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Facts about Anal Fissures Anal Fissure - Topic OverviewWhat is an anal fissure?An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the...nal canal) that causes pain during bowel movements. Anal fissures don't lead to more serious problems. Most anal fissures heal with home treatment after a few days or weeks. These are called short-term (acute) anal fissures. If you have an anal fissure that hasn't healed after 8 to 12 weeks, it is considered a long-term (chronic) fissure. A chronic fissure may need medical treatment. Anal fissures are a common problem. They affect people of all ages, especially young and otherwise healthy people. What causes an anal fissure?Anal fissures are caused by injury or trauma to the anal canal. Injury can happen when:
Fissures can also be caused by a rectal exam. In some cases, a fissure may be caused by Crohn's disease. Many experts believe that extra tension in the two muscular rings (sphincters) controlling the anus may be a cause of fissures. The outer anal sphincter is under your conscious control. But the inner sphincter is not. This muscle is under pressure, or tension, all of the time. If the pressure increases too much, it can cause spasm and reduce blood flow to the anus, leading to a fissure. This pressure can also keep a fissure from healing. What are the symptoms?You may have:
Sometimes an anal fissure may be a painless wound that won't heal. It may bleed from time to time but cause no other symptoms.
How is an anal fissure diagnosed?A doctor can diagnose an anal fissure based on your symptoms and a physical exam. The exam may include:
The doctor may wait until the fissure has started to heal before doing a rectal exam or anoscopy. If an exam needs to be done right away, medicine can be used to numb the area. During an exam, a doctor can also find out whether another condition may be causing the fissure. Having several fissures or having one or more in an area of the anus where fissures usually don't occur can be a sign of a more serious problem, such as inflammatory bowel disease or aweakened immune system. How is it treated?Most short-term anal fissures can heal with home treatment in 4 to 6 weeks. Pain during bowel movements usually goes away within a couple of days after the start of home treatment. There are several steps you can take to relieve your symptoms and help the fissure heal:
Don't avoid having bowel movements. Knowing that it might hurt may make you anxious. But trying not to have bowel movements will only make constipation worse and keep the fissure open and painful.
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