Constipation results from the slowed passage of digested food through the intestines; it is most common in the colon, or the large intestine. Pregnancy results in increased levels of natural progesterone in the body. Progesterone is one of the dominant sex hormones in females, and it helps maintain a pregnancy by preventing the contraction of the uterus or womb. Progesterone can lead to constipation by slowing the passage of digested food through the intestines.
Progesterone and Smooth Muscle Contraction
Smooth muscles are a group of muscles controlled by involuntary action. Contraction of intestinal smooth muscles pushes digested food through the intestines. According to a 2008 "Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology" study, progesterone interacts with smooth muscle cells via progesterone membrane receptors, or mPRs. Stimulation of mPRs by progesterone results in the inhibition of a process that initiates smooth muscle contraction. The high levels of progesterone results in the increased relaxation of intestinal smooth muscle, which slows the passage of digested food. When digested food passes slowly through the intestines, more water is absorbed from it. As more waster is absorbed from digested food, the stool becomes harder and more difficult to pass.
Risk Factors for Constipation
Pregnancy is a major risk factor for constipation due to the inhibitory effects of progesterone on intestinal smooth muscle. Advanced age is also a risk factor for constipation, because as people get older, they drink less water. Low intake of dietary fiber may also predispose a person to constipation.
Symptoms and Complications of Constipation
Most people associate constipation with the characteristic hardened stool that needs a lot of straining to pass, but according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, constipation is defined as the reduced frequency of passing stools to less than three times per week. Chronic constipation increases a person's risk for hemorrhoids, which are enlarged and inflamed veins around the anus or rectum. Hemorrhoids are sometimes painful but not life-threatening. Rectal prolapse, or protrusion of the inner rectum out through the anus, may also result from chronic constipation.
Management of Constipation
Constipation resulting from high natural progesterone that occurs in pregnancy is managed by dietary and lifestyle changes. According to the Mayo Clinic, a high-fiber diet contains no less than 20 to 35 g of fiber. Foods high in fiber include fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Regular exercise helps increase intestinal muscle activity, which prevents the slow movement of digested food in the intestines and results in constipation. Drinking lots of water helps keep the stool soft and easier to pass. Several medications and laxatives may be used in treating constipation, but effective natural measures are always preferred, especially during pregnancy.
References
- "Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology"; Characteristics of Membrane Progestin Receptor Alpha (Mprα) And Progesterone Membrane Receptor Component One (PGMRC1) And Their Roles In Mediating Rapid Progestin Actions; Peter Thomas; 2008
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Constipation
- Mayo Clinic: Constipation
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Hemorrhoids
