Constipation Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

Abdominal pain
Sensation of abdominal fullness
Rectal pain and pressure
Difficulty passing stool, despite straining
Hard, dry, small stool
Black stool
"Rabbit pellet" appearance to stool
Sensation of retained stool after defecating

Diagnosis

There are over-the-counter medications to treat constipation called laxatives. However, changes in bowel habits, such as constipation, may indicate a more serious medical condition.

Consult a doctor if you have:

Constipation plus:
- Abdominal pain
- Bleeding
- Black stool
- Distended abdomen
- Fever
Consistent and significant change in your bowel habits
Constipation that lasts longer than three weeks

Tests to rule out other medical conditions include:

Physical exam
Digital rectal exam—examination of the rectum with the doctor's gloved, lubricated finger inserted into your rectum
Blood tests
Abdominal x-rays
Barium enema x-ray —enema of fluid into the rectum that makes your colon light up on an x-ray
Flexible sigmoidoscopy —a thin, lighted tube with a camera inserted into the rectum to examine the rectum and the lower colon

Barium Enema

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2026 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.