Women having hysterectomy are more likely to suffer from constipation and other bowel problems.
A random sample of 1058 women between 25-69 in east Bristol were asked questions about their bowel function. The researchers found that those who had had hysterectomy “were more likely to report constipation, more episodes of straining to pass stools and more irritable bowel symptoms, such as bloating, lumpy stools and feelings of incomplete evacuation (but not abdominal pain).
The study also looked at the experience of women after having their gall bladder removed (cholecystectomy). Some 44 per cent were found to suffer afterwards from “urgency of defecation”.