Anal fissures are cracks in a person’s anus or anal canal, primarily caused by trauma around the area. Trauma caused the anal mucosa to stretch. The fissures appear as a shallow papercut, and may not be easily seen by the naked eye.
Generally, anal fissures pose no serious threat and often self-heal within a week or so. It can also be a common condition for those who have just given birth or who have developed poor toileting habits, so it’s not really something to worry about.
Nonetheless, having anal fissures may cause great discomfort to a person. In fact, one of the most common questions being asked of doctors is can anal fissure cause very painful gas and menstrual cramps?
To answer this question, there is a need to discuss the body’s different activities, and how it possibly affects the lesion.
It is a fact that these fissures cause discomfort when a person is passing stool, because the lesion is often located where the fecal matter normally passes through. Unfortunately, the same is true when a person is simply passing gas.
The bodily gas exerts pressure upon the anal sphincters, and it is this pressure which causes friction between the fissure and other parts of the anus. Thus, it is the friction itself which causes the discomfort.
On the other hand, the connection between anal fissures and menstrual cramps is yet to be known. It is worth noting that menstrual cramps occur because of the natural shedding of a woman’s uterine lining. During that time of the month, it produces an overall discomfort around the pelvic area. Experts hypothesize that due to the proximity between the anal area and the pelvis, the intense pain from the fissure makes the menstrual cramps feel much worse. So far, this is the most accepted explanation to this occurrence.
Nonetheless, any form of pressure to the anal fissure – whether internal or external – can easily cause pain. But regardless of the discomfort it brings, one must not control himself from doing his regular bowel movements. Trying to delay or stop bowel movements can possibly lead to problems far worse than anal fissure pain.
Keep in mind that shallow lesions often heal within six months. If the pain lasts for a longer period, or if the pain already seems unbearable, it is advised to consult a health expert and have your fissures treated. After all, the anal area is exposed to bacteria from fecal matter, so it makes the lesion an easy target for these microorganisms.
To conclude, the answer to, “can anal fissure cause very painful gas and menstrual cramps?” is in the affirmative. Anal tissues are highly sensitive, which explains why even the slightest pressure exerted towards the fissure could cause it to hurt. Additionally, the proximity between the anus and the pelvis explains the presence of menstrual cramps.
Nonetheless, it must always be remembered that prevention will always be better than cure. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will surely keep a person away from these minor troubles.
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