Mucorrhea or mucorrhoea is discharge of

mucus Mucus (, ) is a slippery aqueous secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is typically produced from cells found in mucous glands, although it may also originate from mixed glands, which contain both Serous fluid, serous and muc ...

, especially when excessive. The term may refer to mucous rectal discharge or refer to the emission of a large amount of

through the feces. The term mucorrhea or cervical mucorrhea is also used in

gynecology Gynaecology or gynecology (see American and British English spelling differences) is the area of medicine concerned with conditions affecting the Female reproductive system, female reproductive system. It is often paired with the field of obste ...

and refers to increased cervical discharge at

ovulation Ovulation is an important part of the menstrual cycle in female vertebrates where the egg cells are released from the ovaries as part of the ovarian cycle. In female humans ovulation typically occurs near the midpoint in the menstrual cycle and ...

Causes

Simple traces of mucus are not an expression of any pathology, because it is normal

physiology Physiology (; ) is the science, scientific study of function (biology), functions and mechanism (biology), mechanisms in a life, living system. As a branches of science, subdiscipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ syst ...

, while an excessive quantity of the substance could simply arise from excessive

stimulation Stimulation is the encouragement of development or the cause of activity in general. For example, "The press provides stimulation of political discourse." An interesting or fun activity can be described as "stimulating", regardless of its physic ...

of the anus. Excessive emission of mucus without defecation can indicate anal lesions, even of tumor origin, or pathologies such as colitis, ulcerative colitis, intestinal

dysbiosis Dysbiosis (also called dysbacteriosis) is characterized by a disruption to the microbiome resulting in an imbalance in the microbiota, changes in their functional composition and metabolic activities, or a shift in their local distribution. For e ...

gonorrhea Gonorrhoea or gonorrhea, colloquially known as the clap, is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium ''Neisseria gonorrhoeae''. Infection may involve the genitals, mouth, or rectum. Gonorrhea is spread through sexual c ...

, food intolerances, chronic constipation, etc. If, however, it is present at the time of defecation, it could be a

symptom Signs and symptoms are diagnostic indications of an illness, injury, or condition. Signs are objective and externally observable; symptoms are a person's reported subjective experiences. A sign for example may be a higher or lower temperature ...

of internal lesions. In this case, in addition to tumor masses, there may be chronic inflammatory diseases, or the presence of mucus could occur due to constipation,

hemorrhoid Hemorrhoids (or haemorrhoids), also known as piles, are vascular structures in the anal canal. In their normal state, they are cushions that help with stool control. They become a disease when swollen or inflamed; the unqualified term ''h ...

anal fissure An anal fissure is a break or tear in the skin of the anal canal. Anal fissures may be noticed by bright red anal bleeding on toilet paper and undergarments, or sometimes in the toilet. If acute they are painful after defecation, but with chro ...

s, mucorectal

prolapse In medicine, prolapse is a condition in which organ (anatomy), organs fall down or slip out of place. It is used for organs protruding through the vagina, rectum, or for the misalignment of the valves of the heart. A spinal disc herniation is al ...

s or

rectocele In gynecology, a rectocele ( ) or posterior vaginal wall prolapse results when the rectum bulges ( herniates) into the vagina. Two common causes of this defect are childbirth and hysterectomy. Rectocele also tends to occur with other forms of ...

. A study on 31 patients shows that majority of patients with

solitary rectal ulcer syndrome Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS or SRU) is a chronic disorder of the rectal mucosa (the lining of the rectum). Symptoms are variable. There may be bleeding, obstructed defecation, or no symptoms at all. Very often but not always SRUS occurs ...

present with mucorrhoea. A study on a 36-year-old woman with solitary rectal ulcer syndrome also shows that the patient presents with mucorrhea.

Irritable bowel syndrome Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by a group of symptoms that commonly include abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, and changes in the consistency of bowel movements. These symptoms may ...

(IBS) patients may also present with mucorrhoea.

References

Bibliography

* {{gastroenterology-stub Medical signs Defecation

Causes

See also

References

Bibliography