Anal Fissure

Symptoms

Most anal fissures cause:

• A sharp, stinging or burning pain during a bowel movement. Pain from a fissure may be quite severe. It can be brief or last for several hours after a bowel movement.
• Itching.
• Bleeding, often a small spot of bright red blood on toilet tissue. Tell your doctor if you have any bleeding with a bowel movement.

An anal fissure can be a painless wound that won't heal and that bleeds intermittently but causes no other symptoms.

Go to previous section	Go to top of page	Go to next section
Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: May 30, 2008
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine C. Dale Mercer, MD, FRCSC, FACS - General Surgery
© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.