Anorectal Pain

Patients often seek medical advice for anorectal complaints. Symptoms are typically attributed to hemorrhoids, but in reality, there are numerous conditions which could cause pain or discomfort. Moreover, many patients tend to delay evaluation because of embarrassment or fear of cancer. Most anorectal conditions are benign and easily treated. However, because of this inherent delay, many of these conditions often present as advanced disease necessitating more extensive treatment. The key historical points are whether anorectal pain is constant or intermittent and whether it is related to bowel movements.