Anal fissure
3-minute read
If you see blood in your stool (poo), or have pain and discomfort in your bottom, you might have an anal fissure. An anal fissure can be very uncomfortable, but it will usually heal if you make some dietary changes and follow some simple treatments.
What are anal fissures?
An anal fissure is a small tear or split in the skin that lines the anus. If the split doesn’t heal properly, it causes a small ulcer to form.
Anal fissures are very common and can occur in people of all ages and genders.
What causes anal fissures?
Most anal fissures are caused by trauma to the area, mainly from passing a hard or large stool during a bowel movement. Other causes of anal fissures include:
There are other, less common, causes of anal fissures such as:
Symptoms of anal fissures
An anal fissure can cause signs and symptoms such as:
- pain during or after bowel movements, which might last for several hours
- a feeling of cramp around the anus
- blood on the stool or toilet paper after wiping your bottom
- itchiness around the anus
- a small crack or tear in the skin around the anus
- a small skin tag or lump near the anal fissure.
Use healthdirect's online Symptom Checker to find out more about your symptoms and what to do next.
How is an anal fissure diagnosed?
Your doctor will talk to you and examine you, and might want to look inside your rectum and bowel. They might use an anoscope, which is a small instrument inserted into your anus to allow your doctor to have a clearer view. Or you might need to have a colonoscopy at a hospital or a day surgery centre.
Treatment and self-care
There are 3 different approaches to treatment:
- conservative treatment
- botox
- surgery.
Conservative treatment usually works, taking 1-2 months. It involves:
- eating lots of high-fibre foods and drinking lots of water to create soft stools, which will ease the pain and muscle spasm around the anus
- having warm baths and applying a muscle relaxant cream (such as 0.2% glyceryl trinitrate) to the area twice a day
- taking pain relief medication such as paracetamol if you need it.
Botox is a chemical that is injected into the muscles around the anus to help them relax. Botox usually lasts for 2-3 months, which allows the fissure to heal.
The surgery is known as a sphincterotomy. A small cut is made into the sphincter muscle, which relieves tension. It is usually a day only procedure.
Prevention of anal fissures
You can prevent anal fissures by eating high-fibre foods, exercising regularly and drinking lots of water. These are all good things to do to help digestion and bowel health, which will help prevent constipation.
It's also important to wipe your bottom gently after going to the toilet.
When to see your doctor
See your doctor if there is blood on your stool or toilet paper after you have gone to the toilet, or if you have pain during bowel movements.
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Last reviewed: December 2017
