Rectal Pain
Medical Author:
Frederick B Gaupp, MD
Medical Editor:
Bhupinder Anand, MD
Rectal Pain OverviewRectal pain is a common problem. Most people have experienced it at least once in their lifetime. It usually appears as a mild discomfort, but sometimes the pain can be so severe that it is incapacitating. Rectal Pain CausesMany conditions can cause rectal pain. Most of these are not serious. Common causes of rectal pain include:
Less frequent causes of rectal pain include:
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Rectal Pain
Proctitis Overview
Proctitis is defined as inflammation of your anus (the opening) and lining of your rectum (lower part of the intestine leading to the anus). Symptoms can vary greatly. You may at first have only minor problems. Proctitis affects the last 6 inches of the rectum and can cause the following:
- Pain during a bowel movement
- Soreness in your anal and rectal area
- Feeling that you didn't completely empty your bowels after a bowel movement
- Involuntary spasms and cramping during bowel movements
- Bleeding, and possibly a discharge
Proctitis can last a short time or become a chronic condition (last for weeks or months or longer).
Proctitis Causes
Proctitis has many causes, but sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are the most common. Gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, anal warts, and chlamydia are the most common cause of sexually transmitted proctitis. Proctitis is incr...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape
Proctitis »
Proctitis is inflammation of the lining of the rectum, called the rectal mucosa.
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