Digestive Health Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms Pain During Bowel Movements 7 Causes You May Not Have Considered By Barbara Bolen, PhD Updated on October 10, 2023 Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Anal or Rectal Pain Intestinal Causes Pregnancy Endometriosis Summary Frequently Asked Questions Pain during bowel movements can cause anxiety. First, you may worry about the next trip to the bathroom. Second, you may worry that something is really wrong with your health. An occasional twinge while defecating might not be a big deal. But ongoing or severe pain is a sign something is wrong. You shouldn’t ignore it. This article looks at some common causes of pain during bowel movements. FG Trade / Getty Images Is There Something Wrong With My Bowels? Anal or Rectal Pain Sometimes, pain during bowel movements has to do with pushing the stool out of your body. That can be caused by hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Hemorrhoids Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus and rectum. They’re usually caused by constipation. In addition to pain during bowel movements, symptoms of hemorrhoids include: Rectal itchingSmall amounts of bright red blood on the toilet paper An Overview of Hemorrhoids Anal Fissures An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the anus. They’re often caused by passing hard stool. On top of pain during bowel movements, symptoms include: ItchingBright red blood on the stool Anal Fissure Self-Care and Prevention Generally, bright red blood means the bleeding comes from near the rectum and anus. Bleeding farther up causes dark blood or tarry stools. Recap Ongoing pain with bowel movements is a signal that something is wrong. It may be anal or rectal pain. Those can come from hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Symptoms of both including itching and bright red blood. Intestinal Causes Three common health conditions involve pain from intestinal spasms and cramping associated with bowel movements. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Abdominal pain is a symptom of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). That’s a group of inflammatory disorders comprising Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. The pain comes from inflammation in the intestinal tract. Other IBD symptoms include: Blood and/or mucus in the stoolDiarrheaFeverReduced appetiteWeight loss Irritable Bowel Syndrome Pain with bowel movements is a hallmark symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It’s not known exactly what is behind the pain. Other symptoms include: Constipation Diarrhea Gas and bloating Mucus in the stool Feelings of incomplete evacuation (like you still need to go) According to the Rome IV criteria for diagnosis, IBS pain may get better or worse before, during, or after you defecate. This is a change from the previous Rome III criteria which says pain should be relieved by a bowel movement. Colon Cancer Colon cancer occurs in the large intestine and can affect bowel habits. Sometimes it causes pain during bowel movements. Symptoms include: Cramping Bloating Abdominal pain Rectal bleeding Unlike hemorrhoids and anal fissures, rectal blood from colon cancer is usually be dark rather than bright red. Stools may also be bloody or tarry. Recap Intestinal causes of painful bowel movements include Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, and possibly irritable bowel syndrome. Watch for bloody stools and other digestive symptoms. Pregnancy Pregnancy can cause pain during bowel movements. This may be due in part to hormonal changes that affect intestinal function and sensitivity. Also, the weight of the developing fetus may put pressure on the organs of the digestive tract. These changes increase your risk of painful bowel movements plus: ConstipationBloatingHemorrhoidsFlatulence (farting) Why Period Poops Happen and How to Deal With It Endometriosis Another possible cause of bowel movement pain is endometriosis. Endometriosis happens when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (womb) grows outside of the uterus. Endometriosis mostly affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes, tissues supporting the uterus, and outer surfaces of the uterus. But it can also extend to the vagina, cervix, bladder, bowel, and rectum. The involvement of the bowel and rectum can cause painful bowel movements. Other symptoms of endometriosis include: Menstrual crampsHeavy flowPelvic painPainful intercoursePainful urinationInfertilityNausea, bloating, and vomitingConstipation and/or diarrhea Endometriosis occurs more frequently in women who have never given birth, had periods early, are going through menopause late, or have short or especially heavy periods. An Overview of Endometriosis Summary Frequent pain with bowel movements is a sign of a health problem. It may come from hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Watch for itching and bright red blood. Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, and possibly irritable bowel syndrome can cause bowel movement pain as well. Bloody stools and other digestive symptoms can point to these causes. The hormone changes of pregnancy affect intestinal sensitivity. That makes painful bowel movements common. Endometriosis also causes painful bowel movements due to uterine tissue growing where it’s not supposed to be. A Word From Verywell Don’t write off painful bowel movements as normal. That’s especially important if the pain is severe, persistent, or getting worse. Let your healthcare provider know about your symptoms. Then they can diagnose the problem and start treatment. If you’re not able to find relief, ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist. They’re specially trained to identify and treat the bowel and intestinal tract. Frequently Asked Questions What causes anal pain when pooping? Several things can cause anal or rectal pain during a bowel movement. Some common ones include:Anal abscessAnal fissureAnal fistulaHemorrhoidsSexually transmitted infections Learn More Common Causes of Rectal Pain What causes chronic bowel pain? Chronic bowel pain may be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or chronic diverticulitis. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is more associated with abdominal cramps, but acute bowel pain can be a symptom. What are causes of bowel pain in women? Possible causes of bowel pain specific to females include rectovaginal endometriosis (the growth of uterine tissue into the vagina and rectum) and rectovaginal fistula (the development of an abnormal passage between the vagina and rectum). What are causes of bowel pain in men? Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland) can cause rectal pain in males. It strikes most often during bowel movements. Other symptoms include:Pain with urinationDifficulty urinatingLower back pain that worsens during bowel movementsFeeling like the bladder is never empty Is bowel pain a sign of cancer? Yes, colorectal cancer can cause bowel pain. Other symptoms are:Changes in bowel habits (including alternating constipation and diarrhea)BloatingNarrow stoolsAbdominal crampingRectal bleedingBloody stools 14 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Gastroenterological Association. Hemorrhoids. Salati SA. Anal Fissure—an extensive update. Pol Przegl Chir. 2021;93(4):46-56. doi:10.5604/01.3001.0014.7879 Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Inflammatory bowel disease vs. irritable bowel syndrome. American Gastroenterological Association. 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Chronic prostatitis: current treatment options. Res Rep Urol. 2019;11:165-74. doi:10.2147/RRU.S194679 Kuipers EJ, Grady WM, Lieberman D, et al. Colorectal cancer. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015;1:15065. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2015.65 By Barbara Bolen, PhD Barbara Bolen, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and health coach. She has written multiple books focused on living with irritable bowel syndrome. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit