Constipation in adults

When to seek medical advice

Consult your doctor if your constipation:

Is more severe than usual
Lasts longer than usual
Alternates with diarrhea
Is accompanied by abdominal or rectal pain, rectal bleeding, blood in your stool, black stools, or unexplained weight loss

Find possible causes of constipation based on specific factors. Check one or more factors on this page that apply to your symptom.

Walls RM, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
Palmer J, et al. Abdominal pain mimics. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2016;34:409.
UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
Zeiter D. Abdominal pain in children. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2017;64:525.
Palmer J, et al. Abdominal pain mimics. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2016;34:409.
Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
AskMayoExpert. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2017.
Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 2, 2017.
Zitelli BJ, et al., eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2017. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2018. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
Muncie HL, et al. Dizziness: Approach to evaluation and management. American Family Physician. 2017;95:154.
American College of Emergency Physicians. https://www.acep.org. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
Schmitt BD. Fever. In: Pediatric Telephone Protocols: Office Version 15th ed. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2015.
Mannenbach MS (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 14, 2017.
Goyal DG (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 14, 2017.
Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 28, 2017.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org. Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
Petty RE, et al., eds. Textbook of Pediatric Rheumatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
Elsevier Point of Care. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
Kasper DL, et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 19th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Education; 2015. http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
Wein AJ, et al., eds. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com.. Accessed Dec. 2, 2017.
National Eye Institute. https://nei.nih.gov. Accessed Dec. 5, 2017.
Wilkinson JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 8, 2017.

Mayo Clinic no respalda compañías ni productos. Las recaudaciones de los avisos comerciales financian nuestra misión sin fines de lucro.

Avisos comerciales y patrocinio

Investigación

Educación

Investigación

Educación

Symptom Checker

When to seek medical advice

Constipation in adults

Prensa de Mayo Clinic

Información sobre Mayo Clinic

Profesionales médicos

Negocios

Profesionales médicos

Empresas

Estudiantes

Estudiantes

Investigadores

Pacientes internacionales

Atención médica de beneficencia y asistencia económica

Sigue a Mayo Clinic

Obtén la aplicación de Mayo Clinic

Investigación

Educación

Investigación

Educación

When to seek medical advice

Constipation in adults

Prensa de Mayo Clinic

Tu donación es muy poderosa... ¿quieres hacerla hoy mismo?

Obtén la aplicación de Mayo Clinic