Anal tears
What are anal tears?
Anal tears are small cuts or rips in the skin of your anus. Your anus is the opening from which stools (feces) come out. A tear here makes passing stools very painful.
If you have an anal tear (also called anal fissure), the pain after passing stools can last for hours after you've been to
the bathroom.
1
Source:
American Gastroenterological Association.
Technical review on the diagnosis and care of patients with anal fissure.
Gastroenterology. 2003; 124: 235-245.
American Gastroenterological Association.
Technical review on the diagnosis and care of patients with anal fissure.
Gastroenterology. 2003; 124: 235-245.
Doctors don't know why some people get anal tears and others don't. There are a number of reasons why you may get an anal
tear.
1
2
3
Source:
American Gastroenterological Association.
Technical review on the diagnosis and care of patients with anal fissure.
Gastroenterology. 2003; 124: 235-245.
American Gastroenterological Association.
Technical review on the diagnosis and care of patients with anal fissure.
Gastroenterology. 2003; 124: 235-245.
Source:
Rakinic J.
Physician information: core subjects: fissure and pruritus.
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Available at http://www.fascrs.org (accessed on 21 October 2008).
Rakinic J.
Physician information: core subjects: fissure and pruritus.
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Available at http://www.fascrs.org (accessed on 21 October 2008).
Source:
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.
Patient information: Colorectal diseases and procedures: anal fissure.
Available at http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/anal_fissure/ (accessed on 21 October 2008).
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.
Patient information: Colorectal diseases and procedures: anal fissure.
Available at http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/anal_fissure/ (accessed on 21 October 2008).
-
Passing hard and dry stools. These types of stools can cause your
anus
The anus, which is at the end of the rectum, is where a stool leaves your body when you go to the bathroom. Part of the anus is a muscle that helps you hold in the stool until you are on the toilet.anus to stretch and tear slightly because the skin around your anus is quite thin -
constipated
When you're constipated, you have difficulty passing stools (feces). Your bowel movements may be dry and hard. You may have fewer bowel movements than usual, and it may be a strain when you try to go.Constipation. When you're constipated, passing stools is difficult and you don't pass them often enough. This may lead to tears in your anus. But we don't know for sure how many people get tears because of constipation. -
diarrhea
Diarrhea is when you have loose, watery stools and you need to go to the bathroom far more often than usual. Doctors say you have diarrhea if you need to go to the bathroom more than three times a day.Diarrhea may also cause tears in some people.
Source:
American Gastroenterological Association.
Technical review on the diagnosis and care of patients with anal fissure.
Gastroenterology. 2003; 124: 235-245.
American Gastroenterological Association.
Technical review on the diagnosis and care of patients with anal fissure.
Gastroenterology. 2003; 124: 235-245.
It's unusual to have more than one tear at a time, or for the skin on the sides of the anus to tear. If this happens, your
doctor may do some tests to see if the tears are due to an
infection or a problem with your digestion.
4
infection
You get an infection when viruses, bacteria, fungi or other tiny organisms get into your body. These bugs are so tiny that you can't see them without a microscope. For example, an infection in your airways causes the common cold. And an infection in your skin can cause rashes such as athlete's foot.
You get an infection when viruses, bacteria, fungi or other tiny organisms get into your body. These bugs are so tiny that you can't see them without a microscope. For example, an infection in your airways causes the common cold. And an infection in your skin can cause rashes such as athlete's foot.
Source:
American Gastroenterological Association.
American Gastroenterological Association medical position statement: diagnosis and care of patients with anal fissure.
Gastroenterology. 2003; 124: 233-234.
American Gastroenterological Association.
American Gastroenterological Association medical position statement: diagnosis and care of patients with anal fissure.
Gastroenterology. 2003; 124: 233-234.
Anal tears often heal on their own. Or you may need to take some simple steps to help them heal. To learn more, see What can I do to help my anal tear heal?
Sometimes a tear stays open for several weeks or more. Tears that don't heal, or come and go for months, are called chronic anal tears.
1
3 Your doctor will probably say your anal tear is chronic if you've had it for at least four weeks.
3
Source:
American Gastroenterological Association.
Technical review on the diagnosis and care of patients with anal fissure.
Gastroenterology. 2003; 124: 235-245.
American Gastroenterological Association.
Technical review on the diagnosis and care of patients with anal fissure.
Gastroenterology. 2003; 124: 235-245.
Source:
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.
Patient information: Colorectal diseases and procedures: anal fissure.
Available at http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/anal_fissure/ (accessed on 21 October 2008).
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.
Patient information: Colorectal diseases and procedures: anal fissure.
Available at http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/anal_fissure/ (accessed on 21 October 2008).
Source:
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.
Patient information: Colorectal diseases and procedures: anal fissure.
Available at http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/anal_fissure/ (accessed on 21 October 2008).
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.
Patient information: Colorectal diseases and procedures: anal fissure.
Available at http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/anal_fissure/ (accessed on 21 October 2008).
Doctors think that some tears don't heal because the muscle that controls the anus tightens up (goes into spasm). The tightness
can cause more pain, and it stops blood from getting to your anus properly. This prevents the tear from healing.
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6
Source:
Rakinic J.
Physician information: core subjects: fissure and pruritus.
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Available at http://www.fascrs.org (accessed on 21 October 2008).
Rakinic J.
Physician information: core subjects: fissure and pruritus.
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Available at http://www.fascrs.org (accessed on 21 October 2008).
Source:
Pfenninger JL, Zainea GG.
Common anorectal conditions: part II: lesions.
American Family Physician. 2001; 64: 77-88.
Pfenninger JL, Zainea GG.
Common anorectal conditions: part II: lesions.
American Family Physician. 2001; 64: 77-88.
Source:
Nelson RL.
Treatment of anal fissure.
BMJ. 2003;327:354-355.
Nelson RL.
Treatment of anal fissure.
BMJ. 2003;327:354-355.
Sources for the information on this page:
- American Gastroenterological Association.Technical review on the diagnosis and care of patients with anal fissure.Gastroenterology. 2003; 124: 235-245.
- Rakinic J.Physician information: core subjects: fissure and pruritus.American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Available at http://www.fascrs.org (accessed on 21 October 2008).
- American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Patient information: Colorectal diseases and procedures: anal fissure.Available at http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/anal_fissure/ (accessed on 21 October 2008).
- American Gastroenterological Association.American Gastroenterological Association medical position statement: diagnosis and care of patients with anal fissure.Gastroenterology. 2003; 124: 233-234.
- Pfenninger JL, Zainea GG.Common anorectal conditions: part II: lesions.American Family Physician. 2001; 64: 77-88.
- Nelson RL.Treatment of anal fissure.BMJ. 2003;327:354-355.
This information was last updated on Nov 06, 2008
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional.
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Source: ConsumerReportsHealth.org Copyright © 2005-2008 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
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