Clinical Trials

Inclusion Criteria- Healthy Controls:

• Healthy female volunteers, aged 18-75 years.
• Able to provide written informed consent before participating in the study.
• Able to communicate adequately with the investigator and to comply with the requirements for the entire study.

Inclusion Criteria - Patients:

• Females aged,18-75 years.
• Having clinical features (i.e., symptoms and signs) of a functional defecation disorder.

Exclusion Criteria - Patients and Controls:

• Clinical evidence (including physical exam and EKG) of significant cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, hematological, neurological, psychiatric or other disease that may interfere with the objectives of the study and/or pose safety concerns. 
• Medications that may alter gastrointestinal motility; e.g., serotoninergic agents, alpha adrenergic agonists, calcium channel or b blockers; stable dose of thyroxine will be permitted.
• Prior pelvic radiation or rectal resection, but not surgery for hemorrhoids or sigmoid resection.
• History of panic attacks or claustrophobia during MRI.

Exclusion Criteria - Controls only:

• Current symptoms of a functional gastrointestinal disorder assessed by questionnaire 15.
• Putative risk factors for pelvic floor trauma; i.e., six or more vaginal deliveries, birthweight > 4500gms (macrosomia), or known 4th degree perineal tear.