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Frequently asked questions
How often should someone have a bowel movement? What is normal?
The short answer is that everyone is different, but the normal range in the Western world is considered to be between three bowels movements a day to three times a week.
Is there any reason why women should suffer constipation more often than men?
Yes, women have a slightly slower digestion rate than men. For instance it will normally take 32 hours for food to pass through the female digestive system and be expelled as faeces compared to 27 hours in men.
The digestive process slows down even more during pregnancy due to the effects of the hormone progesterone which acts a muscle relaxant, slowing down bowel movements.
Do laxatives help with weight loss?
Laxatives do not help weight loss because most of the sugar and fat in food gets absorbed into the bloodstream before it reaches the bowels and taking them for this purpose may harm your health. There’s no evidence that using laxatives will help with weight loss, other than a temporary effect due to water loss. As soon as fluids are replenished the weight goes back on. Laxatives are indicated for the short term relief of constipation only.
Do laxatives not work as well if used too often?
Experts agree that laxatives have no permanent long term effects on the bowel. However, with long term over-use the bowel can become progressively less sensitive resulting in the need for higher doses to alleviate the symptoms. If your constipation symptoms persist you should contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Is laxative use habit-forming?
No, but as explained above long term use can make the bowel less sensitive to laxatives. Some doctors believe that the longer you take laxatives the less likely your bowel is to work well on its own. Hence when you stop taking laxatives after long term use you should do so gradually to give your bowel time to adjust.
Does constipation cause toxins to build up in the body?
No. Experts say constipation doesn’t cause a build-up of toxins in the body. There is also no evidence that constipation can lead to bowel cancer. However, constipation may make you feel uncomfortable and causes some bloating and wind.
Can children use laxatives?
As with adults, doctors will advise parents to try lifestyle measures for relieving constipation in their children such as eating more fibre-rich foods (particularly fruits and vegetables), taking regular exercise and increasing fluid intake. If these measures don’t work they may prescribe either an osmotic or stimulant laxative, but generally parents should not administer laxatives to children without first consulting a doctor for medical advice.
How often can you use laxatives?
Standard medical advice is that laxatives that are available without prescription (such as the Dulcolax® range) can be used from time to time for short term relief of occasional constipation. However you should see your doctor if you are often constipated - despite following lifestyle advice to prevent it or if you have been constipated for more than two weeks.
You may be prescribed laxatives on a long term basis to counter the side-effects of some medications or some medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, but this will be under strict medical supervision.
