An anal fissure is a small tear in the thin, moist tissue (mucosa) that lines the anus. An anal fissure may occur when you pass hard or large stools during a bowel movement. Anal fissures typically ...

A digital rectal exam, which may be painful, may be needed if a definitive diagnosis of anal fissures cannot be made based on a patient’s history. 1 Anoscopy, which also may be painful, can be used to ...

Dear Dr. Roach: My husband has been diagnosed with a rectal fissure. It has been a couple of months, and it isn’t any better. He has been treated only with a stool softener. What do you suggest? — A.T ...

Chronic constipation occurs when you have infrequent bowel movements or difficulty passing stool for several weeks or more. If there’s no known reason for your constipation, it’s referred to as ...

Anorectal disorders such as piles (haemorrhoids), anal fissures, and fistula are extremely common conditions, yet many ...

Current treatments for anal fissures focus on reducing the tone of the internal anal sphincter, whether by sphincterotomy, injection of botulinum toxin or the topical application of nitroglycerin or ...

No need to crack under pressure. Each year, an estimated 250,000 Americans suffer a small tear or crack in the lining of their anal canal, which can lead to painful and bloody bowel movements. “They ...

A bowel movement can be an effective way to gauge whether you're in good health. The foods you eat, the amount of exercise you get, and how much water you drink affect your digestive system and poop.

Medical therapy is an established first-line approach for the treatment of patients with chronic anal fissure; however, the efficacy of individual agents versus placebo remains to be proven in this ...