Causes of constipation

Causes

Constipation most commonly occurs when waste or stool moves too slowly through the digestive tract or cannot be eliminated effectively from the rectum, which may cause the stool to become hard and dry. Chronic constipation has many possible causes.

Blockages in the colon or rectum

Blockages in the colon or rectum may slow or stop stool movement. Causes include:

• Tiny tears in the skin around the anus (anal fissure)
• A blockage in the intestines (bowel obstruction)
• Colon cancer
• Narrowing of the colon (bowel stricture)
• Other abdominal cancer that presses on the colon
• Rectal cancer
• Rectum bulge through the back wall of the vagina (rectocele)