What Does A Small, Slightly Painful Bump In The Anal Canal Indicate?

Question : Dear Doctor,

37 year old male in reasonably good health with a somewhat embarrassing question.

I was showering and as usual, cleaning my butt. I generally soap up a finger and clean my anal ring/opening. Upon doing this as usual, just inside the anal ring, I noticed a small (less than the size of a pea) bump. It's mildly painful (only when poked or prodded) and seems to move around a bit when touched. Sometimes it feels quite solid, whereas other times it seems like it's not as much and harder to find, but I eventually can. I don't recall noticing it per se before, at least with pain. It might have been there a bit softer with no pain, in which case I didn't find it alarming.

Is this likely a normal finding or temporary issue?

I'm not sure what else there is to say except I do occasionally have anal sex (though not often), and I know that puts me at slightly higher risks for certain conditions, such as colon cancer, so I'd like to rule that out if possible.

Thanks for any info you can give me! My gut feeling is that this is fine and just a hemorrhoid or temporarily irritated gland, but I want to make sure it's nothing that needs immediate attention. (I'm going out of town Friday for a vacation, and really would prefer not to have to worry about this.)

Thank you!

Thanks very much! Glad to hear it's nothing too serious, and I will definitely take care of it. I have a doctor appointment in February once I'm back, so will get it checked out then.

Just to clarify, you're fairly certain from my description that it is NOT cancer or anything like that - just a hemorrhoid?

Thanks again!