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Tenesmus (Feeling of Incomplete Evacuation)
Also called: Tenesmus
Tenesmus is the distressing sensation of needing to have a bowel movement, but with little or no stool being passed. It is often described as a feeling of rectal pressure or incomplete evacuation and can be accompanied by straining and pain. This symptom is a hallmark of rectal irritation, typically caused by inflammation (proctitis) from conditions like inflammatory bowel disease or infection, or by a space-occupying lesion such as a rectal tumor. The rectum's nerve endings are stimulated, creating a false signal of fullness and a persistent urge to defecate, even when the rectum is empty.
Frequently asked questions
Is the feeling of incomplete evacuation always tenesmus?
Not necessarily. The two symptoms are very similar and often overlap. 'Tenesmus' typically implies a more urgent, frequent, and sometimes painful desire to defecate, often with little or no stool being passed, and is usually caused by rectal inflammation or a mass. A 'sensation of incomplete evacuation' is a broader term that can also be a key symptom of functional defecation disorders (like dyssynergic defecation), where the person has difficulty physically emptying the rectum, leading to a feeling that something is left behind.
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