| Abstract: | □ Hormonal changes, mechanical pressure and concurrent medication all contribute to altered bowel habit during pregnancy □ It has been suggested that pregnant women are more likely to receive laxatives than the baseline population □ A retrospective case control study using a primary care prescribing database was undertaken to compare laxative prescribing before and during pregnancy with that in matched controls □ Prescribing rate of laxatives increased during pregnancy compared with before becoming pregnant but this was not different to controls □ Pregnant women were more likely to receive a laxative if they were using antibacterials, preparations for haemorrhoids or drugs for nausea and vertigo. |
