Do you spend what seems like hours staring at the bathroom walls while you struggle and strain to have a bowel movement? According to the Endonurse Blog, if you're 40 or older, constipation is to be expected:

According to a nationwide survey, only 28 percent of women age 40 and older recognize constipation as a common part of aging -- even though the condition affects up to 42 million adults in the United States and is more prevalent in women than men. Women in this age group expect their bodies to change, but few realize that digestive health problems, such as constipation, may also increase with age and that fluctuating hormones may not always be the cause.

What can you do about constipation? The article goes on to quote Judith Reichman, woman's health specialist:

"If digestive health problems are disrupting the quality of your life or if you are constantly aware of your gastrointestinal tract -- when you last went to the bathroom, if you had to strain, when you might go again -- you should see a doctor. Changes in diet and exercise, while a foundation for therapy, may not always work," said Reichman.