Proctitis: What It Feels Like and What You Can Do

Proctitis is inflammation of the rectum—the last few inches of the large intestine. It can make bowel movements painful, cause bleeding or discharge, and leave you feeling like you constantly need to go. That’s annoying and scary, but knowing common causes, simple tests, and treatment options helps you take control fast.

Causes and how it's diagnosed

Many things can trigger proctitis. Common causes are infections (bacterial, viral, or sexually transmitted), inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis, radiation treatment to the pelvis, and less often reduced blood flow or certain medications. Symptoms that point to proctitis include rectal pain, bright red bleeding, mucus or pus, urgency, and sometimes diarrhea.

Your doctor usually starts with a short exam and questions about recent infections, sexual history, and any radiation or meds. Tests often include a stool test for infections, an anoscopy (a quick look inside the rectum), and sometimes a full colonoscopy if inflammatory bowel disease is suspected. These tests help pin down whether you need antibiotics, steroid creams, or a different plan.

Treatment choices and home care

Treatment depends on the cause. Bacterial or sexually transmitted infections usually get antibiotics. If it’s linked to inflammatory bowel disease, doctors often use topical or oral anti-inflammatory drugs like mesalamine or steroid suppositories; for more severe cases, immune-suppressing meds or biologics may be needed. Radiation proctitis sometimes responds to sucralfate enemas, ozone or hyperbaric therapy, and other targeted options—your specialist will explain what fits your case.

At home, a few simple steps ease symptoms: warm sitz baths for 10–15 minutes a few times daily, using soft toilet paper or moist wipes, avoiding heavy straining, and drinking plenty of fluids. Over-the-counter pain relief can help, but check with a clinician before mixing meds, especially if you’re on other prescriptions.

Watch for warning signs that need urgent care: high fever, heavy rectal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, fainting, or signs of infection that worsen quickly. If you have chronic inflammatory bowel disease, keep up with screening and follow-ups—long-term inflammation in the rectum can raise cancer risk, so regular checks matter.

If you’re wondering where to start, ask for a clear plan: what tests they recommend, which medicine is first-line, and what to do if symptoms don’t improve in 2–4 weeks. Getting the right diagnosis makes treating proctitis much simpler and gets you back to normal faster.