What should pregnant women do about constipation and anal fissures?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on September 10, 2024
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During pregnancy, due to some special reasons, pregnant women are prone to constipation, and severe cases may develop anal fissures, bleeding, and pain. In such cases, it is first necessary to change the diet to a light one, eat more vegetables and fruits, drink more water, and develop good bowel habits. Avoid squatting for long periods. Additionally, enemas can be used to help with bowel movements, and anti-inflammatory ointments can be applied locally to the anal fissure area for disinfection. Using warm water for sitz baths can also relieve the pain from constipation and anal fissures. Routine abdominal and anal massages can alleviate symptoms and promote bowel movements.

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Written by Li Xiao Jie
Internal Medicine
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What should be paid attention to for anal fissures?

The occurrence of anal fissures is highly related to constipation. Therefore, for patients with anal fissures, treating and preventing constipation is the most important approach. It is advisable to eat more vegetables and fruits, consume fewer spicy and stimulating foods, and reduce the intake of greasy foods. The diet should be light, drink more water, and pay attention to local hygiene. Furthermore, patients with anal fissures should avoid sitting or squatting for long periods to prevent aggravating the condition. If symptoms such as fever, difficulty defecating, or severe pain around the anus occur, it is crucial to visit a hospital for examination to rule out other conditions. Regular participation in physical exercise is recommended to promote intestinal movement and facilitate defecation.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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How many days can an anal fissure heal?

Mild anal fissures or those with shallow cracks can generally heal within about a week through local heat application or by applying hemorrhoid cream. However, there is another type of anal fissure known as chronic anal fissure. Chronic anal fissures primarily involve ulcer-like infectious changes at the local site, hence, they cannot heal on their own and can only be alleviated by lubricating the stools and applying hemorrhoid cream locally. In some cases, conservative treatment might not be significantly effective for chronic anal fissures. If surgery is performed, the recovery time is approximately 20 days. It is recommended that patients with chronic anal fissures undergo surgical treatment with endoscopic loosening.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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How to treat anal fissures and constipation?

Anal fissures and constipation are generally accompanying symptoms. When the stool is dry, the patient exerts excessive force during defecation, causing the stool to tear the local anal sphincter and mucosa, resulting in an anal fissure. Prolonged and recurrent anal fissures, due to the contraction of the local anal sphincter, can make defecation difficult for patients, or, because of the severe pain during defecation, patients may avoid defecating. This leads to stool remaining in the intestinal lumen for too long, causing the stool to dry out and further inducing constipation. To treat anal fissures and constipation, it is first necessary to lubricate the stool. One can take oral medications for lubricating the intestines and easing bowel movements or use topical lubricants. Treatment can also be complemented with anal dilation therapy or surgery through endoscopic incision, and applying a traditional Chinese medicine hot compress to the local fissure.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Postpartum anal fissure

Postpartum anal fissures are a common symptom during natural childbirth. They occur when there is a tear in the anal area during the delivery of a child. This condition mainly leads to pain in the anal region for women after giving birth, especially during bowel movements. When dealing with postpartum anal fissures, it is important to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the affected area. Each evening, washing with warm water or a potassium permanganate solution, which has cleansing and anti-inflammatory properties, can effectively alleviate pain in the anal area. Additionally, it is beneficial to consume foods that facilitate bowel movements, such as fresh vegetables and fruits that are rich in dietary fiber, as they can effectively promote gastrointestinal motility and improve constipation.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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Can a colonoscopy be performed with an anal fissure?

Patients with anal fissures are advised not to undergo colonoscopy, primarily because the procedure involves inserting the colonoscope through the anus, and anal fissures typically occur within the local sphincter muscles. The passage, or repeated movement, of the probe can cause local fissures to experience painful stimulation, or even worsen the symptoms of the fissures, increasing the likelihood of pain and bleeding for the patient afterwards. Therefore, if patients with anal fissures wish to undergo colonoscopy, they should first receive appropriate medical treatment and wait for the local fissures to heal or be completely cured before undergoing the procedure. If a colonoscopy is necessary, a lubricant can also be applied to the anal region to reduce the irritation of the colonoscope on local fissures.