[Investigation of female chronic constipation: a multi-center cross-sectional clinical study]

To analyze the characteristics of female chronic constipation (CC), contributing factors of severe constipation and the correlation between female CC and pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) so as to provide references for the diagnosis and treatment of female CC.

Five hundred and sixty-one CC outpatients meeting Rome III criteria at clinics of gastroenterology from ten Beijing hospitals were recruited during March-May 2007. After data input and verification, formulated the standard of severe CC.

The peak age of CC onset was 20 - 29 years in female patients while 60 - 69 years in male patients. F:M = 3.04:1. A wide range of CC symptoms were present and straining was the most common one (381, 76%). However, a significant difference between females and males was shown in defecation by manually pelvic floor supporting (female 26/69, 38%, male 3/20, 15% in manual assisted defecation, P < 0.05) and urinary incontinence when coughing (female 95/422, 22.5%, male 13/139, 9.4%, P < 0.01). Severity of CC, its manifestations and pelvic floor dysfunction were closely correlated with frequencies of pregnancy and delivery.

Owing to anatomic features of female pelvic floor and physiological nature of pregnancy and delivery, the early onset of CC in female patients should attract sufficient attention of multi-disciplinary clinicians.