Jump to content. Top of the page Check Your Symptoms. Rectal problems are common. Almost everyone will experience some rectal itching, pain, or bleeding at some time during his or her life. These problems are often minor and may go away on their own or with home treatment. Rectal itching pruritus is usually not a sign of a serious disease.

Jump to content. Signs of abuse may not be apparent without an examination of the genital area. These signs include:. Rectal problems, including constipation, pain, leaking of stool, or anal injury, may be caused by physical or sexual abuse that injures the abdominal or rectal area. An injury to the vagina or rectum, or injury to the abdomen, back, or lower spine can prevent normal bowel movements.

Background: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome IBS have reduced pain thresholds for rectal distension. This lead to a hypothesis that abuse history may sensitise patients to report pain at a lower threshold. Abuse history was assessed by a previously validated self-report abuse screening questionnaire. Rectal sensory thresholds were assessed using an electronic barostat and determined by the ascending method of limit AML and by the tracking technique. This suggests that the greater pain reporting and poorer health status in IBS patients with abuse history are not related to increased rectal pain sensitivity.