Four answers were offered:

• Never

• Sometimes (<25% of the times)

• Often (>25% of the times)

• Always

QUESTIONS TO DEFINE CONSTIPATION.

1. Do you strain during a bowel movement?
2. Do you feel an incomplete emptying sensation after a bowel movement?
3. How often are your stools hard?
4. Do you feel a blockage in the anus that makes it difficult to pass the stool?
5. Do you need to press around the anus or vagina to complete bowel movement?

Functional constipation (Rome criteria).

Two or more of 4 criteria: questions 1, 2 and 3 (answer= often or always) and fewer than three bowel movements a week; or fewer than two bowel movements a week as sole criterium.

Functional constipation (Rome II criteria).

Two or more of 6 criteria: questions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 (answer= often or always) and fewer than three bowel movements a week. Absence of loose or watery stools.