What is a female anal exam?

Anal examination of female friends is actually included in many gynecological examinations, most of which are during prenatal examinations. When female friends undergo an anal examination, if they are menstruating, they will generally choose to postpone the examination. Generally, an anal examination can directly determine the condition inside the anus and make a preliminary diagnosis of rectal cancer.

Anal examination , as the name suggests, is an examination in which the doctor touches the anus and rectum with his fingers. It is the simplest and preferred method for internal examination of the rectum and anus. It can often find many clinically significant signs and even confirm the diagnosis at the time. Generally speaking, the inside of the anus is mainly checked for anal fissures, internal hemorrhoids, and the internal opening of anorectal fistula; the inside of the rectum is mainly checked for rectal inflammation, abscesses, rectal polyps, and rectal cancer. If it is uncertain, a proctoscopy or colonoscopy will be performed. Early detection and early treatment can not only reduce the pain and danger of patients, but also reduce their economic burden.

Anal examination : First, we can understand whether there are scars on the mucosal surface and whether surgery has been performed in the past. At the same time, we can also observe whether there is redness, swelling, or fissures around the anus, and whether the patient has tenderness. If there is tenderness, it means that there is inflammation, abscesses, or anal fissures around the anus. Secondly, anal examination can diagnose hemorrhoids (external hemorrhoids), anorectal fistula, anal prolapse, etc. In addition to detecting lesions in the anus and rectum, anal examination can also indirectly examine the prostate and seminal vesicles for men, and the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, etc. for women.

Rectal cancer : There may not be any abnormal symptoms in the early stages, such as constipation, blood in the stool, anemia, or weight loss. Even if there is blood in the stool, many people often mistakenly believe that it is caused by hemorrhoids and do not take it seriously. Rectal or colon cancer is not considered until the patient suffers from severe anemia or frequent bloody stools that cannot be controlled by medication. At this time, the disease is usually in the late stage and has already metastasized, and the opportunity for surgery has probably been lost. According to surveys, every year a large number of patients are diagnosed with rectal cancer during anal examinations during physical examinations (and have been confirmed to be in the early or middle stages by colonoscopy). Therefore, people who have refused to undergo anal examination during previous physical examinations should take this examination seriously.