Pain in the lower abdomen radiating to the rectum in women - what does it mean and how to deal with it correctly

Some diseases cause pain in the anus and lower abdomen, so if these symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. These sensations may be due to menstruation in some women or during bowel movements.

Sometimes the pain intensifies, becomes periodic, and then constant. The pain spreads from the rectum and can radiate to the lower abdomen, bladder, legs and ovaries.

The pain can be so severe that a person cannot walk, lie down, urination and passing gases are done with great difficulty or not at all. The pain is periodic, but after the attack ends, the pain does not disappear, but becomes aching.

Main reasons

Today, specialized specialists know a sufficient number of factors that can provoke the appearance of painful sensations in women during or before menstruation, which spread to nearby organs. It should be noted here that during this period the body becomes much weaker, and the functioning of the immune system deteriorates. All this contributes to the activation of chronic diseases, infections, fungi and other pathogenic microflora.

If pain during ovulation radiates to the rectum, most likely we are talking about:

• the appearance or resumption of inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs. If there are various inflammatory diseases, they tend to worsen just during menstruation;
• rupture of the vessel feeding the follicle. This provokes the appearance of localized inflammation, leading to painful sensations. The situation is quite rare, but still happens in women who have certain pathologies in this area, or anatomical features of the structure of the pelvic organs;
• presence of neoplasms. A tumor of the genital organs at an early stage of development may manifest itself as pain during ovulation.

The rarest cause may be increased innervation of the genital organs, which can provoke pain.

In any case, only a gynecologist or a doctor of another specialization, depending on the type of problem, can make the correct diagnosis. You should never self-medicate, as this can only make the situation worse. Also, you should not tolerate unusual pain - the cause of its occurrence must be treated.

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Treatment

The treatment regimen will depend on the cause of the disease. It is important to find out exactly what condition led to pain during bowel movements. There is no point in treating only the symptom without eliminating its source. The disease will progress, and the pain syndrome will increase.

First aid

Before visiting a doctor, you can eliminate stool disorders as a factor that provokes increased pain during bowel movements. For constipation it is recommended:

• Follow a diet. Fatty poultry, fish, meat, strong broths, pasta, and baked goods are excluded from the diet. Fermented milk products, vegetables, fruits and berries are added.
• Drink more fluid – up to 1.5 liters per day. Water improves the digestion of food, facilitates bowel movements, and eliminates constipation.
• Pay attention to physical activity. Yoga, Pilates, swimming, water aerobics, and therapeutic exercises will be beneficial. If there are no contraindications, you can work out in the gym and attend strength training. Don't forget about walking.
• Form the habit of having a bowel movement at the same time every day.
• Avoid stress and overwork.

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Heaviness in the lower abdomen: physiological and pathological causes of the condition

It is not recommended to take any medications or turn to traditional medicine recipes before visiting a doctor. Irrational therapy can aggravate the condition and lead to complications.

Medical assistance

Treatment of the underlying disease can be conservative or surgical. Conservative therapy involves prescribing medications:

• Remedies for constipation. Local and systemic laxatives are prescribed.
• Antibacterial and antifungal drugs. Indicated for infectious nature of the disease.
• Means that normalize intestinal function. Enzymes, prokinetics, drugs to restore microflora, etc. are prescribed.
• Symptomatic therapy according to indications.

Surgical assistance is indicated for the development of conditions that are not amenable to drug correction:

• complicated hemorrhoids;
• long-term non-healing anal fissure;
• acute paraproctitis with abscess formation;
• inflammation of the fistula or accessory tract;
• rectal stenosis;
• tumor of the intestine, abdominal cavity, pelvic organs;
• consequences of injury.

The extent of the operation is determined by the nature of the pathology, the age of the patient and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Pain during bowel movements is an alarming symptom indicating problems in the digestive tract. Less often he talks about pathology of the urinary or reproductive system. It is important not to put off visiting your doctor. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the easier it is to cope with the problem and avoid progression of the disease.

In continuation of the topic, be sure to read:

1. Colorectal cancer: early and late symptoms, treatment methods and prognosis for life
2. Anal sphincter insufficiency: degrees, causes and methods of treating pathology
3. Rectocele: definition, symptoms and treatment (conservative and surgical)
4. Rectal prolapse: how is the pathology manifested and treated?
5. Cryptitis: definition of pathology, symptoms and treatment methods
6. Paraproctitis: how is the pathology manifested and treated?
7. Why is there a burning and itching in the anus and how to treat the pathology?
8. Proctosigmoiditis: how is the pathology manifested and treated?
9. Rectal sphincteritis: symptoms, treatment methods and consequences of pathology
10. Diseases of the rectum: symptoms and signs of the disease, treatment

Features of painful sensations

If pain in the uterus radiates to the rectum, this indicates that not everything is in order with the body. Its character can be completely different - dull, aching, sharp, stabbing, etc., but the result is always the same - a sharp deterioration in health, general exhaustion of the body, changes in mood, and possibly the development of stress.

It is the characteristics of pain that can say a lot about the pathology present in the body. For example, if pain in the rectum is associated with the appearance of unpleasant sensations in the abdominal cavity (spasms, etc.), this may indicate problems with the intestines. Its intensification during defecation, or at least an attempt to do so, indicates that the localization of pain is located precisely in this department. Often, an attempt to empty the rectum leads to the appearance of blood or mucous discharge from the anus.

Dull pain in the rectum is one of the symptoms of an abscess. The formation of an abscess during ovulation is a fairly common occurrence in women who have specific problems with their own health.

Severe pain in the lower abdomen radiating to the rectum - which organs can influence

As mentioned above, the cause of the appearance of severe pain during the period of ovulation may be associated with the activation of inflammatory processes, in other words, diseases, in nearby organs. In this case, we should say that it is they that cause the pain, while the traditional unpleasant sensations associated with premenstrual anticipation or ovulation itself fade into the background.

Causes of pain

Abdominal pain most often indicates pathologies associated with the gastrointestinal tract. Thanks to some symptoms, it is possible to make a correct diagnosis without additional diagnostics. So why do unpleasant symptoms occur?

Common causes of discomfort are:

• acute appendicitis;
• adhesive disease in the intestines;
• the presence of diverticula in the rectum;
• polypous growths in the lower intestines;
• irritable bowel syndrome;
• helminthiases;
• Crohn's disease;
• ulcerative inflammation of the colon;
• rectal cancer;
• acute intestinal infections.

Appendicitis

Acute, less often chronic inflammation of the appendage of the cecum. Until now, the exact cause of the pathology has not been determined. Symptoms of inflammation of the appendix are: severe pain in the lower abdomen, mainly on the right and extending to the anus or lower back, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tension in the anterior abdominal wall.

The inflammatory process is often accompanied by fever and a white coating on the tongue. In order to get rid of the inflamed appendix, a surgical operation is prescribed, during which the appendix will be completely removed.

Adhesive disease

A pathology in which adhesions form between intestinal loops. They can also appear between other organs of the abdominal cavity: liver, spleen, ovaries, uterus, etc. Most often, adhesions appear after surgical interventions, abdominal injuries, congenital anomalies, developmental defects, foreign objects and medications.

Signs of adhesive disease depend on the location of the adhesions; usually the pain is intense and occurs in the lower abdomen. It is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and both constipation and diarrhea may appear. The disease can be diagnosed using ultrasound. Treatment is carried out conservatively and surgically.

Polyps in the intestines

Benign neoplasms, which are protrusions on the surface of the mucous membrane, having different shapes. There are many reasons for their appearance in the gastrointestinal tract: long-term inflammation of the mucous membrane of organs, intestinal dyskinesia, chronic constipation, intrauterine malformations, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, heredity, infectious diseases and others.

Treatment of intestinal polyposis is only surgical, by excision of tumors

The most typical manifestation of polyps are the following symptoms: irregular bowel movements with alternating diarrhea and constipation, discomfort in the rectum, pain in the lower abdomen, feces with a high content of mucus, sometimes streaked with blood. The danger of polyps is that they have the ability to degenerate into cancer.

Crohn's disease

A chronic progressive disease of unknown etiology, characterized by granulomatous lesions of all organs of the gastrointestinal tract, from the oral cavity, esophagus and stomach, to the rectum.

Symptoms of Crohn's disease are diarrhea, a slight increase in temperature and general weakness, cramping abdominal pain of varying intensity, blood in the feces, ulcers on the mucous membrane, starting with the oral cavity, decreased appetite and weight loss, pain in the perineum and anus.

The danger of the disease lies in the development of complications that are difficult to respond to drug therapy: cancer of various parts of the intestine, fistulas, intestinal obstruction.

In our time, unfortunately, no treatment has yet been found that would help get rid of the pathology, but there is a set of measures that is aimed at reducing the severity of symptoms, and even over a long period of time allows one to achieve remission.

Helminthiasis

Parasitic diseases caused by intestinal worms. Most often in the intestines these are roundworms and tapeworms. Parasites can enter the human body in several ways: through dirty hands, toys or food, water, or through contaminated meat that has not undergone normal heat treatment.

Over a long period of time, worms may not make themselves felt, but when they become significantly more numerous, the following undesirable symptoms may appear: abdominal pain after eating, which can radiate to the anus, bowel dysfunction (constipation or diarrhea), nausea and vomiting , increased gas formation, bloating, itching in the rectum.

Treatment is carried out conservatively and surgically.

Rectal cancer

A tumor formation of atypical cells that is malignant in nature. There are many reasons why a tumor appears: chronic inflammatory diseases, hereditary predisposition, intestinal polyposis, Crohn's disease, etc.

With some diseases, you can see mucus and blood in the stool

At an early stage of its development, cancer may not manifest itself in any way; only general weakness, malaise and loss of appetite appear. Many patients do not even pay attention to these symptoms.

Over time, the tumor grows and other signs of a neoplasm appear:

• pain in the lower abdomen that radiates to the anus;
• the shape of feces resembles a ribbon;
• blood may appear in the feces;
• sensation of a foreign body in the rectum;
• sudden loss of body weight;
• pallor of the skin.

Treatment for cancer depends on the extent of the disease and includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Acute intestinal infection

A group of diseases characterized by a common route of transmission and location of pathogenic microorganisms. Infection usually occurs by eating unwashed fruits and vegetables, dirty water, and poor-quality food.

With almost all infections that affect the intestines, there is a rise in body temperature, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and pain in various parts of the abdomen. Treatment involves taking drugs that have antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal effects.

There are other causes of pain in the lower abdomen, which radiates to the anus and puts pressure on it. They are different for men and women. The following pathologies are most common among different sexes.

Inflammation of the appendages

It is a rather dangerous disease that definitely needs to be treated. It manifests itself at its worst during the period of ovulation more often than all other ailments. It is characterized by symptoms such as a sharp increase in body temperature, moderate intoxication of the body, severe aching pain in the lower abdomen.

The uterus increases in size, its palpation is painful. A woman with inflammation of the appendages feels heaviness in the place where they are located. The uterus becomes hypersensitive, its density increases significantly.

Treatment consists of a course of antibiotics, the use of vitamin supplements, and suppositories. Most drugs designed to quickly and effectively relieve inflammatory processes will be suitable. It is noteworthy that after the end of menstruation, the inflamed appendages calm down, creating the illusion in the patient that she has recovered on her own.

Rectum: diseases, symptoms, treatment

The rectum is a pelvic organ that is part of the digestive system and is designed to remove processed food (feces) from the body.

The rectum begins at the level of the third sacral spine and ends at the anus. Its average length is 15–17 cm.

The organ consists of a mucous, submucosal and muscular layer. Thanks to this structure, the mucous membrane can shift - gather into folds or straighten out, depending on the overcrowding of the rectum.

The main function of the organ is bowel movement. Due to its purpose, the rectum is highly susceptible to various injuries and diseases.

Common diseases include fissures, polyps, proctitis, hemorrhoids, ulcers, and cancer. The same symptoms of rectal disease may indicate different ailments. In case of any ailments, you should immediately consult a doctor. A proctologist deals with problems of the rectum.

Ovarian apoplexy

Under the word apoplexy, which is incomprehensible to many average citizens, lies the well-known hemorrhage. In this case, we are talking about blood entering the soft tissue of the ovary. This disease is directly related to ovulation and cannot occur for other reasons.

Apoplexy may appear due to increased physical activity during the premenstrual period, rough sexual intercourse and other mechanical effects on the internal genital organs. It is very important to understand that rupture of blood vessels can lead to intra-abdominal bleeding, which can only be stopped with emergency surgery. Too severe apoplexy can be determined by the patient’s condition - there is a sharp pallor of the skin, in some cases there is even a loss of consciousness.

Endometriosis

This disease can affect the genitals, uterus, both from the inside and outside, as well as the appendages. Pathological cells quickly spread inside the abdominal cavity, causing a gradual increase in pain. It is noteworthy that the greatest pains are observed precisely in the premenstrual period or directly during ovulation.

Endometriosis ends with the development of adhesions, which makes the genitals less elastic. Heavy discharge appears, and cycle disruption is possible. All this, as a rule, leads to infertility. Endometriosis is treated with hormonal drugs. However, if the disease is severely advanced, it is possible that surgical intervention will be required.

Uterine fibroids

Myoma is a neoplasm in the uterus. Developing nodes cause this organ to increase in size, which is why it squeezes its “neighbors”. Fibroids can also become inflamed, which is often accompanied by heavy bleeding, not only during ovulation. These are the most common causes of pain in the lower abdomen radiating to the rectum in women with this disease.

Uterine fibroids can only be cured through surgery.

Discomfort when sitting and defecating

Unusual sensations in the anus are possible if a person leads a sedentary lifestyle.

The appearance of pain or itching during prolonged sitting appears in connection with diaper rash in obese people, as a consequence of helminthic infestation or colitis.

Anatomically, the rectum is the end of the digestive tract, so the slightest problems that arise in it immediately cause discomfort during bowel movements.

When excreting feces, the muscular lining of the rectum tenses, and its spiral-shaped structure seems to push the masses out. The slightest crack or fistula can cause unbearable pain during defecation.

Unpleasant sensations may be caused by inflammation of the glands that produce a special lubricant for the normal excretion of feces, or may be a consequence of thickening of the blood in the hemorrhoidal veins and the formation of nodes in the rectum.

Burning and itching during and after bowel movements are caused by parasites located in the large intestine (pinworms). After feces are separated, they remain at the entrance to the anus, irritating its mucous membrane.

Discomfort during bowel movements in men is often a consequence of inflammation of the prostate. It is this disease that from time to time causes first constipation, and then characteristic “pulling” pain in the lumbar region, in the groin, and finally in the anus and rectum.

Ovarian torsion

Many experts consider an important disadvantage of human anatomy to be the fact that the ovaries are very weakly fixed in their natural position. If you make an unsuccessful bend or resort to significant physical exertion, this can lead to the fact that this organ is twisted.

Changing the position by about 90 degrees is not so dangerous, but still causes a lot of inconvenience, including pain. The pain will be aching, which is caused by the outflow of venous blood from the organ. A 360-degree rotation provokes a restriction of arterial blood access. The ovary begins to experience oxygen starvation, which provokes the appearance of the so-called “acute” abdomen - severe pain, cramps, and the need to take a position that alleviates the pain. Intoxication of the body is noted, body temperature rises significantly.

Treatment is surgical only. The ovary will not return to its normal position on its own.

Cholecystitis

If abdominal pain radiates to the rectum, which is especially common during ovulation, it is possible that the cause may be the bladder. The inflamed organ causes very sharp and severe pain, which in some cases is completely impossible to endure. As a rule, the bladder becomes inflamed for only one reason - when stones appear in it.

Stones cause not only complicated urination. The disease is extremely difficult. There is an increase in the level of bilirubin in the blood, which causes the skin to itch. Pain in the lower abdomen radiates to the right hypochondrium and even to the back area. The patient often feels nauseous and may vomit.

Cholecystitis can be treated with medication. However, this is only relevant for small stones.

If the dimensions of the stones are too large, they can only be removed through surgery.

Measures that can be taken before the ambulance arrives

Before the patient can see a doctor or an ambulance arrives, some measures can be taken to help make him feel a little better:

• Apply a bottle of ice, wrapped several times with a thin diaper, to the lower abdomen for abdominal pain of unknown etiology.
• If the patient has previously encountered such a problem and the doctor has prescribed rectal suppositories, they can be used during an exacerbation.
• If it is known that the cause of the pain that radiates in the anus is a spasm, then you can take an antispasmodic. A warm bath can also help, but for example, with hemorrhoids, it can cause heavy bleeding.
• For constipation caused by poor diet, you should drink as much water as possible. In an emergency, you can use suppositories or microenemas with stool softening substances. Long-term constipation leads to cracks and tears in the anus.

Sometimes the above measures help cope with unwanted symptoms

Appendicitis

This is a very insidious disease that can “hide” behind other ailments, which makes it very difficult to identify it in time. Manifestations of appendicitis include increased body temperature, pain in the right side, abdominal distension, vomiting, and nausea. During ovulation, it is very important to consider the symptoms of this disease in time. Despite popular belief, appendicitis can even cause death, especially if it provokes the development of peritonitis.

Appendicitis can only be treated surgically.

Traditional methods of treatment

Traditional medicine for rectal ailments can be quite effective if you know how to use it correctly. It is used as an additional treatment method. People know thousands of recipes for relieving not only pain, but also other symptoms.

All recipes can be divided into two types:

1. For oral administration. Decoctions of millennial, spotted arum, elderberry, bittersweet, tartar, nettle, chamomile.
2. For local use - suppositories, ointments, baths, microenemas. They use celandine, sea buckthorn oil, camphor oil, and calendula for this.

In any case, before using traditional medicine, you need to consult a proctologist, otherwise the treatment may not alleviate the course of the disease, but, on the contrary, do harm.

Cystitis

Women themselves suffer from this disease much more difficult than men. The situation tends to worsen during the period of ovulation. If your lower abdomen hurts and puts pressure on your rectum, this may be a sign of cystitis. Sharp or dull, aching pain often intensifies when urinating. Weakening of the body during the cycle very often leads to the resumption of inflammatory processes in the kidneys.

Cystitis is treated with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor.

Prevention

In order to prevent the development of diseases of the rectum (here, by the way, is an article about their types and causes), you should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Maintain anal hygiene.
2. Pay attention to pain in the anus in a timely manner and carry out a thorough diagnosis (do not let the disease develop to an extreme state).
3. Do not lift anything weighing more than ten kilograms.
4. Do not delay the act of defecation, as this is very harmful to the rectum.
5. Give up bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol).
6. Lead an active lifestyle, especially when working sedentarily. To do this, you need to exercise at least once a week, run or at least do exercises.
7. Avoid traumatizing the rectum (this also applies to sexual intercourse through the anus).
8. Eat right (avoid eating too spicy and fatty foods).
9. Don't overeat.
10. Try to avoid things that cause digestive problems.
11. Take vitamin complexes to strengthen the immune system.

Ectopic pregnancy

There are cases when a sharp pain appears in the lower abdomen in women, radiating to the rectum just before menstruation, but ovulation itself does not occur. This may indicate such an extremely dangerous gynecological phenomenon as an ectopic pregnancy.

Painful sensations appear due to injuries to the uterus, which unnaturally expands or even ruptures as a result of the gradual development of the fetus. This pathology should be treated exclusively surgically, and without any delay.

Diseases of the spine and joints

Pain in the lower abdomen after defecation can indicate not only problems with internal organs, but also problems with the musculoskeletal system. Diseases of the sacrolumbar spine, such as spinal stenosis, can cause pain in the lower abdomen and lower back.

Compression of nerve endings leads to painful sensations after any muscle tension, including after bowel movement. The patient needs to pay attention to the following points:

• it is bowel movements or any other strain that causes pain;
• how long does the pain last after bowel movement?
• does pain occur at rest, when bending over, or when abdominal tension occurs;
• whether the pain is expressed only in the abdomen or spreads to the lumbar region.

An examination of the spine and joints is carried out after excluding life-threatening pathologies such as intestinal obstruction, appendicitis and pelvic tumors. An osteopath and surgeon deals with diseases of the spine. To determine the cause of pain, the following is carried out:

• X-ray;
• CT scan;
• Magnetic resonance imaging.

Damage to the pelvic nerve can lead not only to pain, but also to a number of pathologies in the functioning of the pelvic organs.

Diagnostics

Timely diagnosis of the problem will help avoid serious complications. The medical institution will carry out all the necessary procedures, consisting of a detailed examination of the external genitalia and examination of the internal ones. If there is any suspicion of a pathology of infectious origin, appropriate tests, for example, smears, will be taken.

Organs located deep inside the pelvis - ovaries, appendages, uterine body, etc., are examined using ultrasound.

If the lower abdomen hurts and radiates to the rectum during ovulation or just before menstruation, this may indicate serious problems in the body that need to be addressed immediately.

Diagnostic scheme

To determine the cause of pain, the following examinations are carried out:

• Proctological examination. Examination and palpation of the rectum allows us to identify pathological changes and determine further tactics.
• Anoscopy. When examining the final section of the rectum using a mirror, nearby tumors, hemorrhoids, signs of an inflammatory process, etc. are revealed.
• Laboratory methods. Blood, urine, and feces are assessed. These methods help to identify common processes that affect the condition of the intestines and other organs. Fecal analysis is used to assess the functioning of the digestive tract.
• Sigmoidoscopy. An examination of the rectum and sigmoid colon is carried out to identify tumors, polyps, inflammatory changes in the mucous membrane, consequences of injuries, etc.
• Colonoscopy. Indicated if the suspected focus - the source of pain - is located above 35 cm from the anus.
• Biopsy. Material is collected during an endoscopic examination. Histological evaluation of the biopsy allows an accurate diagnosis to be made.
• Ultrasonography. It is carried out to identify pathology of the abdominal and pelvic organs.