General information
Pain that occurs immediately after or during bowel movements can have various causes. Depending on the cause, they may be harmless symptoms or they may be symptoms of a serious illness. Which disease is responsible for the pain in an individual case can best be determined by a treating physician. Especially if the pain occurs repeatedly, is very strong or if other symptoms occur in addition to the pain, it is recommended to consult a physician.
Symptoms
The pain that occurs after bowel movements can have different characteristics depending on the cause. Thus, the place where the pain occurs can vary greatly from one individual to another. The pain can be felt in the entire lower abdomen and rectum.
Besides the localization, the type of pain is also decisive. Thus, different diseases also have different pain characteristics. Pain that is very strong but occurs in phases is typical for certain diseases, whereas pain that is always present occurs in other diseases.
Besides pain, other symptoms can be decisive for the diagnosis of the underlying disease. Blood in the stool, for example, is a leading cause of a number of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Pain after defecation, which is related to the intestine, can be caused by various factors.
In most cases where the pain occurs in connection with the bowel movement, constipation as well as flatulence are responsible for the discomfort. Hemorrhoids and anal venous thrombosis can also cause pain. Different forms of colon cancer can also cause pain.
The so-called irritable bowel syndrome can also cause pain that can be felt in the entire intestinal area. The so-called diverticulitis is a disease of the large intestine, which can also lead to pain in the lower abdomen. This is an inflammation of the large intestine.
There are a number of other diseases of the colon which can be responsible for pain. However, on the one hand, these are very rare, respectively it is less typical that the pain occurs in connection with bowel movements. In order to obtain certainty about the individual diagnosis, a comprehensive analysis by a treating physician is recommended.
The localization of the pain that occurs after defecation is important for the diagnosis. Even a rough estimate of whether the pain is more likely to occur on the right or left side can exclude certain diseases. If the pain is very strong and/or recurs, a comprehensive diagnostic procedure must be performed to analyze the cause of the pain in more detail.
The most common cause of pain that can be felt in the left lower abdomen is constipation or flatulence. Diseases of the intestine can also occur on the left side. Diverticulitis, in which sacculations of the colon become inflamed, can be felt increasingly on the left side of the lower abdomen through pain.
Pain that is triggered by the stomach is usually also felt on the left side. Pain that occurs in connection with bowel movements in the lower or upper abdomen can occur on both the left and right side. The most common causes of pain that can be directly related to bowel movement are constipation and flatulence.
These are pains that can sometimes be very strong, but the condition itself can be considered harmless. However, other clinical pictures can also be considered if the right abdomen is painful. For example, a number of different intestinal diseases can be the cause of the pain.
Typically localized on the right side is the inflammation of the appendix. This is usually located on the right side of the lower abdomen and can cause severe pain if it is inflamed. Diseases of the liver or gallbladder can also lead to severe pain in the right lower and upper abdomen.
The anus, or anus, represents the last part of the intestine and the intestinal opening. It extends from the opening of the intestine to about 2-4cm in the direction of the rectum. Pain that occurs at this point during bowel movement can be caused by a variety of different diseases.
In most cases they are harmless causes.One of the most frequent irritations in this area is the sensitive skin of the anus, which is responsible for pain during and after bowel movements. Irritations occur especially when the stool is either too hard (constipation) or too soft (diarrhea). Skin irritation can also occur as a result of activities such as walking or cycling.
In case of skin irritation in the anus area, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist or family doctor and to care for the skin in the anus area. Hemorrhoids or anal venous thrombosis are also frequently reported as causes of pain in the anus area. These can be caused by frequent constipation and the associated pressing during bowel movements.
In rare cases anal fissures or certain forms of cancer are responsible for the pain. If the pain persists, a doctor should always be consulted for clarification. Pain that occurs in the lower abdomen can be due to various causes.
If the pain is directly related to the bowel movement, constipation and flatulence can be excluded as causes. Rare causes can affect both diseases of the intestine and organs of the lower abdomen. Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, appendicitis, kidney diseases, inguinal hernia, diverticulitis or diseases of the reproductive organs may be possible.
In order to determine which cause is responsible for the symptoms in an individual case, a doctor should be consulted and a detailed examination of the person concerned should be carried out. The term rectum includes the last section of the human intestine and covers about 20cm of the large intestine. The rectum ends in the anus.
Pain that emanates from this part of the intestine can be caused by various factors. Some examples of diseases of the rectum that can lead to pain are Constipation, hemorrhoids, abscesses, anal fistulas, anal fissures, pelvic floor prolapse, chronic inflammatory bowel disease and fecal incontinence. In order to find out which cause of the individual complaints is possible, a doctor should be consulted.
The lower abdomen is a colloquial term for the organs that are localized in the pelvis. Pain that occurs in the lower abdomen can be caused by organs of the urinary system, sexual organs or the intestines. If there is always pain after defecation, a connection with organs of the urinary system and the sexual organs is at least unlikely.
In the case of pain in the abdominal area, a variety of different intestinal diseases can be responsible for the pain. Constipation and flatulence can also cause pain in this area. To find out which disease is behind the pain, a doctor should be consulted.
Pain in the male prostate gland, which is located underneath the bladder and immediately in front of the rectum, can indicate an inflammation of the organ (prostatitis). Also a benign enlargement of the prostate gland, which affects a great many men with increasing age, can cause pain due to a dislocation of the urethra and a resulting accumulation of urine. The increased pressure in this region during bowel movement triggers or intensifies the pain.
Also possible are other causes of pain after defecation, which are only felt in the area of the prostate gland, without it being the cause of the pain. A chronic pelvic pain syndrome due to a long-lasting inflammatory reaction can also be felt mainly in the area of the prostate. In comparatively very rare cases, pain in the prostate gland after bowel movement is a first sign of a malignant disease.
In order to exclude this possibility or at least to be able to initiate a timely therapy, a urologist should definitely be consulted. If the pain after defecation is localized exactly at the coccyx, this can have various causes. Especially after a fall on the buttocks or a bruise in this area, pain can occur during or after defecation.
This is due to the anatomical proximity to the rectum. A cause of pain that does not originate from the coccyx itself, but is only felt there, is also possible. Again, these are the already generally mentioned causes of pain after defecation such as constipation, hemorrhoids or a blood clot in a vein located on the outer wall of the rectum (anal venous thrombosis).
If children have pain after defecation, other causes must be considered than for adults.However, the pain is also most frequently triggered by constipation. About 5 percent of children are affected. The constipation can have various causes and is usually not organic.
A wrong diet, but also an unfamiliar environment or separation from parents can be the trigger. Anatomical misalignments or a twisted intestine are much less common but can have serious consequences. For other reasons for pain after defecation, the localization of the pain (for example, left or right, lower or upper abdomen) can also provide clues, as in adults.
However, children are often less able to localize their pain. Small children in particular can usually only express the pain by crying during or after defecation. In any case, the child’s complaints should be investigated and a visit to the pediatrician or family doctor should be made.
During the birth process, the woman’s body is exposed to extreme stress. The organs and tissues are exposed to enormous pressure and tensile forces. As a result, an inflammatory reaction can lead to pain, especially after bowel movements.
For relief it is possible to use painkillers after consultation with a doctor. During pregnancy there is an increased risk of hemorrhoids and perianal vein thrombosis, which may occur or cause pain after delivery. Pain after bowel movements, which may last longer or even become stronger, should be clarified by the gynaecologist or family doctor as soon as possible.
Back pain is generally a common ailment in the population with a variety of causes (often overuse and incorrect use). Due to the high pressure that is generated in the entire abdominal cavity during defecation, it is possible that back pain is also triggered or intensified by it. In rather rare cases, the pain after defecation may be a symptom of bone metastases in the back due to a possibly undetected cancer. Even if a harmless explanation is much more likely, a physician should always be consulted to make sure.
