Everyone poops. As unpleasant as it may be for some to talk about, pooping is a necessary bodily function that helps keep us healthy. If we can’t eliminate our body’s waste the way we should, it causes uncomfortable symptoms like anal fissures, fecal impaction, or hemorrhoids. Who wants to deal with those?
Constipation affects approximately 16% of adults and leads to 2.5 million medical visits per year, making it the most commonly experienced gastrointestinal ailment. If you experience constipation due to hormonal imbalance, fortunately, there are steps you can take to rebalance your hormones, relieve your constipation, and help prevent it. Read on to learn more.
Understanding Constipation
People are different and have varying pooping schedules, but constipation is classified as infrequent bowel movements of less than 3 a week, hard, dry, or lumpy stools, and straining or pain when pooping. When stools move too slowly through the digestive tract or are incompletely eliminated, it can cause them to harden and dry out.
Causes of constipation include the following.
- Imbalanced gut microbiome
- Insufficient dietary fiber
- Dehydration
- Food sensitivities
- Certain medications
- Intestinal structure
- Neurological problems
- Colon or rectum blockages
Occasional constipation is normal, but it is referred to as chronic constipation when it happens recurrently.
Hormonal Constipation
For women, hormonal imbalance commonly happens around menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause. Progesterone was previously thought to cause constipation, but research has shown that estrogen also plays a role.
This inability to effectively get rid of your body’s toxic waste and the associated hormonal imbalance, particularly due to estrogen, can lead to acne, headaches, premenstrual syndrome symptoms, heavy periods, and hot flashes.
Menstruation
Stool consistency can change during a women’s menstrual cycle, becoming firmer, while bowel movements simultaneously become more infrequent during pre-menstruation. Stools are looser and more frequent during a woman’s period.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, estrogen levels decline while cortisol levels increase, slowing down the digestive process and making waste more difficult to pass — the longer the stool sits in the colon, the dryer it becomes. In addition, progesterone levels rise.
Menopause
Menopausal women have weaker pelvic floor muscles, creating hard, dry stools that are more challenging to eliminate. Certain medications used to treat menopause symptoms can cause constipation, including blood pressure medicine or antidepressants.
How to Resolve Hormonal Constipation
Some simple ways to fight constipation are to limit caffeine and alcohol intake and get enough exercise. Going to the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge also helps as it prevents disrupting the body and brain connection and allowing stools time to harden and dry.
Dietary Changes
Getting enough fiber in your diet and drinking plenty of water helps digestive functions that help reduce constipation. Some high-fiber foods include the following.
- Berries
- Avocados
- Whole grains
- Broccoli
- Beans
- Apples
- Nuts
- Popcorn
Supplements
Adding effective supplements from Dr. Randolph’s Ageless and Wellness Center to your daily routine can also help prevent constipation.
Probiotics
Probiotics help maintain your gut health while supporting immunity and bowel regularity. They help relieve constipation caused by pregnancy, digestive issues, or medication, to name a few, and are considered safe for regular use. We offer multiple probiotic options, including Max Probiotic DF and Daily Probiotic DF.
Magnesium
Magnesium helps fight the estrogen dominance that can cause constipation. Estrogen imbalance often occurs alongside magnesium deficiency, causing painful cramping during pregnancy or premenstrual syndrome. Taking an efficacious magnesium supplement helps avoid constipation and, as a bonus, helps your body more efficiently metabolize carbohydrates.