Tenesmus

Straining, especially long-continued, ineffectual and painful straining, at stool or in urination. Straining at stool is called rectal tenesmus; straining at urination is called vesical tenesmus.

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A painful spasm of the urogenital diaphragm with an urgent desire to evacuate the bowel or bladder, involuntary straining, and the passage of little fecal matter or urine. [G. teinesmos, ineffectual effort to defecate, fr. teino, to stretch]

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te·nes·mus tə-'nez-məs n a distressing but ineffectual urge to evacuate the rectum or urinary bladder

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n.

a sensation of the desire to defecate, which is continuous or recurs frequently, without the production of significant amounts of faeces (often small amounts of mucus or blood alone are passed). This uncomfortable symptom may be due to proctitis, prolapse of the rectum, rectal tumour, or irritable bowel syndrome.

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te·nes·mus (tə-nezґməs) [L., from Gr. teinesmos] straining, especially ineffectual and painful straining at stool or in urination. tenesmic adj