Assessment of hemorrhoids and anal fissure occurrences in women during pregnancy in Pirmam City/Iraq

Aim: The aim of this study was assessment of obstetrical characteristics of women with hemorrhoids and analfissure. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 1st September 2013 and 30th July 2014 in Pirmamcity in Kurdistan Region of Iraq on 50 women who attend surgical private clinic and complained with signs andsymptoms of hemorrhoids and anal fissures and diagnosed by observation and physical examination of the anus.A questionnaire was constructed for the purpose of the study. Chi-square test or Fisher exact test were used foranalyzing of the data. Results: Mean (M±SD) age of women were 30.36 (± 7.4). The rate of hemorrhoids, fissures or both were asfollowing respectively: 14%, 48% and 38%. Sixty two percent of the study sample were multipara. The majority(84%) of the sample had vaginal delivery. There was statistically significant association between prolonged laborwith aggravation of hemorrhoids and fissures by pregnancy/delivery but there was no statistically significantassociation between onset of hemorrhoids or fissures and their aggravation by pregnancy/delivery with parityand mode of delivery. Conclusions: Hemorrhoids and anal fissures were most common in multipara and grand multipara women andwho delivered vaginally. These conditions may aggravated by pregnancy and delivery. Recommendation: Advising and educating women for appropriate diet and bowel motion during pregnancy andimproving care during labor may decrease the hemorrhoids and anal fissures. Further studies with large samplesize and case- control study will help to understand the effect of childbearing experience on anal disorders