"I am a 26 year old straight male doing research for a college paper. I learned about a simple screeing test that men are getting that some say helps identify cellular changes in rectal tissue. These changes could be anal cancer. Now I'm wondering should I get an anal pap? I'm straight and "nothing" goes in that area. I'm not in pain or bleeding but I'm worried because I felt around that area and found a little bump just inside my rectum. It felt like a vein but it was raised. So, should I get an anal pap?"
Your HIV Guide responds:
At the very least we should all have yearly rectal exams. This does not include an anal pap and to be honest you probably don't need one. But men should have yearly rectal exams and prostate exams to make sure everything is OK. Also, men should be doing regular self testicular exams just like women do breast exams.
The Self Testicular Exam - A 3 Minute Test That Could Save Your Life
The problem you describe could be nothing more than a hemorrhoid but to make sure call your doctor, schedule an appointment, and make sure he or she does a rectal. Your doctor can tell you if the problem requires a more invasive exam such as an anal PAP.
What Is An Anal Pap And How Is It Done?
If you have an area you are questioning; a lump or a "vein" or rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding by all means get it checked out. Ignoring changes in your body could mean a potentially serious problem goes unnoticed and could become a huge problem in the future.
