Unfortunately, there are still health problems that people find inconvenient for discussion not only with their loved ones, but even with the attending physician. And here is one of them. Why does the anus hurt? The causes of this symptom can be the most serious. It is difficult to determine any specific one, only based on this complaint alone.
With the main diseases that cause this alarming symptom, we will get acquainted in the article. We also analyze the manifestation of symptoms, presumptive diagnosis and treatment.
Proctalgia
Why does the anus hurt? The reason may be proctalgia. Literally, such a condition translates from Latin as "pain in the rectum." First of all, it is associated with problems of the nervous system. Proctalgia can, in turn, cause the following:
- Osteochondrosis.
- Intervertebral hernia.
- Stressful situations.
Why does the anus hurt in this case? An unpleasant sensation is associated with excessive muscle tension that raises the anus. This condition is a form of radiculitis. Accordingly, it is treated in a similar way.
But self-diagnosis is not worth doing here. For pain in the anus, an appeal to a proctologist is required. Only a qualified specialist can make the correct diagnosis of proctalgia.
Coccygodynia
Why does the anus hurt? The cause of the pain may not be related in nature to the anus. In particular, it makes sense to talk about coccyalgia - pain in the coccyx. It can be mistakenly perceived as pain in the anus.
Unpleasant syndrome intensifies when walking, any pressure on the tailbone. The difficulty is that the disease has several reasons at once, among which neurological can be distinguished separately. So, one of the most common causes of the disease is injury to the tailbone, and sometimes even its fractures. Almost all complaints of coccyalgia were preceded by an unsuccessful fall of the patient on the coccyx.
Why does a woman have an anus? A symptom may be associated with such an unsuccessful fall. But in this case, one cannot ignore a visit to a proctologist. The doctor should conduct a visual examination of the damaged part of the body. After this, additional diagnostic examinations are prescribed. For example, an x-ray of the coccyx.
The proctologist can then redirect the patient for observation to other specialists. For example, to a neurologist. Physiotherapeutic treatment. In some cases, they put blockades. If the damage is serious, then it can come to the surgical removal of the tailbone. But even in this case, it is not always possible to relieve the patient’s position significantly.
Hemorrhoids
Why does the anus hurt after the toilet? Although there may be reasons that are not related to the intestines, anus, nevertheless, it is proctologic diseases that are likely to have leading positions.
And the first place here is occupied by hemorrhoids. No need to think that this is a rare disease. According to WHO statistics, 85% of the population suffers from hemorrhoids in one form or another.
What is the nature of this disease? It all starts during the embryonic development of a person. It is then that the laying of the veins of the hemorrhoid plexuses takes place in the lower zone of the rectum. Under the influence of certain factors, the veins of these plexuses expand. As a result of this process, first internal and then external hemorrhoidal nodes are formed. Why the problem can bother not only an adult, but also a child.
The first symptoms of hemorrhoids
Why does the anus in a man hurt? The first to suspect this symptom is hemorrhoids. In an adult, this disease develops gradually. And very rarely you can notice its beginning in time. The initial signs of the disease are not pain, but the following minor symptoms:
- Periodic discomfort in the anus.
- A systematic feeling of incomplete bowel movement after an act of defecation.
- Slight itching in the anus.
Why itches and hurts in the anus? Do not rush to blame this helminthic infestation. In adults, this is most often a sign of hemorrhoids.
When can pain be felt with hemorrhoids?
It must be remembered that uncomplicated hemorrhoids will not hurt. Why is the anus in pain with this disease? For this we need quite serious reasons:
- Thrombosis of external hemorrhoids. Here, blood coagulates in the veins of the hemorrhoidal external plexuses. Why blood clots occur, and then inflammatory processes develop. This is what causes the pain effect. The larger the blood clot, the more pain is felt.
- Prolapse of the internal hemorrhoid. Why does it hurt inside the anus? One of the main reasons is this one. Nodes begin to fall out during an act of defecation already at an advanced stage of the disease - hemorrhoids of the third degree. Then the disease only begins to progress, the cones begin to fall out with little physical effort and even when walking. Initially, they are set back on their own. Then the patient must do this on his own with his hands. With this loss, moderate pain is felt. After setting the nodes, it passes by itself.
- Prolapse and thrombosis of hemorrhoidal internal nodes. This situation is the most difficult of these. The patient notes severe, and sometimes unbearable pain. Be sure to contact a doctor-proctologist and the timely provision of medical care.
As for the medical treatment of hemorrhoids, it is used only to relieve inflammation. The hemorrhoids themselves cannot be removed by any medicine. Only surgery is effective here. The methods of removal available today are different - it all depends on the stage of the disease, its individual development.
Sphincteritis
Why does the anus in women and men hurt? In second place, among the proctological causes of the symptom, sphincteritis. So called inflammation of the structures, tissues of the anal canal.
Sphincteritis in itself occurs quite rarely. For its development, specific causes related to systematic digestive upset are needed:
- Pancreatitis
- Peptic ulcer of the duodenum and stomach.
- Prolonged and intense gastritis and duodenitis.
- Serious and prolonged stool disorders caused by taking antibiotics.
- Pronounced dysbiosis.
- The so-called "irritable bowel syndrome."
- Infectious diseases affecting the intestinal tract, etc.
Why does it sometimes hurt in the anus? The reason may be in sphincteritis. By the way, the pains are moderate, do not bother the patient much. The disease itself goes away with the successful treatment of the underlying disease or the elimination of its cause.
The relationship of sphincteritis and hemorrhoids
But if the patient is diagnosed with hemorrhoids, then the clinical picture of sphincteritis will be radically different. Hemorrhoids lead to various hemodynamic disorders (blood stasis, in simple words) in the anal areas, as well as nearby organs. This is especially noted when the patient leads a sedentary lifestyle.
As a result of such stagnation in the anus, the patient can easily develop sphincteritis without the presence of the causes indicated above. Moreover, the disease will have a special wave-like character. That is, strengthen and weaken under the influence of many factors.
Why does the anus in a man or woman hurt? The reason may be not only in hemorrhoids themselves, but also in inflammatory processes in the anal area, the development of which he contributed to. In addition to pain, the patient may be disturbed by itching, discomfort and other unpleasant sensations.
The situation is noticeably complicated if a patient with hemorrhoids also has a disorder of the stool. Sphincteritis in the case of diagnosed hemorrhoids cannot be cured. He completely ceases to bother the patient if his main cause is eliminated. In this case, hemorrhoids.
Anal fissures
Why does a woman have an anus at night? The cause may be the formation of an anal fissure. According to statistics, this is the third most common disease that can cause pain in the anus. Its complexity is that it is not easy to choose an effective therapy for each patient.
If there is a crack, then the pain occurs during bowel movements and holds for some time after it. Even a small amount of blood may be released. At first, the pain is weak, but with the development of the disease, they intensify. Pain can bother a person for several hours after bowel movement.
The intensification of the symptom is associated with fouling of the crack with scars, the development of inflammatory processes in it. Blood production during advanced stages may stop. The crack is surrounded by so-called guard tubercles both inside and outside. This already indicates the transition of the disease from acute to chronic.
How is this dangerous? Chronic anal fissure, as a rule, is difficult to conservative (drug) treatment. It is necessary to carry out already operational manipulations. And the greater the age of the anal fissure, the more complex the operation may require the patient.
Do not forget that in rare cases, anal fissures are independent diseases. Most often, they develop against the background of other diseases - sphincteritis, hemorrhoids. It is very difficult to treat cracks located in a pathologically altered anal canal.
Cryptitis
Another reason for severe pain in the anus is cryptitis. This is an inflammation of the crypt, the exit of the anal gland directly into the rectum. The painful syndrome here is intense, associated with the act of defecation. Sometimes there are either mucous or purulent discharge from the anus.
According to statistics, the disease is rare. It is treated conservatively - with the help of medications. But its danger is that it can lead to another serious condition - it is described in the next subheading.
Paraproctitis, fistula of the rectum
These diseases are not so frequent. But it’s hard to call them rare. Acute paraproctitis here acts as the initial form of chronic paraproctitis. Better known as fistula of the rectum.
With this disease, pus accumulates in the anal glands. In no case can its effect on the body be called positive. The faster the glands are cleared of pus, the less consequences for the patient's body.
In addition to pain in the anal area, the disease is also indicated by the following symptoms: compaction, swelling in the anus. How to distinguish from hemorrhoids? There is a high body temperature (more than 38 degrees). In this case, an urgent visit to the hospital and an early surgical operation is necessary.
Fistula is a chronic stage of acute paraproctitis. It is not painful in itself. This is a pathological course between the rectum and the surface of the body near the exit of the anus.
The fistula can close and for a long time (months, sometimes years) do not disturb the patient. But then he starts to fester again. The disease begins to manifest itself as acute paraproctitis. The difference is that the inflammation is not so strong, and the pain is much more moderate. But treatment is carried out only in a hospital. With regard to subcutaneous forms of the fistula, outpatient therapy can also be prescribed.
Epithelial coccygeal passage (pilonidal sinus)
This is a congenital disease, the presence of which the patient for the time being, may not know for the time being. It appears as a result of impaired fetal development.
The pilonidal sinus makes itself felt only in case of inflammation. Pain can occur in both the anus and the coccyx. A swelling forms in the same place.
In acute inflammation, the formation opens. In chronic, a scheduled operation is prescribed in the proctology department of the hospital.
Anal stenosis
In other words, this is a narrowing of the anus. Because of this, feces are difficult to remove. Accordingly, with dense stool, a person experiences pain when emptying.
This condition can occur due to surgery, a certain disease (sphincteritis, anal fissure), with cancer of the anus. In children, congenital stenosis is also diagnosed.
With inflammation, cracks, appropriate treatment is prescribed. With successful treatment of the initial disease, stenosis is eliminated independently. In the case of cancer, an oncologist's supervision, appropriate diagnosis and therapy are required.
Injury
Rupture of the anus usually occurs as a result of an accident, sexual practices. The more intense, more pronounced the pain, the sooner you need to seek medical help.
With minor pain, outpatient treatment is prescribed. Since its cause, most likely, is a rupture of the skin covering the anus. That is, a crack in the acute stage.
With significant gaps, urgent surgery in the proctology department is required. Since it makes sense to talk about the break of the sphincter or even the levators.
Cancer
Cancer of the anal passage begins to reveal itself with the following symptoms: discomfort, itching, mild pain, secretion of mucus and blood. They are consonant with the signs of many diseases described above. Therefore, a comprehensive diagnosis is required in order to correctly establish the cause of the pain, to begin to fight the disease at an early stage.
Reasons for women
Why does menstruation hurt during menstruation? The following reasons can be highlighted here:
- Endometriosis Severe gynecological disease. Pain syndrome intensifies during menstruation. It is provoked by the proliferation of endometrial cells, their penetration into other organs.
- Algodismenorea. Why does the anus hurt during menstruation? The reason may be in this disease. The patient suffers from cutting and pulling pains, weakness, nausea. A headache may also occur. This disease is a failure of the menstrual cycle.
- Adnexitis. Inflammation of the uterus. It can manifest itself as cutting pain in the anus and abdomen.
- Fibromyoma A small node, which, growing, can put pressure on neighboring organs. Including the intestines.
Why does the anus hurt during pregnancy? This may be due to both the reasons indicated above and the pressure of the uterus on the intestines. From the middle of the second semester, the mass of the fetus, the volume of amniotic fluid are rapidly increasing. You can help yourself with the help of herbal compresses, special charging.
Pain in the anus is a symptom that can talk about a variety of pathologies. Including those requiring emergency medical care. To find out the cause of pain in an individual case, only a specialist proctologist can.