Anal fissure
An anal fissure is a small tear in the skin around the opening of the anus that can cause sharp pain and bleeding when you poo. Read more about anal fissure →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the general surgery wait (not specific to anal fissure), updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
general surgery waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust | Tameside | 3 weeks |
| The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust | Harlow | 4 weeks |
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | Reading | 5 weeks |
| Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust | Kirklees | 6 weeks |
| The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust | Kensington and Chelsea | 6 weeks |
| Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Milton Keynes | 6 weeks |
| County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust | Darlington | 6 weeks |
| Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | North Tyneside | 6 weeks |
About anal fissure
An anal fissure is a tear or split in the skin just inside the anus. It often follows passing a hard or large stool. The main symptoms are a sharp pain when you poo, which can last afterwards, and bright red bleeding. Fissures are common and, while painful, are usually not serious.
How it is treated
Most anal fissures heal by themselves within a few weeks with simple measures: keeping stools soft by eating more fibre and drinking plenty of fluids, using a laxative if needed, and relieving pain. Your GP can prescribe an ointment that relaxes the muscle and improves blood flow so the tear heals. If a fissure does not heal after these steps, a specialist can offer other treatments, including a small operation.
After treatment
Most fissures settle with self-care and GP treatment, and keeping stools soft afterwards is the main way to stop them coming back. For the minority that do not heal, specialist treatment has good results, and recovery from the minor procedures used is usually quick.
Sources: NHS: Anal fissure, NICE CKS: Anal fissure. Last updated October 2026.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.