What causes rectal pain?

Rectal pain may be caused by various factors, which are mainly divided into two categories: physiological and pathological. 1. Physiological causes: These are usually related to improper diet, such as consuming excessive spicy, irritating, or relatively hard foods. These can irritate the rectal mucosa and lead to pain. In addition, cold exposure or significant mental stress may cause rectal spasm and result in pain. 2. Pathological causes: These include conditions such as proctitis (rectal inflammation), rectal polyps, and rectal tumors. Proctitis causes inflammation, leading to congestion and edema of the rectal mucosa, resulting in pain. Rectal polyps and tumors may cause pain due to pressure or damage to the rectal mucosa. Furthermore, rectal pain may also be caused by constipation, trauma, or ulcerative colitis.