Medical expert of the article
New publications
Pain in the anus
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Pain in the anus can be caused by various factors. Usually, people feel embarrassed by such symptoms and go to the doctor with a sharp exacerbation of the disorders. This is fundamentally wrong, since pain can signal serious problems, early diagnosis and treatment will help to avoid their aggravation. The main causes of pain are physical disorders, oncological diseases and inflammatory diseases.
The rectum is part of the digestive tract, which completes the process of digesting food, its structure is adapted for the act of defecation.
[Physical disorders
In this category, the main cause of pain in the anal opening is anal fissures - cuts or ruptures in the mucosa of the rectum. They can occur in the case of disorders of the digestive system, due to the incorrect nature of the stool, or because of the presence of foreign objects not digested in it. Pain in such cases is very acute and is felt during the act of defecation, because of which patients often deliberately detain it, than cause constipation. If the pain is observed after defecation, this indicates that the disorder has become chronic. In addition to pain in anal fissure spasm of the sphincter and minor blood discharge from the anus are observed.
Also pain in the anus can occur with prolonged sitting on a hard stool and after bruises and falls. In such cases, when changing the seat and after the time has elapsed, the pain will subside itself.
Another cause of pain is the prolapse of the rectum. This disorder is usually observed in the elderly, repeatedly giving birth to women. Although it may be present in people of other categories.
A rare reason is proctological fugues. These are anal spasms that occur mainly during sleep. Usually observed in adolescence.
Pain in the anus due to oncological diseases
The cancer of the anus even in the early stages has vivid symptomatic manifestations: firstly, it is an admixture of scarlet blood in the feces, and secondly, a dull pain in defecation, which in the course of time intensifies and continues constantly. Pain is explained by the innervation of the anal area.
Often the pain in the anal opening radiates to the lower abdomen, hips, genitals. The intensity of pain does not yet indicate the inoperability of the tumor, so early diagnosis is necessary.
Pain due to inflammation
In most cases, pain in the anus opens due to inflammation of the hemorrhoids. Are very sharp, the patient is difficult to defecate, sit and walk. They are accompanied by fever and chills. There are for different reasons: alcohol consumption, excessive physical activity, eating spicy food and so on.
The next reason is subcutaneous paraproctitis. The abscess is located in the subcutaneous tissue of the anal opening. The disease is characterized by fever, chills and growing pain in the anus, which increases with defecation.
Another disease is a submucous abscess of the rectum. The abscess is in that case under the mucous membrane at the edge of the anal opening. Patients complain of dull pain, increasing with defecation. In most cases it is detected by the method of palpation.
Also, the reason for the pain in the anus can be venereal diseases.
Who to contact?
Treatment and Diagnosis
If the pain in the anus is following you for a few days, you need to see a doctor immediately. If there are other symptoms described above, the doctor should be contacted immediately, it will make it easier and can save your life.