Anal Fissure

An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of your anus, or the lower part of your rectum, where stool passes out of your body. If you have an anal fissure, you may have pain during bowel movements or bright red blood on your stool or on the toilet paper after a bowel movement.

Anal Fissure Causes

Some of the common causes of anal fissures include the following:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Recent pregnancy
• Crohn's disease
• Ulcerative colitis

Anal Fissure Treatment at Rush

At Rush, a gastroenterologist can help you find relief from the pain of your anal fissure with a personalized treatment plan. This may involve one or more of the following:

• Lifestyle changes, such as eating more high-fiber foods and drinking more fluids, to ease your pain and prevent future anal fissures
• Medications that can relax your anal sphincter muscles that open and close to let stool pass
• Botox (botulinum toxin) injections, which temporarily paralyze your anal sphincter muscles to reduce muscle tension and spasms that can prevent your anal fissure from healing
• Lateral internal sphincterotomy, a simple surgery that can reduce pressure on the anal sphincter so your anal fissure can heal

Rush Excellence in Anal Fissure Care

• Quick access to answers: We understand that anal fissures can be painful and distressing. That is why we aim to get you in to see a doctor as quickly as possible. Most of the time, you can meet with one of our gastroenterologists within one week — and sometimes sooner.
• Nationally ranked GI care: When you come to Rush, your care team includes some of the country's leading experts in anal fissure prevention and treatment. In fact, U.S. News & World Report ranked Rush University Medical Center as among the best in the nation for gastroenterology and GI surgery.
• Less pain after surgery: If you do need a lateral internal sphincterotomy for your anal fissure, our colon and rectal surgeons are skilled at using minimally invasive techniques so you have less pain and can recover more quickly after your procedure.
• Care tailored to your specific needs: You may have an anal fissure that does not require medication, an injection or surgery to improve. If so, our doctors can make sure that you still get the care you need to heal your fissure and prevent future problems, based on your specific needs and preferences.
• Expertise with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): If you have anal fissures associated with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, our expert IBD team can provide the support you need to manage your IBD and help you avoid fissures in the future.