I have noticed a few white colored bumps inside my anus. I am very concerned. They don’t hurt, but sometimes when I wipe too much, they bleed. Please help!!!!!!!!!!

I resist the temptation to ask how you were able to see the bumps – my first thought is that you are either quite limber or quite resourceful.

Most likely you are seeing a normal line of bumps that occurs as the external skin transitions to the internal lining of the gastrointestinal tract. These “bumps” are called the anal papillae. Sometimes they can be enlarged or inflamed.

Please ask your physician to take a look and see that all is well. He or she will likely use an “anoscope” which is a very short instrument that allows a good look at the area you are describing. The physician will likely confirm that you are looking at normal anatomy. However it is important to be sure that you are not looking at a polyp. (Polyps can enlarge over time and some types of polyps may become cancerous.)

While rectal bleeding is usually due to minor causes, it is not something to ignore. Anoscopy often allows the physician to identify the precise source. Once in a while, what appears to be rectal bleeding actually comes from a higher source and can be due to a serious cause. If you are relatively young, under 40, and only see blood on the toilet paper then you are more likely to have a minor cause of the bleeding.

Thank you for your question.

Dr. Joshua Rassen

-- Joshua Rassen, MD, is a board-certified internist and geriatrician in northern California. He has a private practice in geriatrics and internal medicine and is the Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine at California Pacific Medical Center.

First published March 30, 2005
Copyright © 2005 Consumer Health Interactive