Proctitis

How can you get proctitis?

Proctitis can be caused by the following issues:

• Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These diseases can suddenly inflame your bowel
• Inserting objects in your anus. This can damage your rectum
• Radiation therapy for cancer
• MPOX (monkeypox)

The cause can often be unclear. 

Sometimes, a rectal inflammation can be caused by an STI. Read more about gonorrhea and chlamydia.

What are the symptoms of proctitis?

Proctitis can cause the following symptoms:

• Rectal bleeding or mucus discharge
• Itch or pain in your anus
• Sudden urge to poo 
• Feeling the urge to poo while nothing comes out 
• Diarrhea
• A feeling of numbness in your rectum

Getting tested

Do you have proctitis? And did you have sex without a condom? If so, your GP or the nurse from the STI clinic can also test you for gonorrhoea and chlamydia. You will get a swab test. For a swab test, the doctor or nurse will insert a cotton bud in your anus. This way you can find out if your proctitis is caused by one of these STIs. 

Treating proctitis

To treat proctitis you can get medication. It will kill the bacteria that caused the inflammation. It’s important to take the whole course of medication. Are the symptoms not fully resolved after treatment? Then go see your GP again. 

Is the inflammation caused by an STI? In this case you might need different medication. Read more about treating gonorrhoea and chlamydia. 

Make sure you don’t pass on an STI

Do you have an STI? Warn your sex partners, so they can get tested and treated too. 

Warn your sex partners

Preventing proctitis

Sometimes, proctitis can be caused by an STI. With a condom you can prevent most STIs. That’s why you should always use a condom during sex.