There are several causes that can cause a lump in the anus, some of them, such as hemorrhoids, are not serious and can disappear without specific treatment, but others, such as an anal abscess or cancer, are more serious and usually require medical treatment.
Thus, it is always best to consult a proctologist or general practitioner, especially if the lump is very painful, preventing you from walking, if it increases in size or if it takes more than 1 week to decrease in size, for example.
1. Hemorrhoid
Hemorrhoids are the most common cause of lump in the anus, because as they arise due to the dilation of a vein, the appearance of a small soft "ball" in the anal region is common. In these cases, other symptoms may also appear, such as itching, pain when defecating and the presence of blood in the stool. See other symptoms of hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids are generally more common in people who have other cases in the family, who suffer from diarrhea or chronic constipation, who are standing for a long time during the day or who frequently perform heavy physical efforts.
How to treat: in most cases, you should only eat a diet that facilitates the elimination of feces, such as eating fiber-rich foods and drinking 2 liters of water per day. However, taking sitz baths and avoiding the use of toilet paper are also good options for relieving discomfort. When the discomfort is very intense, the doctor may also prescribe the use of an anesthetic ointment or a corticoid for 5 to 7 days. See more tips on how to relieve discomfort:
2. Anal wart
Warts are small nodules on the skin that are pink or whitish in color and can also appear in the anal area and usually do not cause pain or discomfort, being caused by the infection of the HPV virus in the region. However, in some cases, anal warts can cause some itching, as well as a slight bleeding that can be seen on toilet paper or even cause the sensation of a foreign body in the anus.
Generally, this type of infection is more common in cases where anal sex is performed without a condom, especially when there is more than one partner.
How to treat: it is always recommended to consult a proctologist to assess the lesions and start the most appropriate treatment, which can be done with cryotherapy, 25% podophyllin or immunotherapy, for example. Find out more about warts on the genital area and how they are treated.
3. Anal abscess
Although it is more rare, anal abscess can cause a lump to develop near the anus. This is because the abscess is an accumulation of pus that arises due to an infection in the region, which can be caused by a blocked gland or a sexually transmitted disease, for example.
Normally, in addition to the presence of a lump in the anus, the abscess can also cause symptoms such as severe pain, swelling in the anus and hardening of the area.
How to treat: it is almost always necessary to remove the pus accumulated inside the abscess and, therefore, you should go to the proctologist. However, in the most severe cases, in which the abscess is very large, surgery may be recommended to remove the pus and facilitate healing of the site.
4. Molluscum contagiosum
Molluscum contagiosum, also known as Molluscum contagiosum, is a skin problem caused by the poxvirus virus, which generates the formation of small lumps on the skin and which can also affect the perianal region. This situation is more common in adults due to the practice of unprotected anal sexual contact.
How to treat: the treatment is similar to genital warts, and can be done with the application of ointments prescribed by the proctologist, which may contain salicylic acid or an antiviral. In addition, in some cases, it is also possible to choose to use cryotherapy or laser to destroy the lesions. Better understand how the treatment is done.
5. Anal cancer
This is the rarest cause of the appearance of a lump in the anus, but it is also the most serious, which needs to be identified as soon as possible by the proctologist in order for the treatment to be more successful. In these cases, in addition to the lump, there may also be constant pain in the anus, itching, difficulty in defecating or the presence of blood in the stool.
How to treat: Treatment needs to be discussed with a proctologist, but it is usually done using chemotherapy or radiation therapy. However, if the tumor is small, the option of removing it with surgery, for example, can still be considered. See more about anal cancer and how to treat it.
