Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Causes of anal pain include:

  1. Anal cancer
  2. Anal fissure (a small tear in the lining of the anal canal)
  3. Anal fistula (a channel between the anus or rectum usually to the skin near the anus)
  4. Anal itching (pruritus ani)
  5. Anal sex
  6. Anal or rectal stricture (narrowing that may occur from scarring, severe inflammation or cancer)
  7. Crohn's disease (a type of inflammatory bowel disease)
  8. Constipation
  9. Diarrhea (that causes anal irritation)
  10. Fecal impaction (a mass of hardened stool in the rectum due to chronic constipation)
  11. Genital warts
  12. Hemorrhoids (swollen and inflamed veins in the anus or rectum)
  13. Levator ani syndrome (spasm in the muscles that surround the anus)
  14. Perianal abscess (pus in the deep tissue around the anus)
  15. Perianal hematoma (a collection of blood in the perianal tissue caused by a ruptured vein, sometimes called an external hemorrhoid)
  16. Proctalgia fugax (fleeting pain due to rectal muscle spasm)
  17. Proctitis (inflammation of the lining of the rectum)
  18. Pudendal neuralgia (a nerve condition that causes extreme pain in the anal and pelvic area)
  19. Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (an ulcer of the rectum)
  20. Tailbone pain (also known as coccydynia or coccygodynia)
  21. Thrombosed hemorrhoid (a blood clot in a hemorrhoid)
  22. Trauma
  23. Ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease)
  24. Ulcerative proctitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease)

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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June 30, 2026

See also

  1. Carcinoid tumors
  2. Hemorrhoids
  3. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  4. Inflammatory bowel disease FAQs
  5. Mucus in stool: A concern?
  6. Prednisone withdrawal: Why taper down slowly?
  7. Proctitis
  8. Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome
  9. Ulcerative colitis vs. Crohn's disease