What does ANUSCOPY mean in UNCLASSIFIED

An anuscopy is a procedure that allows medical professionals to visually inspect the inside of your rectum and anus for abnormalities. It is usually done during a routine physical examination or as part of diagnosing certain diseases or conditions. By looking at the tissue and taking pictures, doctors can pinpoint any issues they may find.

An anuscopy may be recommended if you have symptoms such as rectal bleeding, chronic constipation, non-healing anal fissures, or pain in the area. It can also be used to diagnose or monitor conditions such as colorectal cancer, Crohn's Disease, and ulcerative colitis. Your doctor may also recommend one for screening purposes if you are over age 50 or have other risk factors for colon cancer.

The procedure will most likely be performed by either your primary care doctor or a specialist such as a gastroenterologist. Depending on the complexity of your condition and the findings of your anuscopy, you may be referred to a proctologist (rectal/anal specialist) for further diagnosis and treatment.

During the procedure, your doctor will lubricate the tip of a gloved finger with jelly and insert it into your rectum in order to feel around for any possible lumps or irregularities in your tissues. Then, a speculum may be inserted into your anus so that the walls can be thoroughly examined and photographed if necessary. Depending on what's found during this exam, additional procedures such as biopsy or surgery may take place afterwards.

Generally speaking, most people report only minimal discomfort associated with an anoscopy exam. You may feel slight pressure from insertion of instruments or suction from biopsy samples being taken but nothing too extreme.

Yes — Most doctors recommend that patients clean their anal area well before their appointment using warm water and soap; they should also avoid eating anything two hours prior to their exam so that they don't feel bloated when lying down. Additionally, make sure to wear comfortable clothing that doesn't restrict movement.

Depending on what type of examination is being performed and how extensive it needs to be (i.e., including biopsies), most anoscopies only take between five minutes up to half hour to complete.

Generally speaking no — As long as it's performed by qualified medical professionals who use appropriate preparation techniques before inserting any instruments into your anus, there are no significant risks associated with having this type of procedure done.

Following completion of the procedure you may experience some minor soreness in the area which should resolve itself within several days; some people report feeling gassy afterwards due to increased air pressure used during the exam but this should also pass quickly.