What this experience covers
This is a composite account of what people describe when they try to feel for an anal fissure themselves — a very common impulse when dealing with unexplained anal pain. It draws from many anonymised stories.
The pattern
Why people try
The urge to check is completely understandable. You are in pain. You want to know what is going on. Looking online has told you it might be a fissure, and you want to confirm. Many people describe reaching for the area in the shower or bathroom, trying to feel what is causing the pain.
What people describe feeling
People who have tried to feel for a fissure describe a range of experiences:
- A small indentation or rough patch at the anal margin — this is sometimes a fissure, sometimes a skin tag, sometimes just normal anatomy
- Sharp pain on contact — if you touch the area of the fissure directly, the pain is typically immediate and intense
- Swelling or a small lump near the fissure — this may be a sentinel pile (skin tag) associated with a chronic fissure
- Nothing obvious — many people feel nothing identifiable, because the fissure is inside the anal canal and not accessible externally
Why it is limited
Self-examination by touch has significant limits:
- You cannot see what you are touching
- The pain response makes it difficult to examine calmly
- The area is sensitive and easy to irritate further
- You cannot distinguish between conditions by touch alone
- The fissure may be inside the canal, beyond what you can safely reach
The consistent advice
The message across many accounts: a visual check with a mirror is safer and more informative than trying to feel with a finger. And a clinician examination is more informative than either.
If you are concerned about what you are experiencing, our guide to what happens at a fissure appointment can help you know what to expect.
Everyone’s situation is different. If you want to talk through yours in a private, judgement-free space, our chat is here.
When to contact your doctor
Seek medical attention if you experience:
- Heavy or persistent bleeding that does not settle
- Severe pain that is getting worse rather than better
- Fever or signs of infection
- Symptoms that have not improved after 4 to 6 weeks of self-care