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WHEN you notice something out of the ordinary down below, it’s only natural to worry.
While some changes are normal, others can be a sign of something more serious – and even warrant pretty swift medical attention. But how can you tell one from the other? We’ve asked the experts, so you don’t have to.
GettyA team of leading medics share what could be causing those lumps, bumps, unusual smells and strange itches ‘down there’[/caption]
The overwhelming message is that keeping any unusual signs in and around your nether regions to yourself is the worst thing you can do.
More often that not, your GP will tell you not to worry, but it’s better to get checked than leave it too late.
Here… a team of leading medics share what could be causing those lumps, bumps, unusual smells and strange itches… and reveal when you must seek help.
Spotting between periods
NOTICING blood when it’s not your Time Of The Month can be worrying.
After all, ‘spotting’ is a key symptom of cervical cancer.
But Dr Hannah Burrage, lead GP at Livi says that up to 35 per cent of women will experience a “blip in their usual bleeding patterns”.
She tells Sun Health: “It may be as simple as the type of contraception you are on, for example, the progesterone-only pill.
“Other causes that need further investigation include polyps or fibroids which are growths on the different layers of our womb.”
If your spotting is consistent, check in with your GP.
Spotting could be caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as chlamydia. To get tested, visit SH.UK for free STI testing.
“Make sure you are up to date with your cervical smear test,” says Dr Burrage.
“The NHS offers screening every three years from age 25 to 49 and every five years from age 50 to 64.”
Superdrug Online Doctor, Dr Babak Ashrafi adds: “If the bleeding becomes heavier or is accompanied by symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, or pelvic pain, consult a doctor urgently.”
Peeing without realising
THERE are different types of incontinence – that is when you pee without realising or wanting to.
“Stress incontinence may make us think twice before bouncing on a trampoline,” says Dr Burrage.
GettyTo urge symptoms of incontinence, cutting down on caffeine and reducing your fluid intake in the hours before bed can help[/caption]
Urge incontinence is when you leak urine as you feel a sudden intense urge to go.
“Urge incontinence is the classic ‘key in lock’ scenario, where a leakage of urine happens with a sudden need to pass urine which is often hard to control,” says Dr Burrage.
She adds that menopause, constipation, a chronic cough, hysterectomy, pelvic floor damage, often after a vaginal birth, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) can make incontinence more likely.
To help ease symptoms, Dr Burrage suggests cutting down on caffeine and reducing your fluid intake in the hours before bed.
“There are useful Apps to help with pelvic floor exercises such as Squeezy (£2.99, IOS and Android).”
Medications may help overcome incontinence; book an appointment with your GP who will assess if these are right for you.
There is also overflow incontinence, which is when you are unable to fully empty your bladder, causing leaking, or total incontinence.
If it continues for a long period of time, your GP can refer you to see a urologist.
Foamy urine
FOAM in your pee can be alarming, but it isn’t always a cause for concern, Superdrug’s Dr Ashrafi tells Sun Health.
“Typically, foamy urine occurs due to a faster urine stream, which temporarily traps air bubbles or mild dehydration, which makes your urine more concentrated.”
Persistently foamy urine could signal a condition called proteinuria, where protein leaks into the urine.
Dr Ashrafi says: “This often points to issues with kidney function.
“Your kidneys help filter out waste while retaining essential proteins in the blood.
“Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and even some medications may trigger it.”
Both of these health conditions would require a trip to the GP – plus, high blood pressure doesn’t typically cause any symptoms.
Signs of type 2 diabetes are peeing more than usual, feeling more thirsty, tired and losing weight without trying to.
A UTI could also lead to foamy urine. Dr Ashrafi says some people advise drinking cranberry juice can reduce the risk of UTIs.
“Immediate medical attention is necessary if you also experience swelling in your legs or around your eyes,” adds Dr Ashrafi.
“This can indicate a problem with the kidneys, such as proteinuria, where excess protein leaks into the urine.”
Going to the loo: What's normal and what is NOT
PEEING
What’s normal
There are lot’s of fluctuations between people. But peeing between six and seven times in a 24-hour period is normal for most.
Four to 10 times a day can be normal for someone, too, according to Bladder and Bowel community.
It’s normal to wake up in the night to pee.
And urine should be a champagne sort of colour.
Pee should come out in a steady stream and you shouldn’t need to force it.
What’s NOT normal
You might consider that your peeing habits have become abnormal if you:
are going more often than you used to keep going in the night experience pain it doesn’t feel like you fully ’empty’ the stream is not steady or is weak leak urine see blood in urineThere are lots of things that can influence how much we pee.
Urge incontinence, overflow incontinence, and total incontinence all refer to disruptions in the way your bladder stores and gets rid of urine. You can read about them on the NHS website.
The causes range from an enlarged prostate, constipation, not drinking enough water, caffeine and medications.
Serious conditions such as prostate cancer can influence your peeing habits.
So get any changes cheked out!
POOING
What’s normal
People tend to go for a poo once a day or three to four times a week.
As long as the stool is easy to pass and is smooth and sausage or snake shaped (yes, medically, that is how scientists describe a healthy poo on the Bristol Stool Chart!).
What’s NOT normal
Any changes to pooing habits should be seen to by a doctor because they could signal bowel cancer.
The symptoms can include:
Persistent constipation or diarrhoea Very dark stools, blood in stool or blood on the tissue paper Pencil-thin poosPancreatic cancer can also cause stools that are described as being pale, oily, difficult to flush and bad-smelling.
It’s important not to brush off these symptoms – seeing a GP could be the difference between life and death.
Other health conditions that may change your bowel habits include IBS.
Stools that are hard, difficult to pass or pellet-like can signal constipation. Read how to ‘go’ easier here.
READ MORE
A GP reveals how normal is your poo
Can you tell the healthy poos from the unhealthy ones?
The 5 things your pee is telling you
How getting up to pee in the night could be a sign of silent killer – when to see your doctor
Anal mucus
IT feels icky to talk about but it is a normal part of the body’s functioning.
Anal mucus, also known as rectal discharge, is produced to help lubricate the movement of your stools.
“Mucus is produced within your intestines to protect the lining and enable food to pass through smoothly,” Dr Todd Green, lead GP, also at Livi, tells Sun Health.
It’s not usually anything to worry about.
“However, large amounts of mucus or repeated episodes, particularly accompanied by blood in the poo, may indicate inflammation in the intestines,” he warns..
According to Dr Green, this can result from infections such as gastroenteritis or food poisoning, or less commonly, it may indicate an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis.
“If you think you have gastroenteritis and notice mucus or any blood in the poo, consult your GP urgently to check for a more serious bowel infection that may need treatment,” warns Dr Green.
Sharp pain when going for a poo
HAVING a poo should be painless, but episodes of constipation or diarrhoea can occasionally cause discomfort.
“Otherwise, the most common causes of pain when having a poo are haemorrhoids (piles) and anal fissures,” says Dr Green.
GettyThe most common cause of pain when having a poo are piles and anal fissures[/caption]
“Haemorrhoids occur when the soft ‘cushions’ lining the inside of the anus become inflamed and irritated, usually resulting from excessive pressure from straining on the toilet, chronic coughs or heavy lifting.”
Anal fissures, on the other hand, are common tiny tears within the anus that can occur at any age and may similarly result from constipation.
“A healthy diet with plenty of fibre and fluids can help prevent and treat both haemorrhoids and anal fissures,” says Dr Ashrafi.
“Pharmacists can help with treatments for haemorrhoids to reduce itch and discomfort, while GPs can provide prescription treatments for anal fissures.”
More seriously, pain when having a poo can indicate inflammatory bowel disease or bowel cancer.
“If you experience repeated pain on the toilet, with or without bleeding, then consult your GP,” says Dr Green.
What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer?
IT'S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest - yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough.
While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease.
Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver.
If you notice any of the signs, don’t be embarrassed and don’t ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems.
The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo A change in your normal toilet habits – going more frequently for example Pain or a lump in your tummy Extreme tiredness Losing weightTumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.
In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction.
Other signs include:
Gripping pains in the abdomen Feeling bloated Constipation and being unable to pass wind Being sick Feeling like you need to strain – like doing a number two – but after you’ve been to the looWhile these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools.
But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease.
Small lumps around the anus
SMALL lumps around your bottom?
You may feel something unusual around the anus when using the toilet, or experience associated symptoms.
“If they are painful lumps, especially when accompanied by constipation and/or bleeding, then they’re more likely to be haemorrhoids,” says Dr Green.
Less commonly, lumps around the anus can indicate a more serious problem, such as an abscess.
An abscess would likely make you feel unwell, too, as it is an infection of an anal gland or other tissue in the area.
A lump is also a symptom of cancer.
The main symptoms of anal cancer are small lumps around and inside the bottom, itching, pain, or bleeding from the bottom, and discharge.
Bowel cancer may cause a lump in the tummy. But look out for changes to your poo and bowel frequency such as blood in stool, abnormal diarrhoea or constipation and feeling like you need to go for a poo even if you’ve just been.
If you notice a new lump around the anus, whether or not there are any other symptoms, book an appointment with your GP.
You may also mistake anal warts for these small lumps. Anal warts may appear on their own or in clusters.
These warts are a symptom of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is extremely common and passed during sexual/skin-to-skin contact.
You should visit a sexual health clinic if these warts become painful, itch or bleed.
Odours down there
FOR women, vaginal discharge is normal.
It fluctuates in consistency depending on the time of your cycle.
GettyUnpleasant odours from the genitals may indicate poor hygiene, a bacterial or fungal infection or a STI[/caption]
But it’s important to look out for any changes in vaginal discharge that don’t feel right to you.
Dr Burrage says: “Thrush can often cause an itch and a thick cottage cheese-like discharge whilst bacterial vaginosis (BV) is often a thinner grey discharge that has a fishy smell.”
Medication can be used to treat both of these conditions – you can go to a pharmacy to ask for treatment initially.
But if you have repeated episodes, you need to visit your GP or sexual health clinic for advice.
“Consider washing with just water and avoiding scented products,” says Dr Barrage.
This will be best for your vaginal health and warding off infections.
Men can get thrust too, although it’s less common.
Dr Ashrafi says: “It typically appears as redness, itching and a white, sometimes thickened discharge on the head of the penis.
“It can be triggered by factors such as antibiotic use, a weakened immune system or unprotected sex with a partner who has thrush.”
For both men and women, Dr Ashrafi says: “If you’re sexually active and notice any abnormal discharge, take an STI test.”
For example, large amounts of discharge, discharge that is green, yellow, red or blood-stained.
Dr Ashrafi adds: “Men can also experience unpleasant odours from the genitals, which may indicate poor hygiene, a bacterial or fungal infection, or a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
“If the smell is persistent or accompanied by other symptoms like itching, redness or discharge, it’s important to see a healthcare professional for assessment.”
Itchy genitals and itchy anus
WHETHER both areas are itchy, or just one, this can be incredibly uncomfortable.
Both men and women can experience thrush, the key symptom of which is itching.
GettyWomen and men can both experience thrush – which can be extremely itchy[/caption]
“These occur more often in warm, moist conditions,” Dr Green says.
“Avoid tight-fitting underwear especially for prolonged periods and keep skin in these areas clean and dry.
“Avoid the use of soaps, fragranced wash products or wet wipes.”
But Dr Ashrafi says that skin conditions like eczema, STIs, irritants such as strong soaps and anal warts can also be the cause.
“If the itching is severe or persists despite treatment, seek guidance from your GP.”
Dr Green says less commonly, an itchy rash on the genitals – usually in middle-aged women but sometimes also in men – can be caused by a condition called lichen sclerosus.
“The itch tends to be worse at night and can also affect the skin around the anus, which gradually turns white over time,” says Dr Green.
Symptoms can be controlled with prescription creams, however, lichen sclerosus carries a ‘small increased risk of cancer of the anogenital skin’.
“If you notice a new and persistent itchy rash in the anogenital area, then you should consult a GP,” adds Dr Green.
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