenty of water to where your urine should be pale yellow in color.
  • Eat between 22 to 35 grams of fiber a day, depending on your age and sex, through sources such as vegetables, whole grains, and fruits.
  • Engage in regular physical activity, such as walking, riding a bicycle, or dancing. These physical activity elements can mimic the natural movement of stool and help stool move more quickly.
  • Talk with your doctor about medications you may be taking that affect constipation. However, you should not stop taking your medications without talking with your doctor first.

There are over-the-counter medications, such as fiber supplements, that ideally can help reduce constipation.

Whether temporary or chronic, constipation can be an unpleasant occurrence with symptoms that don’t always happen where and when you think they will.

Most instances of constipation can resolve with at-home, self-care measures. If your symptoms do not resolve or you experience pain and bleeding, get medical attention.

If you have fewer than three bowel movements a week combined with difficulty with your bowel movements or other discomfort, it can be a good idea to talk with a doctor.