What Causes Pressure in Your Rectum?

A constant feeling of pressure in the anus or rectum not only is frustrating, but it also can be a sign of several different conditions. The rectum is the last part of the large intestine. It is where stool is stored before it leaves the body through the anus during a bowel movement. It is surrounded by other organs, which might also have an effect on it.

This article will discuss some of the reasons for a feeling of fullness or pressure in the anus. It will also touch on tests to diagnose the cause and treatments that might help.

Anal Pressure Symptoms

Anal pressure can feel like having to go to the bathroom to move your bowels. But the feeling doesn’t always stop after passing stool.

Sensation

The sensation of anal pressure could be described in a variety of ways. It could feel like:

• Constant pressure that doesn’t end after a bowel movement
  
• The urge to have a bowel movement
• Something in the rectum

Location

The rectum is located at the end of the large intestine. It is between the last segment of the colon (the sigmoid colon) and the anal sphincter. The rectum is about 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) long. 

After food is digested and passes through the large intestine, it moves into the rectum. Stool is emptied from the rectum during a bowel movement.

There are other organs around the rectum. If those organs are affected by a health condition, the rectum may also be affected, including causing a feeling of pressure. Nearby organs include the bladder, the uterus, and the vagina in biological females, and the bladder and the prostate in biological males.

Possible Causes

There are many reasons for a feeling of pressure in the rectal area. They range from common and treatable to more serious.

More common causes include:

• Anal fissure: A tear or crack in the anal canal
• Constipation: Hard, difficult-to-pass stools
• Diarrhea: Loose or liquid stools
• Hemorrhoids: Swollen veins in the rectum or anus

Less common causes include:

• Anal cancer: A rare form of cancer in the anus
• Bruised tailbone (coccydynia): An injury to the bottom of the spine
  
• Diverticulitis: An inflammation of diverticula (outpouchings) in the lining of the colon
• Fistula: An abnormal tunnel or channel between two organs
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, which includes Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or indeterminate colitis): Inflammation in the digestive tract
• Prostatitis: Inflammation of the prostate
• Rectal prolapse: Rectal tissue bulging out of the anus

Feeling Comfortable With Your Provider

Talking about symptoms in the digestive tract with a healthcare provider can be difficult. There are some key things to remember about bringing up anal or rectal pressure with your healthcare provider.

Many of the common causes of anal pressure are not serious and can get better with treatment. Bringing symptoms to a healthcare provider can help in getting a diagnosis—and treatment—faster.

Remember that this is what doctors do: They are there to help solve medical problems. It may help to role play talking to a doctor with a friend or a family member. Rehearsing what you say and how you say it may help you to feel more comfortable.

It may also be comforting to know that healthcare professionals hear about bowel problems all of the time. They’re trained in how to take a list of the symptoms and make a decision on what to do next. This could include a physical exam, some tests, and/or a referral to a specialist.

Physical Exams and Diagnostic Tests

After taking down a history that includes symptoms and other details that may be relevant, a healthcare provider will perform a physical exam.

When it comes to problems in the anus and the rectum, the exam might include a digital rectal exam. This is where a healthcare provider briefly inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the anus and feels for any abnormalities.

This exam can be uncomfortable both physically and mentally for some people, so it’s key to be upfront about how you feel having this exam. It sounds really simple, but it is a good way to easily find some problems in the anus, like a hemorrhoid.

When the finger is pulled away, the glove might have stool, mucus, or blood on it. That will also give the healthcare provider information about what might be causing the symptoms.

There may be a need for more invasive tests. These can include:

• Anorectal manometry: A small probe is inserted into the rectum to record the muscle movements.
• Anoscopy: An instrument called an anoscope, which is a short tube with a light on the end, is inserted into the anus.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan: This test uses multiple X-rays to create a 3D image of the abdomen.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This test uses magnets to provide a 3D image of the organs and structures in the body.
• Sigmoidoscopy: A thin tube with a light and a camera on the end is inserted into the anus to look at the inside of the anal sphincter, the rectum, and the sigmoid colon.
• X-rays: Images of the abdomen may be taken to check for abnormalities.

Treatment

Having a diagnosis will be important in knowing how to treat discomfort and pressure in the anal and rectal area. However, there are also some things that can be tried at home to ease the sensation.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Relief

In some cases, Tylenol (acetaminophen) and/or Advil (ibuprofen) may help manage pain or discomfort. However, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider about which pain medications to try because certain types may not be recommended for some people.

Self-Care

Self-care for rectal pressure can take many forms. Treating the underlying cause, when it's known, may help ease the discomfort.

If constipation is the main or partial cause, drinking more water, being active, or changing your diet to include more fiber may help.

For hemorrhoids, a fistula, or a fissure, a sitz bath, which is sitting in a shallow basin of warm water for a short period of time, may ease the sensation.

For diarrhea, slowing bowel movements down may help with the pressure. This could include taking antidiarrheal medications and eating the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, tea, and toast) diet.

Diarrhea doesn’t always need treatment and, in fact, in some cases, antidiarrheal medications might not be recommended. For diarrhea that continues for more than a few days or if you see blood in the stool, check with a doctor before using these drugs. 

IBD

Pressure associated with IBD may be from diarrhea or constipation caused by the disease. It could also be from a complication such as a fistula or perianal disease. Controlling the inflammation caused by the IBD is a big part of the treatment.

Treatments for IBD can include oral medications, biologic medications, enemas, suppositories, and lifestyle modifications. Care is coordinated with the help of a gastroenterologist and other healthcare providers such as a dietitian, IBD nurse, or mental healthcare provider.

Cancer

In the case of a tumor putting pressure on the rectum, treatment will be specific to the type of cancer and how far it has advanced.

Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are all treatments used for cancer. It’s important to remember, however, that cancer will not be a common cause of pressure in the rectum.

Summary

Pressure in the rectum can be from a variety of causes, but most of them are temporary and treatable. Seeing a healthcare provider for this symptom will help in understanding what is causing it and how to treat it.

A Word From Verywell

Rectal pressure can mean that there’s stool ready to be moved through a bowel movement. But when the sensation continues after you go to the bathroom, you will find it’s worth talking to a healthcare provider.

The initial conversation can be embarrassing, but it is a common problem and won’t be anything new to your providers. It’s important to disclose any other signs or symptoms you have, such as blood, mucus, or pain, because these things can help narrow down the cause and get treatment started.