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Published on: 4/7/2025

What Could Cause a Sensation That Feels Like a Blockage in the Rectal Area?

A feeling of blockage in the rectal area can be caused by a hard mass of stool (fecal impaction), a fold of the rectal wall (rectoanal intussusception), or changes in how you feel things in that area (rectal hyposensitivity).

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Explanation

Sometimes, people feel like something is stuck in their rectum due to a few reasons. One reason is fecal impaction. This happens when stool becomes very hard and large, causing a blockage that makes you feel full or stuck. Another possible cause is rectoanal intussusception, where part of the rectal wall folds into itself during a bowel movement. This folded section may give a sensation of blockage even though there is no solid mass present. Rectal hyposensitivity is another condition where your rectum does not feel sensations as well as it should. This can change your normal feelings during bowel movements and may make it seem like something is blocking the passage. Each of these issues affects the normal process of emptying the bowels and can lead to discomfort or a feeling of fullness. If these sensations persist or cause discomfort, it is important to talk with a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and guidance.

(References)

  • Obokhare I. Fecal impaction: a cause for concern? Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2012 Mar;25(1):53-8. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1301760. PMID: 23449376; PMCID: PMC3348734.

  • Blaker K, Anandam JL. Functional Disorders: Rectoanal Intussusception. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2017 Feb;30(1):5-11. doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1593433. PMID: 28144206; PMCID: PMC5179278.

  • Jiang Y, Wang Y, Wang M, Lin L, Tang Y. Clinical significance and related factors of rectal hyposensitivity in patients with functional defecation disorder. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023 Feb 21;10:1119617. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1119617. PMID: 36895717; PMCID: PMC9988933.

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