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Conditions

Anal Fistula

Anal fistula (Photo from Wellcome Trust)

No, this isn’t linked to the Queen’s ‘annus horribilis’ speech of 1992, but you only need to remove an ‘n’ from this phrase to be closer to the mark. An anal fistula is when a small, tunnel-like passageway forms between the anal canal and the opening to the outer skin surrounding the anus. A fistula usually develops after an anal abscess (a collection of pus) bursts, but can also form when an abscess has not been completely treated. They can also be caused by a condition which affects the intestines, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s disease. The unpleasant symptoms of an anal fistula may include: a throbbing, constant pain, irritation of skin around the anus, fever, evidence of pus or blood when passing stools, and generally feeling unwell. Pain also tends to worsen when you sit, move around, pass stools or cough. Unlike an anal fissure, most anal fistulas require surgery as they rarely heal untreated.

What the Men in White Coats Say

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Hi, i have recently started to get an itchy behind. it hurts when i clean it and hurts (though not much) when i take a stool. iv tried to investigate but it seems fine though does appear a little red around the area, im doubting its a fistula or piles though think it may be a fisure, could this be the case and what should i do to treat it.

hello, i am 17 and a few weeks back i had a sore smaller than a pea sized lump on my anus it went after about 2 weeks but now i find it painful when i go to the loo it feels sharp pains like glass and somtimes there is blood on the tissue it also hurts when i sit down after ive been to the loo. im too embarrassed to go to my doctor. what is this called and how do i get rid of it? thanks

Hi, I am a gay male and in the past I have only ever tried anal sex twice, however I find it realy really painful. I am now in a relationship and I feel I am letting my boyfriend down as I don't allow him to give me anal sex due to the pain. To sort this problem out I bought a "toy" to try and break myself in( which aint big), however I find I bleed a lot and up to a few days later also. When I go to the toilet sometimes its just blood that runs out me. what should I do…?

A Doctor who checked me for anal warts said that I have anal tonsils but it seems no other doctor knows what it means as they assume it is piles. I have been aplying anusol but it does not seem to work. Do you think you can please advise me? Thanks

Hi, I suffer from IBS but recently it has hurt to use the loo as I get a sharp knife like pain in my anus when i retract my muscles. I frequently have a almost clear gel from my anus when i wipe. I have had a hard sore lump on the outside for a long time but never thought anything of it as i assumed it was just the way my anus was but now I'm beginning to become worried. After coming home from work early due to this knife like pain that I've had for the past week or so, I have used a latex glove to feel just inside where the pain is coming from. It appears to be like a reasonably hard lump with like a very sore opening between that and the wall that it is clinging too. What could it be and what should I do, I would prefer to see a specialist rather than my GP

i am 41 years of age , female and i am very concerned as i have found a soft lump on the inside of my right buttocks, i have no pain with it or dis comfort but the only thing i have been noticing is that im not opening my bowels as often as i normally would the lump is just inside of the cheek of the bottom

he basicaly i'm a gay male i've had few anal sexual partners the first couple of guys i had anal sex with was fine but say the last year or so everytime i go to have anal sex i've bled and it's so embarrassing beacause i get blood all ova there sheets it didnt bother that much cos most of the guys i wouldn't see agian but now i'm in a realationship and i'm scard to have sex bcos it's such a turn off to me and him , the thing is i dont know it's bleeding till he tells me it does hert! what should i do . should i go to my gp or what .. help !!!!

I'm not sure what I have but I have a hard lump just at the end of my anal, after I go to the loo to pass my bowels, it hurts especially when I wipe and I've noticed it hurts for a few hours after I've gone to the loo. What can I do to get rid off it, because it's really uncomfortable.

hi i am 22 and have recently noticed it hurt to pass stools i also noticed blood on the paper i had a look and at the top of my anus it seems like a lump or spot has formed it has bled as it tore open when i went to toliet i am really embarresed to go to gp and was wondering if you could help me please

hi, i have ibs, some days i need to go to the loo 3 or 4 times, when i break wind it feels quite hot, and when i need to pass a motion i get little or no warning and it makes my bottom feel very sore, i use timmodene cream for a couple of days after, also after ive been i can wipe myself loads of times and my bottom never seems to be clean, so sex is embarrassing, please help




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