Medical evaluation for the cause of constipation should be done when constipation is of sudden onset, severe, worsening, associated with other worrisome symptoms such as
loss of
weight, or is not responding to simple, safe treatments.
Medical evaluation of constipation may include a history, physical examination, blood tests, abdominal x-rays, barium enema, colonic transit studies, defecography, ano-rectal motility studies, and colonic motility studies.