Anal pain is pain in and around the anus or rectum, also called the perianal region. Anal pain is a common complaint. Although most causes of anal pain aren’t serious, the pain itself can be severe because of the many nerve endings in the perianal region.

Many conditions that cause anal pain also may cause rectal bleeding, which is usually more frightening than serious.

The causes of anal pain usually can be easily diagnosed. Anal pain usually can be treated with nonprescription pain relievers and hot water soaks, also called sitz baths.

Causes

Causes of anal pain include:

Anal cancer
Anal fissure (a small tear in the lining of the anal canal)
Anal fistula (an abnormal channel between the anus or rectum usually to the skin near the anus)
Anal itching (pruritus ani)
Anal sex
Anal or rectal stricture (narrowing that may occur from scarring, severe inflammation or cancer)
Constipation
Crohn’s disease
Diarrhea (causing anal irritation)
Fecal impaction (a mass of hardened stool in the rectum due to chronic constipation)
Genital warts
Hemorrhoids (swollen and inflamed veins in your anus or rectum)
Levator ani syndrome (spasm in the muscles that surround the anus)
Perianal abscess (pus in the deep tissue around the anus)
Perianal hematoma (a collection of blood in the perianal tissue caused by a ruptured vein, sometimes called an external hemorrhoid)
Proctalgia fugax (fleeting pain due to rectal muscle spasm)
Proctitis (inflammation of the lining of the rectum)
Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (ulcer of the rectum)
Tailbone pain, also known as coccydynia or coccygodynia
Thrombosed hemorrhoid (blood clot in a hemorrhoid)
Trauma
Ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease)
Ulcerative proctitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease)

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