BACKGROUND: Constipation occurs more frequently in the female population and it becomes more prevalent with increasing age. There are few studies that have assessed the prevalence of constipation in postmenopausal women. AIM: To investigate the prevalence and factors associated with constipation in postmenopausal women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of postmenopausal women aged over 45 years was conducted. It included 100 women who sought medical attention at the Menopause Outpatient Facility at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil, between March, 2003 and January, 2004. The prevalence of constipation was assessed according to the Rome II criteria. Sociodemographic and clinical features of these patients were studied. Physical examinations were performed to evaluate genital dystopias and anal sphincter tone. Statistical analysis was performed by using the mean, standard deviation, median, relative and absolute frequencies and by using the prevalence ratio with a 95% confidence interval and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 58.9 ± 5.9 years and the mean age was 47.5 ± 5.4 years at menopause. The prevalence of constipation was 37%, the most common symptom being excessive straining when defecating (91.9%), followed by a feeling of incomplete evacuation (83.8%), hard or lumpy stools (81.1%), less than three bowel movements per week (62.2%), sensation of anorectal obstruction during defecation (62.2%) and digital maneuvers to facilitate defecation (45.9%). Bivariate analysis showed that anal sphincter tone and the history of perianal surgery were factors associated with constipation. After applying multiple regression analysis, the history of perianal surgery was significantly associated with constipation (prevalence ratio: 2.68; 95% confidence interval: 1.18-6.11). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of constipation in postmenopausal women was high. The history of perianal surgery was significantly associated with constipation, even when the influence of other variables were taken into consideration.
Constipation; Climacteric; Menopause; Cross-sectional studies
