Is constipation a common problem after hysterectomy in women????

I had a total hysterectomy (uterus & cervix) in March 2007. Immediately following my surgery I was constipated. I am still dealing with chronic constipation. Sometimes trying a new diet helps... but only for a week or two... sometimes eating soup all day helps too. But the surest way I know to get "things" moving is to drink a couple big glasses of water or other fluids & hold it in as long as I can... I believe that my full bladder pushes against my colon, providing the stimulation it needs. I discovered this, by mistake, after a few ultrasounds, because I still occasionally suffer from ovarian cysts. Every time I went in for the sonogram, I had to "go" to the bathroom!

I had been "blocked up" for the past couple weeks. Very bloated, uncomfortable, constant "full" feeling, etc...
The day I started the Lady Soma Detox, I "went". It wasn't an uncontrollable feeling, but just that things were finally starting to work the way through.

I've been more regular these past few days using this product than I've felt in quite some time. I feel lighter and normal.

I forgot to login when I posted the previous comment, it was posted by Nora W Coffey, [Personal Information removed by EmpowHer Moderator]

Removal of the uterus causes women to develop a rectocele. When the uterus is removed the bowel drifts down and fills the space previously occupied by the uterus. As the bowel moved down, it pulls the rectum down, which is known as a rectocele. When their is stool in the bowel it pushes down into the vaginal wall. Constipation is structural after hysterectomy, it is the prolapsed rectum and bowel, when there is stool in the bowel, unnaturally bulging into the wall of the vagina. There is a good description of this process on the video "Female Anatomy: the Functions of the Female Organs" at www.hersfoundation.org/anatomy.

Varma JS. Autonomic influences on colorectal motility and pelvic surgery. World Journal of Surgery 1992;16:811-819.

van Dam JH, MJ G, Drogendijk AC, Hop WC, Schouten WR. Changes in bowel function after hysterectomy. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology Supplemental 1997;40:1342-1347.

Wiersma TG, Werre AJ, den Hartog G, Thies JE, Tytgat GN, Mulder CJ. Hysterectomy: the anorectal pitfall. A guideline for evaluation. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology Supplement 1997;223:3-

Hi Anonymous,
Thank you for you question and for finding EmpowHER. Constipation is common after many types of surgery, and in particular, abdominal surgery. In regard to your thesis, your master program advisor would be able to answer that question.
For more information, please check this out:
MedlinePlus: Constipation Information
Good luck!