Constipation

Constipation - Symptoms

Constipation - How to prevent?

Constipation - Treatments

Treatment depends on the cause, severity and duration of the patient’s constipation. All patients will receive conservative treatment with a combination of:

Dietary and lifestyle modifications
Laxatives

Only if the above do not yield significant improvements will more specialized treatment be offered in a graduated fashion, including:

Biofeedback exercises
Surgical correction of abnormal colonic movements (eg. rectopexy)
Surgical removal of the entire colon where all other treatment has failed

Constipation - Preparing for surgery

Constipation - Post-surgery care

Constipation - Other Information

Article contributed by Pelvic Floor Disorders Service, Singapore General Hospital; Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital

The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

TOP

[{"SHPageId":"2366","BodyPart":"","BodyPartLst":[],"Institution":null,"SHDoctorConditionsTreatments":"#Gastrointestinal#, #Abdominal Hernias#, #Colorectal Cancer#, #Diverticular Disease#, #Faecal Incontinence#, #Hernia#, #Inflammatory Bowel Disease#","SHDoctorConditionsTreatmentsLst":["gastrointestinal","abdominal hernias","colorectal cancer","diverticular disease","faecal incontinence","hernia","inflammatory bowel disease"],"SHDoctorAwards":null,"SHDoctorAwardsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgDisp":"Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstText":"9b7b3341-8e0f-48aa-8d37-d46b0085d6c0|2db248c4-2112-4fcf-a07d-d2fdf93f21ce;Consultant|2db248c4-2112-4fcf-a07d-d2fdf93f21ce;9b7b3341-8e0f-48aa-8d37-d46b0085d6c0|2db248c4-2112-4fcf-a07d-d2fdf93f21ce;Consultant|2db248c4-2112-4fcf-a07d-d2fdf93f21ce;","ListSHDoctorClinicalDesgInst":[{"ClinicalDesgName":"Consultant","ClinicalDesgId":"9b7b3341-8e0f-48aa-8d37-d46b0085d6c0","ClinicalDesgInst":"Sengkang General Hospital","ClinicalDesgInstId":"2db248c4-2112-4fcf-a07d-d2fdf93f21ce"},{"ClinicalDesgName":"Consultant","ClinicalDesgId":"9b7b3341-8e0f-48aa-8d37-d46b0085d6c0","ClinicalDesgInst":"Sengkang General Hospital","ClinicalDesgInstId":"2db248c4-2112-4fcf-a07d-d2fdf93f21ce"}],"ListSHDoctorClinicalDesg":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstFirst":"Consultant","SHDoctorAltDesgDisp":"","SHDoctorEducation":null,"SHDoctorEducationFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfile":null,"SHDoctorProfileFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchInterests":"","SHDoctorResearchInterestsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrials":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrialsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointments":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointmentsFullHtml":"","SHDoctorPublications":null,"SHDoctorPublicationsFullHtml":null,"SHQualification":null,"SHQualificationFullHTML":"\u003cp\u003eMBBS (S’pore), MRCS (Edin), MMed (Surg), FRCS (Edin), FAMS (Surg)\u003c/p\u003e","SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoRender":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/Frederick%20Koh.jpg","SHDoctorThumbnailPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/thumbnail-photos/Frederick%20Koh.jpg","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":0},"SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/thumbnail-photos/Frederick%20Koh.jpg","Description":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/thumbnail-photos/Frederick%20Koh.jpg"},"SHDoctorPortraitPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/Frederick%20Koh.jpg","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":0},"SHDoctorPortraitPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/Frederick%20Koh.jpg","Description":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/Frederick%20Koh.jpg"},"Email":"","SHDoctorRole":"Doctor;#","SHDoctorSalutation":"Clin Assoc Prof","SHDoctorFirstName":"Frederick Koh ","SHDoctorLastName":"Hong Xiang","SHDoctorOtherName":"Frederick Koh ","SHDoctorHideProfile":false,"SHDoctorPrimarySpecialty":"General Surgery","SHDepartmentLink":null,"SHSpecialtyLink":null,"SHSubSpecialtyLink":null,"ListDoctorAcademic":null,"ListDoctorClinical":[{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"2366","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Sengkang General Hospital","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"https://www.skh.com.sg/","Description":"https://www.skh.com.sg/"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"Colorectal Service","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":null,"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"Frederick Koh Hong Xiang","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":1000},{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"2366","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Sengkang General Hospital","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"https://www.skh.com.sg/","Description":"https://www.skh.com.sg/"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"Department of Surgery","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":{"Url":"http://www.sengkanghealth.com.sg/","Description":"http://www.sengkanghealth.com.sg/"},"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"Frederick Koh Hong Xiang","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":2}],"ListDoctorSpecialty":[{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Colorectal Surgery","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":1000,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"2366","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"Frederick Koh Hong Xiang"},{"SHSpecialtyLink":"General Surgery","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":1,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"2366","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"Frederick Koh Hong Xiang"}],"ListDoctorInstitution":[{"SHDepartmentLink":"#Colorectal Service#","SHDepartmentLogoLink":null,"SHDepartmentUrlLink":null,"SHInstitutionLink":"#Sengkang General Hospital#","SHInstitutionLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg"},"SHInstitutionUrlLink":{"Url":"https://www.skh.com.sg/","Description":"https://www.skh.com.sg/"},"SHInstLinkDisplayOrder":1000,"SHDoctorInstPageItemId":"2366","SHDoctorInstitutionFURL":"Frederick Koh Hong Xiang"},{"SHDepartmentLink":"#Department of Surgery#","SHDepartmentLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg"},"SHDepartmentUrlLink":{"Url":"http://www.sengkanghealth.com.sg/","Description":"http://www.sengkanghealth.com.sg/"},"SHInstitutionLink":"#Sengkang General Hospital#","SHInstitutionLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg"},"SHInstitutionUrlLink":{"Url":"https://www.skh.com.sg/","Description":"https://www.skh.com.sg/"},"SHInstLinkDisplayOrder":2,"SHDoctorInstPageItemId":"2366","SHDoctorInstitutionFURL":"Frederick Koh Hong Xiang"}],"DoctorProfileInstitutionString":null,"DoctorProfileDepartmentString":null,"DoctorProfileSpecialtyString":null,"DoctorProfileSubSpecialtyString":null,"ListDoctorResearchAppointment":null,"DoctorResearchAppointmentItem":null,"StartDate":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","Path":"/profile/Frederick%20Koh%20Hong%20Xiang","LastUpdatedOn":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","LastUpdatedOnString":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgLogo":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgURL":null,"SHContentTagType":null,"SingHealthInstitution":"","SingHealthSpecialty":"","TypeOfContent":null,"DoctorFriendlyUrl":"Frederick Koh Hong Xiang","DoctorSpecialtyFriendlyUrl":null,"SHDoctorResearchEmail":null},{"SHPageId":"1953","BodyPart":"","BodyPartLst":[],"Institution":null,"SHDoctorConditionsTreatments":"#Gastrooesophageal Reflux#, #Achalasia#, #Hernia#, #Gastric/Duodenal/Peptic Ulcer#, #Gastrointestinal#, #Obesity#, #Gallstones#, #General Surgery#, #Trauma#","SHDoctorConditionsTreatmentsLst":["gastrooesophageal reflux","achalasia","hernia","gastric/duodenal/peptic ulcer","gastrointestinal","obesity","gallstones","general surgery","trauma"],"SHDoctorAwards":null,"SHDoctorAwardsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgDisp":"Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstText":"9b7b3341-8e0f-48aa-8d37-d46b0085d6c0|2db248c4-2112-4fcf-a07d-d2fdf93f21ce;Consultant|2db248c4-2112-4fcf-a07d-d2fdf93f21ce;9b7b3341-8e0f-48aa-8d37-d46b0085d6c0|2db248c4-2112-4fcf-a07d-d2fdf93f21ce;Consultant|2db248c4-2112-4fcf-a07d-d2fdf93f21ce;","ListSHDoctorClinicalDesgInst":[{"ClinicalDesgName":"Consultant","ClinicalDesgId":"9b7b3341-8e0f-48aa-8d37-d46b0085d6c0","ClinicalDesgInst":"Sengkang General Hospital","ClinicalDesgInstId":"2db248c4-2112-4fcf-a07d-d2fdf93f21ce"},{"ClinicalDesgName":"Consultant","ClinicalDesgId":"9b7b3341-8e0f-48aa-8d37-d46b0085d6c0","ClinicalDesgInst":"Sengkang General Hospital","ClinicalDesgInstId":"2db248c4-2112-4fcf-a07d-d2fdf93f21ce"}],"ListSHDoctorClinicalDesg":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstFirst":"Consultant","SHDoctorAltDesgDisp":"","SHDoctorEducation":null,"SHDoctorEducationFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfile":null,"SHDoctorProfileFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchInterests":"","SHDoctorResearchInterestsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrials":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrialsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointments":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointmentsFullHtml":"\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eClinical lecturer, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eAdjunct instructor, Duke-NUS Medical School\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eClinical teacher, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eMember of Junior Doctor Well-Being Committee Executive Committee, SKH (2020 – 2022)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eAlternate member of Trauma Committee, SKH (2020 – 2022\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eMember of General Surgery Residency Program Evaluation Committee, SingHealth (2020 – 2022)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eMember of Singhealth Procedural Safety Workgroup (2019 – 2021)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eMember of Safety \u0026amp; Quality Benchmarking Subgroup, SingHealth (2019 – 2021)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eCo-Chairperson of Clinical Quality Improvement Committee, Surgery ACP (2019 – 2020)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eCo-Chairperson of Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER) Workgroup 2, Surgery ACP (2019 – 2020)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eMember of the Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) team, SKH\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eCo-Chairperson of Residency Committee (2016 – 2017)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eMember of Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC), SingHealth (2016 – 2017)\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","SHDoctorPublications":null,"SHDoctorPublicationsFullHtml":null,"SHQualification":null,"SHQualificationFullHTML":"\u003cp\u003eMBBS (S’pore), M Med Surg (S’pore), MRCS (Edin),\nFRCS (Edin)\u003c/p\u003e","SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoRender":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/lester-ong-portrait.jpg","SHDoctorThumbnailPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/thumbnail-photos/lester-ong-thumbnail.jpg","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"Dr Lester Ong from Sengkang General Hospital","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":0},"SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/thumbnail-photos/lester-ong-thumbnail.jpg","Description":"Dr Lester Ong from Sengkang General Hospital"},"SHDoctorPortraitPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/lester-ong-portrait.jpg","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"Dr Lester Ong from Sengkang General Hospital","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":0},"SHDoctorPortraitPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/lester-ong-portrait.jpg","Description":"Dr Lester Ong from Sengkang General Hospital"},"Email":"","SHDoctorRole":"Doctor;#","SHDoctorSalutation":"Dr","SHDoctorFirstName":"Ong Wei Lin","SHDoctorLastName":"Lester","SHDoctorOtherName":"","SHDoctorHideProfile":false,"SHDoctorPrimarySpecialty":"Upper Gastrointestinal ＆ Bariatric Surgery","SHDepartmentLink":null,"SHSpecialtyLink":null,"SHSubSpecialtyLink":null,"ListDoctorAcademic":null,"ListDoctorClinical":[{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"1953","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Sengkang General Hospital","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"https://www.skh.com.sg/","Description":"https://www.skh.com.sg/"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"Upper Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Service","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":null,"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"ong-wei-lin-lester","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":2},{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"1953","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Sengkang General Hospital","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"https://www.skh.com.sg/","Description":"https://www.skh.com.sg/"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"Department of Surgery","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":{"Url":"http://www.sengkanghealth.com.sg/","Description":"http://www.sengkanghealth.com.sg/"},"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"ong-wei-lin-lester","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":1}],"ListDoctorSpecialty":[{"SHSpecialtyLink":"General Surgery","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"Upper Gastrointestinal ＆ Bariatric Surgery","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":1,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"1953","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"ong-wei-lin-lester"}],"ListDoctorInstitution":[{"SHDepartmentLink":"#Upper Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Service#","SHDepartmentLogoLink":null,"SHDepartmentUrlLink":null,"SHInstitutionLink":"#Sengkang General Hospital#","SHInstitutionLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg"},"SHInstitutionUrlLink":{"Url":"https://www.skh.com.sg/","Description":"https://www.skh.com.sg/"},"SHInstLinkDisplayOrder":2,"SHDoctorInstPageItemId":"1953","SHDoctorInstitutionFURL":"ong-wei-lin-lester"},{"SHDepartmentLink":"#Department of Surgery#","SHDepartmentLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg"},"SHDepartmentUrlLink":{"Url":"http://www.sengkanghealth.com.sg/","Description":"http://www.sengkanghealth.com.sg/"},"SHInstitutionLink":"#Sengkang General Hospital#","SHInstitutionLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg"},"SHInstitutionUrlLink":{"Url":"https://www.skh.com.sg/","Description":"https://www.skh.com.sg/"},"SHInstLinkDisplayOrder":1,"SHDoctorInstPageItemId":"1953","SHDoctorInstitutionFURL":"ong-wei-lin-lester"}],"DoctorProfileInstitutionString":null,"DoctorProfileDepartmentString":null,"DoctorProfileSpecialtyString":null,"DoctorProfileSubSpecialtyString":null,"ListDoctorResearchAppointment":null,"DoctorResearchAppointmentItem":null,"StartDate":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","Path":"/profile/ong-wei-lin-lester","LastUpdatedOn":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","LastUpdatedOnString":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgLogo":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgURL":null,"SHContentTagType":null,"SingHealthInstitution":"","SingHealthSpecialty":"","TypeOfContent":null,"DoctorFriendlyUrl":"ong-wei-lin-lester","DoctorSpecialtyFriendlyUrl":null,"SHDoctorResearchEmail":null}]

Discover articles,videos, and guides afrom Singhealth's resources across the web. These information are collated, making healthy living much easier for everyone.