Constipation
What counts as 'normal' bowel frequency varies from person to person, but a consistent change from your own baseline — fewer movements, more straining, or a sense of incomplete emptying — is worth paying attention to.
Possible Related Conditions
Constipation can show up across several different conditions. These are worth exploring, not a diagnosis of what you have.
Educational Content
Go deeper on the root causes and what tends to help.
Assessment
This is general guidance on how constipation is typically assessed — not a diagnosis. Only a doctor examining you and reviewing your full history can determine what's actually going on.
A doctor will usually look at fibre and fluid intake, activity levels, medication use, and how long the change has been going on, before considering further testing.
Consider seeing a doctor sooner if:
- Constipation is new, persistent, and unexplained
- It comes with abdominal pain or bloating that doesn't ease
- You notice blood in your stool
- There's unintentional weight loss alongside it
Consultation
The most reliable next step is a consultation where your history, symptoms, and any relevant tests can be reviewed together.
