Examination of the rectum in women

The rectum plays an important role in the functioning of the entire body, so you need to monitor its smooth operation. From a biological point of view, the rectum is a small end (12-20 cm) of the large intestine. Its function is to remove processed foods from the human body. In this regard, doctors recommend regular examinations of the rectum. This is done to identify possible pathologies of internal organs. More details on how the rectum is examined in women will be discussed in this article.

Reasons for the inspection

If any disturbances in the bowel function appear, you should immediately visit the proctologist's office. This also applies to suspicious symptoms related to the lower abdomen, intestines and anus. If you complain about problems with the work of these organs, you should visit the clinic for a diagnostic examination.

The proctologist is most often contacted with the following complaints:

• regular false urge to go to the toilet;
• frequent constipation;
• flatulence or a feeling of tension in the abdomen;
• purulent, mucous or bloody discharge from the anus;
• pain in the anal area;
• a constant feeling of incomplete bowel release.

On a note! It is recommended to undergo proctological examinations for women after childbirth and over 40-45 years old. This will prevent or detect diseases such as hemorrhoids, polyps, or cancer at an early stage of development. With regular engagement in heavy sports, as well as planning pregnancy, women also need to get advice from a specialist.

Preparatory procedures

Before contacting a specialist, you need to properly prepare. If you are waiting for an initial consultation with a proctologist, then it will be enough to use a special micro enema to clean the rectum. If, during the examination, other diagnostic procedures are carried out, for example, irrigoscopy or anoscopy, then a more thorough cleaning of the intestines will be required. Let's consider the basic methods of preparing the body for examination.

The use of cleansing enemas on the water

About 24 hours before the proctological examination, it is necessary to completely change the diet. Only liquid food can be eaten. You also need to limit the amount of foods consumed that can cause flatulence. These include flour products, cereals, fruits and vegetables. If the doctor has ordered an examination in the morning or in the first half of the day, then in the evening before the procedure, several water enemas (2-3) with a volume of 1.5 liters must be done. Between enemas, you need to take a break of 40-60 minutes.

The next morning, do 2 more of the same enemas. Use only warm water. If the examination was scheduled for the second half of the day, then 1-2 hours before the examination by the proctologist, cleansing enemas should be given. Make sure that the last enema given was not later than 2 hours before the examination. This method is very laborious but effective. Doctors prescribe it as the main way to cleanse the rectum.

The use of microclysters

A fairly simple way to prepare for diagnostics. The patient is given a micro enema with "Adulax" or "Norgalax", which leads to irritation of the intestinal receptors, because of which the patient begins to feel the need to go to the toilet. This method of preparation is very comfortable for the patient, because he does not need to follow a special diet, and the procedure itself is very fast.

But carrying out microclysters can push the development of an allergic reaction or an inflammatory process in the gastrointestinal tract. To avoid unpleasant complications, unfortunately, the method of cleaning the intestines with microclysters is not suitable for patients suffering from ulcerative colitis or hemorrhoids.

Taking pharmacy drugs

There are special preparations used in bowel cleansing. All of them are made on the basis of one substance - polyethylene glycol, which makes them safe for the health of patients of all ages. Most often, Endofalk, Fortrans and other drugs are used for this purpose. Before use, the drug must be dissolved in a certain amount of warm water (the exact information is indicated on the package) and drunk 1-2 hours before being examined by a proctologist. As a rule, a complete bowel cleansing takes place about a day after taking the medication.

Doctors recommend using this preparation method before performing complex instrumental procedures, for example, irrigoscopy, fibrocolonoscopy. The use of such drugs for the initial examination is not provided. To choose one or another cleaning method, you need to consult a doctor who will conduct an examination. He knows exactly which preparatory procedure is best to choose.

On a note! It is forbidden to independently carry out an intestinal cleansing procedure with severe bleeding in the rectal region or pronounced pain. Otherwise, you can harm the body and only make it worse.

Research methods

Examination of the rectum can consist of several stages. The first is collecting an anamnesis of a possible illness and talking with a proctologist. The second is a visual inspection of the anal area. The third is to carry out some methods of rectal examination, the main of which are described below.

Table. Rectum examination methods.

Procedure name	Description
Irrigoscopy	Diagnostic X-ray procedure using barium suspension of various consistency. The fluid is injected through the anus into the intestinal cavity, so that the doctor can identify various tumors, polyposis, or other pathological disorders on an x-ray.
Colonoscopy	Endoscopic examination of the colon area, carried out to determine the diseases of the deeper parts of the intestine. It is prescribed by doctors if there is a suspicion of intestinal obstruction or the development of cancer. With this procedure, you can remove minor neoplasms or foreign objects. Colonoscopy is not recommended for patients suffering from acute infectious diseases, poor blood clotting, or heart failure.
Sigmoidoscopy	Another method for diagnosing the rectum, used when it becomes necessary to examine the deeper parts of the rectum (up to 30 cm). Sigmoidoscopy differs from similar procedures in that it is practically painless and very effective. With its help, doctors can identify sources of bleeding, neoplasms, polyps, or ulcerative lesions of the mucous membrane. It is not recommended to carry out sigmoidoscopy for women during the menstrual cycle.
Anoscopy	Diagnostic procedure using special mirrors. It is possible to conduct a rectal examination to a depth of no more than 10 cm, but this is quite enough to detect inflammation, stenosis, anal fissures or neoplasms. Anoscopy is not recommended for patients suffering from rectal bougienage or inflammation in the anus.
Palpation of the rectum	Carrying out this procedure will help identify the following violations: • paraproctitis; • fracture or cyst of the tailbone; • cracks in the anus; • the presence of hemorrhoids or nodes. A finger examination allows you to determine the condition of the walls of the rectum. But despite the practicality of the procedure, it has some contraindications. First of all, palpation of the rectum is not recommended for severe pain or a sharp narrowing of the anal canal. Also, you can not carry out the procedure with the development of infectious diseases.
Visual inspection	With this procedure, the proctologist can identify fistulous passages, external hemorrhoids or nodes, tissue swelling, irritation of the skin around the anus. As a rule, an external examination is carried out in a gynecological chair.

On a note! With proper application, all proctological methods will allow for a high-quality diagnostic examination and identify various pathologies in the perineum or anus. You just need to seek help from a doctor in time.

Are there any contraindications?

An instrumental examination will allow the proctologist to make an accurate diagnosis, but, despite this, there are certain contraindications to performing all types of rectal diagnostics. They must be taken into account and notify the attending physician before diagnostics.

These contraindications include:

• heavy bleeding;
• pulmonary insufficiency;
• diseases of the circulatory system;
• development of paraproctitis or hemorrhoids;
• muscle spasm of the anus;
• pain in the rectum.

The examination will help establish the cause of the pathology, after which the doctor will be able to prescribe the appropriate treatment to eliminate the painful symptoms of the disease. In such cases, the proctologist can also choose the most appropriate preparation method for another instrumental examination of the rectum.

As soon as the doctor has all the test results in his hands, he, having made an accurate diagnosis, will be able to prescribe the optimal method of therapy. It will also allow prescribing preventive measures, the observance of which will protect the patient from possible relapses of the disease.

How to prevent the development of proctological diseases

To prevent the development of proctological diseases, you need to take some preventive measures:

• drink plenty of fluids. Experts recommend drinking 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day. You also need to review your diet. Add more herbal products if necessary. The amount of spicy and spicy food should be limited, because its regular use can provoke the development of many diseases, including hemorrhoids;
  

  Prevention of proctological diseases

• do not push during the act of defecation. Excessive stress negatively affects the health of the internal organs, especially the rectum. The same can be said for prolonged sitting on the toilet. Try to get into the habit of going to the bathroom at the same time. It is also necessary to wet the perineum after each evacuation. This will help prevent the development of infectious diseases and inflammatory processes;
• start being active. If you have a sedentary job, try to warm up for about 10 minutes every hour. It will not be superfluous to do any kind of sport. This can be swimming, morning jogging, cycling, martial arts, or going to the gym. Find for yourself what can really interest you;
  

  Bike ride

• some experts recommend hardening as a prevention of proctological diseases. For this, training of the perineum or muscles of the anus with medicated enemas and mud swabs may be suitable. Before starting, be sure to consult with your doctor;
• timely treatment of pathologies is also an important part of prevention, therefore at the first discomfort or discomfort during bowel movements, you should immediately seek help from a doctor. If the disease is detected in the early stages of development, then it can be cured much easier.

The need for examination and treatment of the rectum may disappear on its own if you regularly follow the recommendations above. In addition, they help to strengthen the immune system, so you will have to see a doctor with any disease much less often.

Video - How is the examination by the proctologist