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Anal fissure

Anal fissure symptoms

The most common symptoms of anal fissures are:

  • a sharp pain when you poo, often followed by a deep burning pain that may last several hours
  • bleeding when you poo – most people notice a small amount of bright red blood either in their poo or on the toilet paper

What causes anal fissures?

Anal fissures are most commonly caused by damage to the lining of the anus or anal canal, the last part of the large intestine.

Most cases occur in people who have constipation, when a particularly hard or large poo tears the lining of the anal canal.

Other possible causes of anal fissures include:

  • persistent diarrhoea
  • inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
  • pregnancy and childbirth
  • occasionally, a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as syphilis or herpes, which can infect and damage the anal canal
  • having unusually tight anal sphincter muscles, which can increase the tension in your anal canal, making it more susceptible to tearing

In many cases, no clear cause can be identified.

Treatment for anal fissure from a GP

A GP can prescribe medicine to help relieve your symptoms and speed up the healing process.

This can include laxatives to help you poo more easily and painkilling ointment that you put directly on your anus.

Surgery may be recommended in persistent cases of anal fissure where self-help measures and medicine have not helped.

Surgery is often very effective at treating anal fissures, but it does carry a small risk of complications, such as temporary or permanent loss of bowel control (bowel incontinence).

Anal fissures usually heal within a few weeks without the need for treatment.

But they can easily come back if they're caused by constipation that remains untreated.

In some people, symptoms from anal fissures last 6 weeks or more (chronic anal fissures).

How to ease symptoms of anal fissure

Adopting some simple self-help measures can make going to the toilet easier.

This will allow existing fissures to heal, as well as reduce your chances of developing new fissures in the future.

Self-help measures for avoiding constipation include:

  • plenty of fibre in your diet, such as fruit and vegetables and wholemeal bread, pasta and rice – adults should aim to eat at least 30g of fibre a day
  • staying well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids
  • not ignoring the urge to poo – this can cause your poo to dry out and become harder to pass
  • exercising regularly – you should aim to do at least 150 minutes of physical activity every week

You can help soothe the pain by taking simple painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, or by soaking your bottom in a warm bath several times a day, particularly after a bowel movement.

Symptoms of an anal fissure include a sharp pain and bleeding when you poo.

An anal fissure usually heals on its own. Treatment includes avoiding constipation, and medicines to reduce pain and speed up healing.

Anal fissures are usually caused by constipation. Other causes include long-lasting diarrhoea, inflammatory bowel disease, pregnancy and childbirth.

Related links

Anal fissure

Treatment

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1,662 public posts

Anal fissure

I also suffer from a painful anal fissure. I see from my research that the 2 maybe connected. Can anyone shed any light on this? Much appreciated…,
I also suffer from a painful anal fissure. I see from my research that the 2 maybe connected. Can anyone shed any light on this? Much appreciated…,
Whizzer2 profile image
Whizzer2
in Thyroid UK
5 months ago

Colonoscopy tomorrow, currently prepping and worried

Hi there, despite following all advice and treatments suggested by doctors I kept having rectal bleeding for 8 months, possibly due to a chronic anal fissure according to the last GI specialist I saw, though the previous Dr’s concluded no fissure was present and one haemorrhoid that was very small..I
Hi there, despite following all advice and treatments suggested by doctors I kept having rectal bleeding for 8 months, possibly due to a chronic anal fissure according to the last GI specialist I saw, though the previous Dr’s concluded no fissure was present and one haemorrhoid that was very small..I
Vesgesh profile image
Vesgesh
in Colon Cancer Connected
10 days ago

Victim of medical professionals cheating after leser anal fissure surgery

Recently i underwent laser anal fissure surgery but a surgeon. He didn't give me proper discharge advice, discharge summary, and refused to see me before 21 days. When I consulted a good surgeons I got to know it was not leser and suture were there.
Recently i underwent laser anal fissure surgery but a surgeon. He didn't give me proper discharge advice, discharge summary, and refused to see me before 21 days. When I consulted a good surgeons I got to know it was not leser and suture were there.
Mohammad-341 profile image
Mohammad-341
in Anxiety and Depression Support
3 months ago
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Chronic anal fissure and a positive FIT test

I've had intermittent issues with an anal fissure since 2012, most of the time it's been a bother for a day or two, then disappeared for months so I never really took too much notice (it was diagnosed in 2012, but as they considered it acute just prescribed high fibre diet and GTN).
I've had intermittent issues with an anal fissure since 2012, most of the time it's been a bother for a day or two, then disappeared for months so I never really took too much notice (it was diagnosed in 2012, but as they considered it acute just prescribed high fibre diet and GTN).
grebn profile image
grebn
in Colon Cancer Connected
3 months ago

Recurring anal fissure

is there a solution?
is there a solution?
beeshon1 profile image
beeshon1
in Pelvic Pain Support Network
10 months ago

blood from rectum, very scared

I went to the doctor and she said it was an anal fissure. However since then, the blood has gotten very heavy and has gotten to a wine red. I haven’t had a lot of pain but have had a bit of discomfort. Also, I constantly feel like I need to go but don’t actually need to.
I went to the doctor and she said it was an anal fissure. However since then, the blood has gotten very heavy and has gotten to a wine red. I haven’t had a lot of pain but have had a bit of discomfort. Also, I constantly feel like I need to go but don’t actually need to.
Reddddbluee profile image
Reddddbluee
in Colon Cancer Connected
4 months ago

High calprotectin

After a month the soreness did not go, i also had a bleed upon sitting down and assumed a burst pile i went to gp was diagnosed with anal fissure.
After a month the soreness did not go, i also had a bleed upon sitting down and assumed a burst pile i went to gp was diagnosed with anal fissure.
Sooty712 profile image
Sooty712
in Crohn's and Colitis Support
4 months ago

High FIT test results and calprotectin

I had started to had constipation after a change in my diet which caused a anal fissure and piles i was given cream to use and the tear would did heal and still has not.
I had started to had constipation after a change in my diet which caused a anal fissure and piles i was given cream to use and the tear would did heal and still has not.
Sooty712 profile image
Sooty712
in Colon Cancer Connected
4 months ago

Underwent lesser surgery for chronic anal fissure on 27th Feb but still feel pain

Has anyone undergone this surgery. Although I m maintaining hygiene by stiz bath , using strile surgical dressing, ointment antibiotics but still do not feel very comfortable in anus. It feels sort of pressure/discomfort and pain. Anyone who has undergone it can share his thoughts
Has anyone undergone this surgery. Although I m maintaining hygiene by stiz bath , using strile surgical dressing, ointment antibiotics but still do not feel very comfortable in anus. It feels sort of pressure/discomfort and pain. Anyone who has undergone it can share his thoughts
Mohammad-341 profile image
Mohammad-341
in Men's Health Forum
3 months ago

Like pooping glass!

I know this can be an anal fissure, but I wonder if anyone experiences the same and if it's related to endo at all, as I know it can affect the anus..
I know this can be an anal fissure, but I wonder if anyone experiences the same and if it's related to endo at all, as I know it can affect the anus..
Sunflower6758 profile image
Sunflower6758
in Endometriosis UK
8 months ago

fissure and rectogesic

fissure and rectogesic and anal skin tag removel
fissure and rectogesic and anal skin tag removel
Blue-2 profile image
Blue-2
in PMRGCAuk
6 months ago

blood in stool

I went to the doctor with my parents and the doctor said maybe it's anal fissure ,but if want to know i need to go to doctor expert to it and need colonoscopy but we don't have money for that and there's no other doctor in my province.Im so scared and can stop thinking about it.
I went to the doctor with my parents and the doctor said maybe it's anal fissure ,but if want to know i need to go to doctor expert to it and need colonoscopy but we don't have money for that and there's no other doctor in my province.Im so scared and can stop thinking about it.
Citrusss profile image
Citrusss
in Colon Cancer Connected
9 months ago

Laparoscopy recovery and rectal problem

I currently have chronic dizziness caused by 2 episodes of vertigo and a very chronic anal fissure that has been treated surgically 4 times but still not healed.
I currently have chronic dizziness caused by 2 episodes of vertigo and a very chronic anal fissure that has been treated surgically 4 times but still not healed.
Minischnauzer1 profile image
Minischnauzer1
in Endometriosis UK
11 months ago

Rectogesic

I’ve been suffering from anal fissure, mainly due due to ulcerative colitis. Instead of the indicated 8 weeks I used the medication for at least 5 or 6 months on and off as it was the only thing helping.
I’ve been suffering from anal fissure, mainly due due to ulcerative colitis. Instead of the indicated 8 weeks I used the medication for at least 5 or 6 months on and off as it was the only thing helping.
Ekspain profile image
Ekspain
in IBS Network
1 year ago

Enzalutamide & 5-year survival in mHSPC.

More from ASCO 2023 [1] [2]. "Patients in the ENZAMET trial (n = 1125) were randomized 1:1 to arm A, the control arm consisting of TS plus a standard non-steroidal antiandrogen ([NSAA] bicalutamide, nilutamide, or flutamide), or enzalutamide at 160 mg per day plus TS in arm B. " "The 5-year OS rates
More from ASCO 2023 [1] [2]. "Patients in the ENZAMET trial (n = 1125) were randomized 1:1 to arm A, the control arm consisting of TS plus a standard non-steroidal antiandrogen ([NSAA] bicalutamide, nilutamide, or flutamide), or enzalutamide at 160 mg per day plus TS in arm B. " "The 5-year OS rates
pca2004 profile image
pca2004
in Fight Prostate Cancer
3 days ago

Darolutamide & time to treatment discontinuation in nmCRPC

Further to the recent Apalutamide thred, we now have [1]: "A real-world analysis of the androgen receptor inhibitors (ARIs) darolutamide (Nubeqa), enzalutamide (Xtandi), and apalutamide (Erleada) found that darolutamide had a longer time to treatment discontinuation and longer time to progression to
Further to the recent Apalutamide thred, we now have [1]: "A real-world analysis of the androgen receptor inhibitors (ARIs) darolutamide (Nubeqa), enzalutamide (Xtandi), and apalutamide (Erleada) found that darolutamide had a longer time to treatment discontinuation and longer time to progression to
pca2004 profile image
pca2004
in Fight Prostate Cancer
3 days ago

Aplautamide, enzalutamide: low dose opinions

Hi Officially mcrpc. Can't get darolutamide so faced with choice of zytiga, xtandi or aplautamide in the coming weeks. Faced with the first two I would have opted for xtandi and hopefully worked towards taking two tablets. Maybe one but have seen a few progress at one and wonder if two would be an
Hi Officially mcrpc. Can't get darolutamide so faced with choice of zytiga, xtandi or aplautamide in the coming weeks. Faced with the first two I would have opted for xtandi and hopefully worked towards taking two tablets. Maybe one but have seen a few progress at one and wonder if two would be an
Rickytarr profile image
Rickytarr
in Fight Prostate Cancer
13 days ago

Aging: Papers on diet, exercise, and caloric restriction effects on microbiome and epigenome

The following two articles were included in post by a member over at the HU CLLSupport site. (Thanks, Kwenda.) Both are review papers that look at the effects of diet and exercise on health outcomes. The second paper is much more technical in nature and is from researchers in Portugal. I'm including
The following two articles were included in post by a member over at the HU CLLSupport site. (Thanks, Kwenda.) Both are review papers that look at the effects of diet and exercise on health outcomes. The second paper is much more technical in nature and is from researchers in Portugal. I'm including
cujoe profile image
cujoe
in Fight Prostate Cancer
13 days ago

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester [CAPE]

New study [1]. "Caffeic acid phenethyl ester suppresses EGFR/FAK/Akt signaling, migration, and tumor growth of prostate cancer cells" There have been 2 dozen CAPE papers these last 20 years. Ten of these specifically mention Akt inhibition. CAPE is found in propolis, which bees use to seal
New study [1]. "Caffeic acid phenethyl ester suppresses EGFR/FAK/Akt signaling, migration, and tumor growth of prostate cancer cells" There have been 2 dozen CAPE papers these last 20 years. Ten of these specifically mention Akt inhibition. CAPE is found in propolis, which bees use to seal
pca2004 profile image
pca2004
in Fight Prostate Cancer
19 days ago

Ivermectin on Pub Med

{From a related web site} In summary, our results indicate that ivermectin suppressed the AR and E2F signaling pathways and DNA damage repair capacity by targeting FOXA1 and Ku70/Ku80 to inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis in prostate cancer. These findings provide insight into both
{From a related web site} In summary, our results indicate that ivermectin suppressed the AR and E2F signaling pathways and DNA damage repair capacity by targeting FOXA1 and Ku70/Ku80 to inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis in prostate cancer. These findings provide insight into both
cigafred profile image
cigafred
in Fight Prostate Cancer
21 days ago
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