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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
Doctors don't entirely understand the cause of this condition. But theories include direct injury to the affected area or decreased blood flow to the area (ischemia).
Such an injury or blood loss may occur in cases of rectal prolapse, a condition in which the rectal mucous membrane, or lining, moves down or through the anus. This is particularly true when accompanied by contraction of the muscle that circles the front portion of the upper anal canal (puborectalis muscle). The combination of downward pressure and movement of the mucous lining and stool when defecating and the upward pressure from the puborectalis muscle contraction may create enough pressure to injure the rectum. The pressure may also limit blood flow to the area.
However, not everyone with solitary rectal ulcer syndrome experiences these conditions, and experts don't know whether rectal prolapse causes ulcers or whether the prolapse and the ulcers are both signs of a similar disease.
Other causes of injury and subsequent ulcers may include:
- Constipation or impacted stool
- Attempts to manually remove impacted stool
- Straining during defecation
- Radiation treatment that limits blood flow to the area
- Use of ergotamine suppositories, an anti-migraine treatment
