QUESTION
Three weeks ago I had anal sex with a couple of guys. It was a very rough sexual encounter. A day or two later, I started bleeding from my rectum and had extreme pain when with my bowel movement. There was a fair amount of blood and it hasn't gotten better since. What is it and what should I do?

ANSWER
Occasionally during anal sex, particularly rough sex, or sex without lots of lube, a tear, rip or cut may occur in the ass. This may be what is causing your bleeding, but since I'm not seeing you in person in my office, it's hard to say for sure. Since you're still having discomfort three weeks after the rough sexual experience, I suggest you see a medical provider as soon as you can. The doctor may take a look inside your ass and depending on what he finds recommend anything from stool softeners to surgery.

While at the doctor's, it's also a great time get your routine STD testing. We suggest sexually active men, especially those with multiple partners, get tested for rectal gonorrhea, rectal chlamydia, gonorrhea of the throat and blood tests for syphilis, HIV and herpes every three months. We call that the “Grand Slam.”

See my previous answer, Tearing from Anal Sex for more information about the aftermath of rough sex.

To your health,
Dr. K