Colorectal Symptoms

Rectal bleeding

Rectal bleeding can be fresh or dark coloured, separate or mixed in with the stools. Bleeding can be due to benign causes (haemorrhoids (‘piles’), anal fissure) and serious causes (polyps, bowel cancer).

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea can mean increased bowel frequency, looser consistency or bowel urgency. Causes can be bowel cancer, diverticular disease, colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Constipation

Constipation can refer to reduced stool frequency, obstructive defaecation or firmer stool consistency. There are numerous reasons for constipation including structural, metabolic, endocrine and functional causes. Your specialist will be able to offer you a diagnosis and treatment depending on the underlying cause.

Abdominal pain

Whilst there are many causes of abdominal pain, pain in the lower abdomen may be a symptom of colorectal disorder. Your specialist will ask you about other colorectal symptoms to determine if this is the case.

Weight loss

Weight loss can indicate serious underlying pathology. Unintentional weight loss should always be investigated. Your surgeon will arrange urgent assessment and investigations.

Mass / lump at the anus

This should always be investigated to exclude serious disease such as anal cancer or low rectal cancer. Commoner causes are anal skin tags, external rectal prolapse, haemorrhoids or polyps.

Anaemia (related to iron deficiency)

Faecal urgency

The urge to defecate without relief. This can be a symptom of colitis, bowel cancer or less serious bowel disorders and as such warrants assessment by our specialist team.

Faecal incontinence

This is a common problem that cause patients significant distress and embarrassment. Whilst it can be a symptom of serious pathology the usual causes are damage to the anal sphincters e.g. through childbirth, or from disordered nerve supply to the pelvic floor. There are a range of treatments available to treat this debilitating condition to improve your quality of life.

Pain at / or discharge from anus

Anal pain has a number of causes such as anal fissure, complications of haemorrhoids, perianal abcess or occasionally more serious causes such as anal cancer. Discharge may be the result of a previous perianal abcess resulting in an anal fistula.

Pain at / or discharge / or lump in natal cleft

The natal cleft is the area between the buttocks above the anus. Symptoms in this area are usually due to pilonidal sinus disease as a result of hair ingrowth. Surgery is often required.

Difficulty with defaecation/ obstructed defaecation