What Will Help You With Constipation After Menopause? (Cleveland Clinic)

Tier 1: Established: peer-reviewed research or government health authority
Publisher: Cleveland Clinic · Published: August 27, 2026 · Accessed: August 27, 2026

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Claims this source supports

• It is very common in the post-menopausal or peri-menopausal period to develop constipation; through complex mechanisms, shifts in hormones can worsen constipation.
• Management order from a gastroenterologist: increase physical activity (including resistance training for core muscles), stay hydrated, eat plenty of fibre (around 25-50g per day from processed and unprocessed sources), and review medications with a primary care provider, since many drugs can cause constipation.
• If lifestyle changes are not enough, a gentle stool softener (e.g. polyethylene glycol, around 17g per day or as needed) is a reasonable next conversation with a clinician; constipation alone should not be alarming once colon-cancer screening is current.