Itching in the anus in women and men

Itching in the anus is a very delicate problem. Many people are ready to endure it for years, because they are embarrassed to turn to a specialist. It is in vain: often itching in the anus in men and women can talk about quite serious health problems.

Itching in the anus gives a person not only physical discomfort, but also psychological. The quality of life decreases, problems with sleep begin, because itching often occurs at night. This intimate problem cannot be ignored – itching can be the result of serious health problems.

The causes of itching in men and women in the anus can be many – from hemorrhoids to infection with worms (pinworms). Even toilet paper and panty liners can be itchy! Together with a coloproctologist, we discussed what this problem is, how to get rid of it and how to avoid anal itching.

Physiology of women and men

The anus or anus is the distal (last) section of the gastrointestinal tract, which is constantly (with the exception of short periods of defecation) in a closed state and, together with the muscles of the small pelvis, participates in the retention of feces and the act of defecation¹. In males, the physiology is arranged so that the rectum is in contact with the prostate gland. In women, with the uterus and fallopian tubes.

Anatomical feature is a large number of pain and tactile receptors in the anal canal, which, for example, are able to distinguish gases from liquid feces.

There are causes of itching in the anus, which are characteristic of both sexes, and in women, itching can also occur due to physiology. Anal itching in a woman may be associated with candidiasis, vaginitis, postpartum hemorrhoids².

It is also worth noting that women are more likely than men to suffer from constipation, because their intestinal motility is less pronounced. During menopause, women experience a drop in estrogen levels, which can cause dryness in the vagina and anus. Hence the itching.

Useful information about itching in the anus

Average age of patients	30-50 years
Causes	Improper hygiene, hemorrhoids, anal fissure, allergies, worm infection, gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, perianal dermatitis, neurological diseases, spinal hernia
Symptoms	Discomfort in the anus, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, irritability.
Treatment	Hygiene, local preparations, antihistamines and sedatives, proper nutrition and water balance.

Causes of itching in the anus

As tells coloproctologist, candidate of medical sciences Vasily Gavrilov, itching in the anus in men and women can be both an independent disease, which is called “anal itching”, as well as the cause of many diseases of the rectum, including hemorrhoids, anal fissure, perianal dermatitis and many others.

– Also, for example, itching in the rectum can occur with neurological diseases, spinal hernias. We must not forget that in childhood such itching can occur from helminthic invasion. The most common cause is itching due to hemorrhoids, against the background of violations of the hygiene of the anus, as well as inflammation of the skin around the anus – perianal dermatitis, the doctor clarifies.

Internal and external hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids affect about 10% of adults, it accounts for more than 40% of all anorectal pathology³. It also occurs in 7,7% of women, among which 25,7% are pregnant and 49,8% of puerperas⁴.

Hemorrhoids are chronic and acute. The first option is common, the second occurs against its background and is rarely an independent pathology. When hemorrhoids are just beginning to develop, discomfort occurs. These include pain in the anus during and after stools and anal itching. As our expert notes, hemorrhoids are the most common cause of itching in the anus in men and women.

Acute and chronic anal fissure

Diseases of the rectum are combined with each other, and just hemorrhoids and anal fissure are among those. Anal fissure occurs most often in older people who have given birth to women, less often due to chronic diarrhea, inflammatory diseases of the rectum, anal sex, constipation with hard feces⁵.

The crack causes pain, spasm, bleeding, anal itching. Treat mainly anal fissure with drugs that relax the anal sphincter. During treatment, it is imperative to follow a laxative diet and water hygiene after stool. The latter is just important in the fight against itching in the anus in men and women.

Perianal dermatitis

Perianal dermatitis is a condition where the skin around the anus becomes inflamed and red. This causes itching. Such an inflammatory process can develop due to various problems – hemorrhoids, candidal dysbacteriosis, long-term use of antibiotics, inflammatory bowel diseases, improper intimate hygiene, due to the use of panty liners, and also as a reaction to food or household allergens.

By the way, perianal dermatitis can cause even too tight underwear or underwear made of synthetics – for example, thongs, which have a very bad effect on health.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases commonly include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease is a chronic disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, while ulcerative colitis affects the colon.

Both diseases mainly develop between the ages of 20 and 40. Symptoms include frequent cramps, abdominal pain, gray or white coating on the tongue, bloody diarrhea, constipation, itching in the anus.

Dermatological diseases

Psoriasis and eczema, various dermatitis can also cause itching in the anus in men and women. Therefore, if you have skin diseases and itching in the anus, it is better to consult a dermatologist.

Infection with worms (worms)

Most often, children suffer from helminthiasis. Helminths interfere with sleep at night, cause itching in the anus, which intensifies at night. If the child began to sleep restlessly, scratching the anus, a reason to see a doctor and get tested. Most often, helminthiasis is caused by roundworms and pinworms.⁶. Treatment begins with personal hygiene, then – taking medications. Note that adults can also become infected with worms from children.

Allergy

Often itching in the anus in men and women is an allergic reaction. It can occur on anything – alcohol, products, hygiene products (shower gels with fragrance), toilet paper, contraceptives.

Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus at an early stage can manifest itself with itching in the anus. It can also be a consequence of other endocrine disorders in the body.

Effective treatment for itching in the anus

– Proper treatment of itching in the anus in men and women must begin with a doctor’s examination in order to establish the causes of complaints. Depending on the cause, anal hygiene, drugs for hemorrhoids, local ointments for dermatitis are prescribed, which can completely relieve a person of an unpleasant symptom, our expert Vasily Gavrilov notes.

Diagnostics

Anal itching in men and women can leave only a slight irritation, and can grow to severe chronic forms. The appointment with the doctor begins with a conversation: the doctor will ask the necessary questions and collect your medical history. Then you can start the necessary research.

In order to confirm the diagnosis, a proctological examination is prescribed. During the examination, the condition of the skin around the anus is assessed. In those who have long suffered from itching of the anus, the skin is reddened, often with erosions.⁷. Легко обнаруживаются и геморроидальные узлы при аноскопии. Также врач проведет пальцевое исследование. Однако это не все:

you may have to conduct research to exclude diabetes mellitus, infection with worms;
women can be sent to a gynecologist;
carriers of skin diseases are referred to a dermatologist;
To diagnose diseases of the colon, endoscopic examinations are carried out. They allow you to identify hemorrhoids, intestinal polyps, anal fissure.

First you need to find the cause of the itching, and then begin treatment. Only after a complete diagnosis, the doctor will determine the tactics of treatment.

Anus hygiene

Our expert advises not to use toilet paper at all when itching in the anus. No matter how soft it is, it still scratches the skin, and it is even more irritated. It is also better to refuse wet toilet paper, it is no better. After each act of defecation, it is necessary to wash with running water. The jet should be directed directly into the anus, you can use baby neutral soap. You can not rub the anus after washing, but only blot with light touches.

Pills

Depending on the cause of itching in the anus in men and women, medicines are selected. If anal itching is due to worms, the infectious disease doctor will prescribe anthelmintic drugs.

Antihistamines, antiseptics, and antibacterials are commonly prescribed for perianal dermatitis. If itching is due to hemorrhoids, this disease must be treated. For this, there are tablets, ointments, suppositories and creams. The drugs eliminate pain, itching and discomfort, the quality of life becomes better.

Ointment

It happens that the main cause of itching in the anus in men and women is not always possible to find immediately. Then ointments and suppositories can come to the rescue, which help reduce discomfort and heal the skin, for example, Aurobin ointments, Ultraprokt.

Prevention of itching in the anus at home

Лучшая профилактика зуда в заднем проходе у мужчин и женщин – это соблюдение гигиены заднего прохода.

Remove toilet paper – this is “sandpaper”, even the most multi-layered and soft can scratch any anus.
Remove wet toilet paper – it is no different from dry.
Wash after each act of defecation immediately, without wiping with paper.
A jet of water should be directed directly into the anus.
Wash with neutral baby soap.
After washing, do not rub the perineum, but blot it with light touches of the towel.
It is also better to avoid constipation with hard stools and not to eat a lot of spicy foods that irritate the anus.