Is the bump on the side of my anus hemorrhoids or something else?

Dear Bumpy peas and Pea-boy, 

It seems like the two of you two are peas in a pod! There are many possible conditions that might make it seem like your butt is sprouting round vegetables, including external hemorrhoids, molluscum contagiosum, perianal hematomas, and anal warts. For more information on these conditions, read on.  

While speaking with a health care professional is the best way to accurately identify these unusual lumps, being aware of the possible reasons isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For example, you can always bring questions about your body and health conditions to a health care professional—speaking with them might be an excellent opportunity to learn more about your body. The following are potential explanations for what may be causing your lumps and bumps:  

• External Hemorrhoids are swollen veins on the anus that resemble bumps. They can cause your anus to be itchy, painful, swollen, or bloody. People often get hemorrhoids from activities that strain or cause trauma to the anus, including recurrent constipation or diarrhea, anal sex, and lifting heavy items. You can prevent this by eating high-fiber foods, drinking liquids, and avoiding long periods of sitting or straining.  
• Molluscum contagiosum is a viral infection that spreads easily through skin-to-skin and skin-to-object contact. When it appears in adults, it’s often considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It causes bumps to appear anywhere on the body, including the anus. These bumps are raised and round, though they might have an indentation at the center. They’re typically small—around a quarter of an inch. These small bumps usually heal on their own, but there are some additional treatment options available to remove molluscum bumps. To prevent spreading the infection, try to avoid touching the bumps, wash your hands frequently, keep the bumps covered, refrain from sharing towels and clothing, and avoid sex until the bumps are gone. 
• Perianal hematomas are blood vessels that’ve burst around the anus. This can happen due to a variety of vigorous activities that strain or cause trauma to that area—like labor, lifting heavy weights, chronic constipation, or anal sex. Perianal hematoma bumps tend to be purple-ish and can be big or small. The bigger ones can swell, be sensitive to pressure, and make it painful to sit down. These hematomas tend to resolve themselves on their own, but they can also be drained if they cause a lot of pain. 
• Anal warts are caused by the STI, human papillomavirus (HPV), which spreads via skin-to-skin contact. Not everyone has bothersome symptoms—HPV can remain dormant in the body for many months to years. But others can have warts, which are typically soft and yellow, light brown, or pink. You might also experience other symptoms like bleeding, itching, and leaking discharge. Regardless of how your warts look or feel, you might want to get them seen and treated by a health care professional, because some strains of HPV can lead to anal cancer.  

It’s also possible you might not have any of these—this list doesn’t cover all the reasons for a case of the bumps. Before you get all bummed out (pun intended!) or try to treat symptoms yourself, consider getting some help identifying the real culprit for your pea-sized bumps. Though it may feel awkward to bare your butt, know that health care providers are trained professionals, who are focusing on your body in a strictly medical and professional way. They can properly diagnose and treat these types of conditions, which may help provide you with some much needed relief! 

Hoping you find some answers soon,