Treatment help – Treatment of chronic constipation is best managed by first determining the underlying cause. While there may be several contributing factors, the 3 broad subgroups include:
- normal transit constipation,
- slow transit constipation, and
- pelvic floor dysfunction.
Treatment will vary depending upon the subgroup assigned. For example, initial treatment of milder chronic constipation with normal transit generally involves a recommendation to increase fiber intake, but there is evidence that only a minority of patients with slow-transit constipation or defecation disorders benefit from fiber therapy.