Health Topic

Anal Disorders

Anal disorders include hemorrhoids, fistulas, and abscesses. Learn about which anal conditions are minor and those that are more serious.

Reviewed Reviewed by a registered pharmacistGeneral information

Also called: Anorectal diseases

Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.

About Anal Disorders

Your anus is the opening at the end of your large intestine. It is where stool (poop) leaves your body.

Problems with the anus are common. They include:

  • Hemorrhoids
  • Abscesses
  • Fissures, small cracks or tears in the lining of your anus
  • Anorectal fistula, an abnormal tunnel from your anus or rectum to the skin surface
  • Anal itching (pruritus ani)
  • Cancer

Your symptoms will depend on which disorder you have. But some of the more common symptoms may include:

  • Bleeding
  • Discharge
  • Itching
  • Pain
  • Swelling

To make a diagnosis, your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history. Depending upon your symptoms, your provider may:

  • Check the skin around your anus for anything that looks abnormal.
  • Perform a digital rectal exam (DRE). For this exam, your provider inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the lower part of your rectum to feel for lumps or anything unusual.
  • Order tests, such as an anoscopy.

You may be embarrassed to talk about your anal troubles. But it's important to let your provider know about your symptoms, especially if you have pain or bleeding. The more details you can give about your problem, the better your provider can help you.

Treatments vary, depending on the condition you have.

It sits within Digestive System.

The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.

Research on Anal Disorders

787 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.

What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.

Research currently under way

Research already completed

Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.

Where to read more

Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.

Start Here

Symptoms

  • Anal PainMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Diagnosis and Tests

Treatments and Therapies

Clinical Trials

Medical subject headings

Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Anus Diseases. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.

This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Anal Disorders, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.