Constipation
Constipation is one of the most prevalent digestive disorders. At least 4.5 million people, with two-thirds being women, are thought to suffer from constipation that is frequent and bothersome enough to require medical treatment. Constipation may also indicate a hormone imbalance. Constipation is mainly caused by estrogen, particularly when estrogen levels fall throughout menopause. Studies show estrogen slows stomach emptying, prolongs transit time, and causes constipation. Estrogen also weakens the pelvic floor, making bowel movements more difficult.
Women are more likely to have symptoms of constipation than males for a variety of reasons, one of which being the fact that women generally have bigger colons than men. However, there is also a significant connection between constipation and hormones. Because of the hormonal shifts that are taking place in their bodies, patients who are pregnant or who are going through menopause also have more frequent bouts of constipation than other patients. It is common for the ovaries to start producing more estrogen and less progesterone in the early to middle 30s of a woman’s life. This imbalance in the optimal ratio of estrogen to progesterone causes unfavorable reactions to be triggered throughout the body and the brain.
