Recommended Free Tools
Sexually transmitted proctitis is inflammation of the rectum caused by an infection acquired through sexual contact. It can cause rectal pain, discharge, or tenesmus—the feeling that you need to pass stool even when little or nothing comes out. Because different infections can produce similar symptoms, testing and clinical evaluation are needed to identify the cause and choose treatment.
What proctitis means—and how it differs from related conditions
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines proctitis as inflammation in the distal 10–12 cm of the rectum. It occurs predominantly after receptive anal exposure, which can include genital-anal, oral-anal, or digital-anal contact. It can affect people of any gender or sexual identity.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Proctitis is not the same as proctocolitis or enteritis. The distinction matters because symptoms and likely causes can differ:
- Proctitis: inflammation of the rectum, often associated with anorectal pain, tenesmus, or rectal discharge.
- Proctocolitis: proctitis symptoms accompanied by diarrhea or abdominal cramps, with inflammation extending farther into the colon.
- Enteritis: usually diarrhea and abdominal cramping without signs of proctitis or proctocolitis.
The CDC describes these syndromes and their evaluation in its Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines: Proctitis, Proctocolitis, and Enteritis.
#1 Best Overall
- Ultra-Thin: Designed for an exceptionally sensitive and sensual feeling, the SKYN Elite condom is 15% thinner than our standard non-latex condom
- Ultra-soft and extra sensitive: This latex-free condom is made from SKYNFEEL technology, a revolutionary polyisoprene material that's so soft and comfortable, it almost feels like wearing nothing at all
- Highest-quality standards: SKYN condoms are rigorously tested to meet the highest safety standards in order to offer the ultimate sexual wellness protection against unwanted pregnancy and STIs
- Find your style: Our Elite condom line features 3 styles, including Elite, Elite Extra Lube and Elite Large; pair them with our line of lubricants for a more comfortable experience
- A condom for every moment: Condom use doesn’t have to just be about protection, they can do a lot more; choosing the right condom can bring you and your partner closer, and enhance your experience without worry
Symptoms of sexually transmitted proctitis
Possible symptoms include anorectal pain, rectal discharge, and tenesmus. Fecal leukocytes—white blood cells in stool or rectal material—are also common. Symptoms alone do not show which infection is responsible, and some people may have an infection without an obvious symptom pattern.
Diarrhea or abdominal cramps may point to proctocolitis or enteritis rather than inflammation limited to the rectum. These patterns are clues for a clinician, not a way to diagnose the cause at home.
Infections that can cause proctitis
The most common sexually transmitted pathogens associated with proctitis are gonorrhea, chlamydia (including lymphogranuloma venereum, or LGV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and syphilis. They can cause overlapping symptoms, so a symptom such as discharge or pain cannot reliably distinguish one from another.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Rank #2
- 36-count package of Trojan Ultra Thin latex lubricated condoms for men, ultra thin condoms designed for a more natural feeling, made from premium latex for contraception plus protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- These lubricated condoms are thinner than Trojan Original condoms, designed for a more natural feeling, and they deliver trusted protection, with a reservoir tip for extra safety
- Trojan Ultra Thin condoms help you get closer and feel closer; these latex condoms for men have a thin design with a classic, straight-walled shape and a secure fit
- Each Trojan Ultra Thin latex condom heightens every feeling and is made with silky-smooth silicone lubricant for comfort and incredible sensitivity
- These Trojan condoms deliver the closeness you crave with a classic straight shape and a secure fit for confidence, standard size, with a reservoir tip for extra safety
Mycoplasma genitalium has been detected in some cases, but the CDC says its role in causing proctitis is unclear. A clinician may consider testing when symptoms persist after standard treatment.
Proctocolitis and enteritis can involve other organisms. Proctocolitis may be associated with Campylobacter, Shigella, Entamoeba histolytica, LGV chlamydia, or syphilis. Enteritis may involve organisms such as Giardia, Shigella, Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, or Cryptosporidium, including infections transmitted through oral-anal contact. These are not all causes of proctitis itself. For people with HIV-related immunosuppression, clinicians may also consider cytomegalovirus (CMV) or other opportunistic infections. HSV and LGV proctitis are more prevalent among people with HIV.
How clinicians test for proctitis
Evaluation depends on symptoms, examination, sexual exposures, and the body sites involved. A urine test alone does not rule out an infection in the rectum: testing needs to include the symptomatic or exposed site when appropriate.
Rank #3
- Ultra-Thin: Designed for an exceptionally sensitive and sensual feeling, the SKYN Elite condom is 15% thinner than our standard non-latex condom
- Ultra-soft and extra sensitive: This latex-free condom is made from SKYNFEEL technology, a revolutionary polyisoprene material that's so soft and comfortable, it almost feels like wearing nothing at all
- Highest-quality standards: SKYN condoms are rigorously tested to meet the highest safety standards in order to offer the ultimate sexual wellness protection against unwanted pregnancy and STIs
- Find your style: Our Elite condom line features 3 styles, including Elite, Elite Extra Lube and Elite Large; pair them with our line of lubricants for a more comfortable experience
- A condom for every moment: Condom use doesn’t have to just be about protection, they can do a lot more; choosing the right condom can bring you and your partner closer, and enhance your experience without worry
For acute proctitis symptoms, the CDC recommends anoscopy, an examination that lets a clinician view the anal canal and lower rectum. The clinician may examine anorectal exudate for polymorphonuclear leukocytes and order tests directed at likely pathogens:
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
- Chlamydia: a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) on a rectal sample.
- Gonorrhea: NAAT or culture.
- HSV: preferably NAAT of rectal lesions when lesions are present.
- Syphilis: blood serology and, if available, darkfield testing of a lesion.
When proctocolitis or enteritis related to sexual exposure is suspected, clinicians may also test for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, including at other exposed sites. If rectal chlamydia is positive and severe findings such as bloody discharge, rectal or perianal ulcers, or tenesmus are present, the CDC recommends presumptive treatment for LGV. LGV-specific molecular tests are not widely available and often do not return soon enough to guide initial care.
How treatment is chosen
Treatment depends on examination findings and test results. The following are CDC clinician-directed recommendations for acute proctitis, not instructions to self-diagnose or obtain antibiotics without medical care.
Rank #4
- Trojan Pleasure Pack includes a variety of our most erotic condoms curated to inspire new sexual experiences and intensify pleasure
- Four condom types deliver unique sensations; smooth, ribbed, and studded options allow you to switch things up whenever the mood strikes
- Each condom is lubricated with a premium lubricant, including silky smooth, Ultrasmooth, and warming to heighten the hair-raising thrill of it all
- The bulbous shape of these condoms leaves room for natural movement and tapers at the base for a secure fit
- Helps reduce the risk of pregnancy and STIs; each condom is electronically tested to help ensure reliability
When presumptive treatment is indicated—for example, when anorectal exudate or polymorphonuclear leukocytes are detected, or when anoscopy or Gram stain is unavailable and the presentation fits acute proctitis after receptive anal exposure—the CDC recommends ceftriaxone 500 mg by intramuscular injection once plus doxycycline 100 mg by mouth twice daily for 7 days. For a person weighing at least 150 kg, the guideline specifies ceftriaxone 1 g.
If rectal chlamydia is confirmed and bloody discharge, perianal or mucosal ulcers, or tenesmus is present, the CDC recommends extending doxycycline to 100 mg twice daily for 21 days to cover presumptive LGV. Painful perianal ulcers or mucosal ulcers seen during anoscopy also prompt presumptive herpes treatment. A clinician determines whether these recommendations apply and selects any additional treatment.
When the syndrome is proctocolitis or enteritis, treatment should target the identified enteric pathogen. There is no single antibiotic regimen appropriate for every cause, and the CDC notes antimicrobial-resistance concerns during Shigella and Campylobacter outbreaks.
Best Value
- Ultra-Thin: Designed for an exceptionally sensitive and sensual feeling, the SKYN Elite condom is 15% thinner than our standard non-latex condom
- Ultra-soft and extra sensitive: This latex-free condom is made from SKYNFEEL technology, a revolutionary polyisoprene material that's so soft and comfortable, it almost feels like wearing nothing at all
- Highest-quality standards: SKYN condoms are rigorously tested to meet the highest safety standards in order to offer the ultimate sexual wellness protection against unwanted pregnancy and STIs
- Find your style: SKYN features 4 unique lines, including Original, Elite, Excitation and Studded to meet all your needs; pair them with our line of personal lubricants for a more comfortable experience
- A condom for every moment: Condom use doesn’t have to just be about protection, they can do a lot more; choosing the right condom can bring you and your partner closer, and enhance your experience without worry
Follow-up, partners, and reducing risk
For gonorrhea or chlamydia-associated proctitis, the CDC recommends retesting at three months. Recent partners exposed within 60 days before symptom onset should be referred for evaluation, testing, and presumptive treatment as appropriate; partners should also be evaluated for conditions diagnosed in the patient.
CDC guidance advises avoiding sex until the patient and partners have been treated and symptoms have resolved. For acute proctitis treated with a 7-day regimen, this means at least until that course is complete, as well as until symptoms resolve and partners have been treated.
If a possible HIV exposure may qualify for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), discuss it promptly with a clinician. People with ongoing HIV acquisition risk can ask about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); a clinician can assess individual eligibility.
The CDC says evidence-based interventions specifically for preventing sexually transmitted enteric pathogens are unavailable. By extrapolation from general infection-control and STI-prevention practices, it suggests avoiding fecal contact during sex, using barriers, and washing hands after touching the anus or rectum or handling items that contacted the anal area, such as barriers and sex toys. These measures should not be understood as proven prevention efficacy specifically for enteric STIs.
Why symptoms deserve a proper evaluation
Rectal pain, discharge, or tenesmus do not establish that an STI is present—or identify which one. The CDC cautions that proctitis can be mistaken for inflammatory bowel disease or malignancy, delaying diagnosis. If you have these symptoms, arrange professional evaluation rather than relying on symptoms alone or trying treatment without testing.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
