Anal fissures are famously painful, but they are hardly famous. Most people who develop this disorder are afraid to discuss it with friends or family, and a dismaying number never even disclose the issue to their doctors.

They should. Anal fissures are among the most painful problems in proctology, and for many people they can utterly ruin their quality of life. One woman described the experience to the New York Times, saying:

“Every bowel movement was painful, and the agonizing after-spasms went on for hours,” she wrote. “Even when I wasn’t in actual pain, it was all I could think about. My work suffered; my life was on hold.”

Anal fissures tend to heal up – but like any tissue injury, they can also reopen with intense pain. Hard bowel movements, straining, and vigorous activity can lead to a fissure, with sexual penetration often singled out as an especially pernicious cause:

Any trauma to the anal canal can cause a fissure. In women, childbirth is a common cause. Other causes include the insertion of a foreign object, anal intercourse, a digital rectal exam and chronic constipation or diarrhea. Fissures often affect people with inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn’s disease.

Relief for anal fissures isn’t hard to achieve. Visit a proctologist for a full workup, and you are likely to come away with a sound set of solutions which include therapy, management and rest.

Contact the anal fissure experts at PI today.