When should you see a doctor for hemorrhoids? Discover 5 signs it’s time to seek medical care, including bleeding, persistent discomfort, and worsening symptoms.

Hemorrhoids: A Common Condition We All Experience

Hemorrhoids are a common condition that many people experience, though there is often a stigma associated with them. The truth is, we all have vascular cushions in our rectum that help us control bowel function. When these veins become swollen and inflamed, they can cause pain, itching, or bleeding, leading to the development of hemorrhoids.

Increased pressure from factors like low-fiber diets, straining during bowel movements, prolonged sitting, pregnancy, obesity, or heavy lifting can cause hemorrhoids to become inflamed. While many hemorrhoids may resolve on their own with home remedies, sometimes a trip to the doctor is necessary for faster relief, peace of mind, and tips to prevent them from recurring.

5 Signs It’s Time to See a Doctor for Hemorrhoids

1. Experiencing Bleeding During Bowel Movements

If you notice bleeding before, during, or after bowel movements, it’s important to seek medical care. While this can be a symptom of hemorrhoids, it could also indicate a more serious condition, such as colon or anal cancer. Your doctor can help you identify the cause of the bleeding and provide appropriate treatment.

2. Discomfort Lasting Longer Than a Week

When you’ve had persistent discomfort, pain, or itching from hemorrhoids for a week or more, it’s time to talk to a doctor. While some hemorrhoid symptoms may resolve on their own, others require medical intervention to provide relief and prevent future flare-ups.

3. Worsening Symptoms

Home remedies can provide temporary relief for hemorrhoid symptoms, but they don’t necessarily cure the underlying issue. If your symptoms continue to worsen, it’s important to seek medical care. Your doctor can recommend more effective treatments, such as in-office procedures or even surgery, to address the problem.

4. Experiencing a Prolapsed Hemorrhoid

If an internal hemorrhoid becomes severely inflamed, it can prolapse, or fall outside of the anus. Even if it retracts on its own, it’s important to seek early medical treatment to prevent further complications.

5. Uncertainty About the Cause of Your Discomfort

If you’re experiencing bleeding, discomfort, or pain in the anal region and you don’t have a history of hemorrhoids, it’s always better to play it safe and see a doctor. They can accurately diagnose the cause of your symptoms and provide the appropriate treatment.

What to Expect at Your Doctor’s Visit

Whether you see a primary care doctor or a colon and rectal specialist, your medical provider will conduct a thorough evaluation that includes a review of your medical history, a discussion of your symptoms, and a physical examination. They’ll ask detailed questions about what makes your symptoms better or worse, so it’s important to be honest and direct.

During the physical exam, your doctor may perform a visual inspection or use a small, lighted instrument to look inside your rectum. They may also order additional tests, such as a colonoscopy, to rule out any underlying conditions.

Seeking Medical Care for Hemorrhoids

While hemorrhoids can be a common and sometimes embarrassing condition, it’s important to seek medical care when necessary. By addressing your symptoms early and working with your doctor to develop an effective treatment plan, you can find relief, prevent future flare-ups, and maintain good overall health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can hemorrhoids go away on their own?

Yes, in many cases, hemorrhoids can go away on their own with home remedies like increased fiber intake, hydration, and over-the-counter medications. However, if your symptoms persist or worsen, it’s important to seek medical care.

What are the different types of hemorrhoids?

There are two main types of hemorrhoids: internal hemorrhoids, which are located inside the rectum and are often less painful, and external hemorrhoids, which are found under the skin around the anus and are generally more painful.

How can a doctor treat hemorrhoids?

Doctors can recommend a variety of treatments for hemorrhoids, ranging from conservative approaches like dietary and behavioral changes to in-office procedures like rubber band ligation, and in more severe cases, surgery.

Why is it important to see a doctor for hemorrhoids?

Seeing a doctor for hemorrhoids is important to ensure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and prevention of future flare-ups. Doctors can also rule out more serious conditions that may be causing your symptoms.

5 Signs it’s Time to Seek Care for Hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids seem to have a stigma to them, but the truth is, we all have them. It’s not uncommon for them to become inflamed and cause pain, itching, or bleeding. Many times, hemorrhoids go away on their own, but sometimes a trip to the doctor is necessary for faster relief, peace of mind, and tips to prevent them from coming back.

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are vascular cushions in the rectum that help us to control bowel function. When increased pressure causes the veins in your lower rectum and anus to swell, they can become inflamed and painful. Often this occurs as a result of:

• Low-fiber diets
• Straining during bowel movements
• Prolonged sitting
• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Lifting something heavy with incorrect form

There are two types of hemorrhoids:

Internal hemorrhoids, which are located inside the rectum and often less painful than external hemorrhoids.

External hemorrhoids, which are found under the skin around the anus and are generally more painful.

Learn more about hemorrhoid symptoms.

When is it time to seek medical care for hemorrhoids?

Drinking more water, eating more fiber, and taking over-the-counter medications may help hemorrhoids to resolve on their own at home. However, often a doctor can help you get effective relief faster than you might on your own. And, in some cases, your symptoms could indicate a condition more serious than hemorrhoids. That’s why it’s always better to be safe than sorry and get your hemorrhoids evaluated sooner rather than later.

If you notice bleeding before, during, or after bowel movements.

If you notice blood before, during, or after bowel movements, you should seek medical care. Bleeding during bowel movements may be associated with hemorrhoids, but it could also be a sign of something more serious, such as colon or anal cancer. Call your doctor so you can get an accurate diagnosis and rule out anything life-threatening. Your doctor can help you identify and address the cause of your bleeding. And if it’s hemorrhoids, they can offer treatment, relief, and suggestions to help you prevent hemorrhoids from recurring.

If discomfort from hemorrhoids isn’t resolved within a week.

When you’ve had persistent discomfort, pain, or itching for a week, it’s time to talk to a doctor. While some symptoms of hemorrhoids resolve on their own, others do not and can be treated by a doctor, so you don’t have to live with the daily symptoms. Your doctor can recommend treatments that range from the conservative, like dietary and behavioral changes, or in-office procedures, such as rubber band ligation, to more invasive approaches like surgery.

If your symptoms continue worsening.

While many home remedies may provide temporary relief of inflammation, pain, or discomfort caused by hemorrhoids, they don’t necessarily cure the issue. That’s why it’s important to seek medical care for hemorrhoids, especially if your symptoms get worse. On top of treating your hemorrhoids, your doctor can help you reduce the chances of another hemorrhoid flare-up by discussing things like your diet, staying hydrated, and changing your bathroom habits.

If you notice a bulge, you may have a prolapsed hemorrhoid.

If an internal hemorrhoid becomes severely inflamed, it can prolapse, or fall outside of the anus. Many times it will retract on its own but not always. If it can’t easily be pushed back in, or it causes pain or bleeding, early hemorrhoid treatment from a doctor is important.

If you’re not certain your discomfort is caused by hemorrhoids.

When you have bleeding, discomfort, or pain in the anal region, it could be a sign of an inflamed hemorrhoid. Or, it could indicate that something else is wrong. This is especially true if you don’t have a history of hemorrhoids. That’s why it’s always better to play it safe and see a doctor, as they can accurately diagnose the cause of your symptoms. It’s much better to have an expert confirm that you don’t have something more serious like cancer than to avoid a hemorrhoid treatment just because you’re uncomfortable seeking care.

We all have #Hemorrhoids, but if yours become painfully inflamed, a doctor can help. On the #LiveWellHealthy blog, colorectal surgeon Dr. Nicole Chaumont shares 5 signs that indicate you should seek care for hemorrhoids: https://bit.ly/2OQFntt.

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What to expect at your doctor’s visit.

Whether you see a primary care doctor or a colon and rectal specialist, you can expect that your medical provider will conduct a thorough evaluation that includes:

• A review of your medical history
• Discussion of your symptoms
• Physical examination

During your appointment, your doctor will ask you detailed questions about what makes your symptoms better or worse. It’s important to be honest and direct so that they can identify what’s causing your inflamed hemorrhoid.

In most cases, the physical exam will require an internal exam of your anus and rectum. If that does not clarify the cause of your symptoms, or if you are at a high risk for cancer, your doctor may need to perform a colonoscopy to make sure your pain or bleeding isn’t caused by a more complex health issue.

Regardless of what sends you to the doctor for hemorrhoid treatment, know that it’s as common as getting other routine care. Prompt treatment can alleviate unnecessary pain and discomfort so if you think you have hemorrhoids, don’t delay your care.

Do you have a hemorrhoid that’s causing you discomfort?

Request an appointment with a MedStar Health specialist today.

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Gastroenterology

When to See Your Doctor About Your Hemorrhoids

Published Jun. 16, 2023

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• Your health
• Gut health

They’ve heard everything, so don’t be embarrassed about asking.

Hemorrhoids. They’re uncomfortable, annoying and even embarrassing. And on the list of things you’d like to talk about with your healthcare provider, they’re probably at the bottom (appropriately). The only thing that stands in the way of getting relief? A conversation.

“Getting your hemorrhoids checked out is no different than — and as important as — getting a routine colonoscopy, Pap test, mammogram or prostate exam,” says Christopher Buzas, DO, a colorectal surgeon at Geisinger. “We want you to ask about your symptoms.”

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are swollen, irritated veins around your anus and the lowest part of your rectum. There are two types of hemorrhoids.

Internal hemorrhoids

As the name implies, an internal hemorrhoid is inside the rectum, so you won’t be able to see it. They’re usually painless. And the only symptom may be bright red blood on the toilet paper or in the toilet after a bowel movement. You may also notice a bump sticking out of your anal opening.

External hemorrhoids

This type of hemorrhoid forms on the skin around the anus. It may look like a pink or purple bump. Symptoms of external hemorrhoids include:

• Itching around the anus
• Bleeding
• Pain/discomfort
• Swelling

Occasionally, blood from an external hemorrhoid can form a clot. This can lead to severe pain, swelling or a hard lump.

Prolapsed hemorrhoids

This type of hemorrhoid forms inside your anus and protrudes out. Symptoms of prolapsed hemorrhoids include:

• Painless lump near your anus
• Itching
• Mucus
• Bright red bleeding after using the bathroom

What causes hemorrhoids?

“When something causes an increase in pressure, it can make the veins in your lower rectum and anus swell,” says Dr. Buzas. That swelling can lead to hemorrhoids.

Common causes of hemorrhoids include: 

• Straining during bowel movements
• Pregnancy
• Sitting on the toilet for long periods
• Chronic constipation or diarrhea
• Not getting enough fiber in your diet
• Being overweight
• Lifting heavy objects

When to see your doctor

It might be time to see your healthcare provider if:

• You have rectal bleeding or see bright red blood on your toilet paper.
• You have pain and discomfort in your rectum or anus.
• You’ve tried over-the-counter remedies for over a week without relieving your symptoms.
• You have bowel movements that are maroon or dark like tar in color, which can be a sign of bleeding.

If your rectal bleeding won’t stop and you feel dizzy or faint, call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.

When you see your provider for hemorrhoids, they’ll talk with you about your symptoms. Then they’ll check for external hemorrhoids, internal hemorrhoids and other potential issues. 

Treatments for hemorrhoids

After your exam, your provider will work with you to find the right treatment. They may recommend the following:

Eating more fiber

Adding more fiber-rich foods to your diet softens your stool, making it easier to pass. That means less straining and constipation, which reduces your risk of developing more hemorrhoids.

Using hemorrhoid cream

Hemorrhoid cream helps relieve symptoms like itching or burning. It’s available by prescription or over the counter. Depending on the type and severity of your hemorrhoids, your provider can help you find the right one for your needs. 

Taking a sitz bath

A good soak is relaxing in more ways than one. “Taking a sitz bath relaxes your sphincter muscle, which can reduce hemorrhoid symptoms,” Dr. Buzas says. Making a sitz bath for yourself is simple. Start by filling your tub with a few inches of warm water. Then soak for 20 to 30 minutes. For added relief, add some Epsom salts.

Hemorrhoid removal

If your hemorrhoids are serious enough, your provider may recommend a procedure to remove them.

“While most people think of hemorrhoids as a minor problem, they can be very painful,” explains Dr. Buzas. “Knowing when to treat conditions such as hemorrhoids on your own — and when it’s better to seek help — can help you get back to feeling like yourself again.”

Next steps: 

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Which doctor should I contact for treatment of hemorrhoids?

Home / Useful information / Worried about hemorrhoids – which doctor should I contact for treatment? / Proctology

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Despite the fact that hemorrhoids are perhaps one of the most common diseases of the rectum, it is not customary to talk about it out loud. False modesty and delicacy makes a person not only hide his own suffering, but also feel embarrassed even just to find out: which doctor treats hemorrhoids? But there is no point in being ashamed. After all, the sooner you turn to the doctor you need, the sooner and more accurately you will receive a satisfactory solution to the problem.

By the way, in most medical institutions (and, of course, our specialized international network of clinics is no exception!) this disease is treated by a coloproctologist (or, as most people are more accustomed to, a proctologist). This is the doctor you need to go with hemorrhoids.

When to see a doctor?

Of course, any physician will tell you that the disease is easier to cure in its earliest stages. Therefore, as soon as you begin to notice the symptoms of hemorrhoids, you should immediately undergo an examination. And it would be best to immediately contact a doctor who specializes in the treatment of hemorrhoids and other diseases of the rectum.

It is quite possible, by the way, that an examination by a proctologist will please you and the doctor will say that you do not have any hemorrhoids. And there is, for example, a simple inflammation that can be cured in just a couple of weeks.

But if, nevertheless, you are diagnosed with this disease, which is unpleasant in every sense, then it is also important not to start the problem by starting qualified treatment as early as possible. Do not bring the disease to a chronic stage!

Acute or chronic disease

Both the acute and chronic stages of the disease have a fairly similar clinical picture. The only difference is that the chronic form includes periods of relapse and prolonged remission, in addition, a patient who has been suffering from hemorrhoids for a long time knows firsthand which doctor to contact. Starting rapidly, the acute manifestation of the disease has the following symptoms:

• Copious discharge of blood after stool.
• Drawing in the anus, sometimes accompanied by the illusion of a foreign body there.
• Discomfort and pain when trying to defecate, sitting or walking for a long time.
• Burning in the anus.
• Swelling of the mucous tissues of the anus.

Any of the above signs is a serious reason to seek medical help for a diagnosis.

What awaits you at the appointment with the proctologist?

The diagnostic activities that await you in the doctor’s office can hardly be called pleasant. However, when determining hemorrhoids, what doctor can do without palpation of the anus, which helps to find inflamed nodes?

The specialist will also be able to get a visible picture of the disease with the help of anoscopy – a procedure for examining the rectum using a special mirror instrument.

The most complete and informative way to diagnose hemorrhoids for the attending physician was and remains sigmoidoscopy. A special tube with a lighting element expands the opening of the rectum by supplying air, then with the help of magnifying optics, allows you to examine the rectal mucosa.

Only after collecting the primary history and obtaining the results of the above studies, the doctor prescribes the treatment of hemorrhoids, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient’s body.

Only a doctor can cure hemorrhoids!

Fans of self-treatment, as well as those who hope that hemorrhoids will resolve on their own, should remember that without qualified therapy, the disease will continue to progress and, most likely, become chronic.

Some patients with hemorrhoids, when deciding which doctor to contact, choose all kinds of traditional healers who can relieve pain without eliminating the cause of the problem. During the time spent on pseudo-treatment, the disease reaches the last, fourth stage, in which the prolapse of nodes occurs with any, even the weakest, physical stress, and sharp unbearable pain becomes a constant companion of the patient.

To prevent this from happening, get treated only in high-class clinics with certified proctologists, who have a classical medical education, vast experience and enormous possibilities of modern medicine.

And in order to choose the best clinic and find which doctor will best deal with your hemorrhoids – of course, you should listen to the reviews of other patients and entrust your health only to well-established medical institutions. Undoubtedly, the network of clinics “URO-PRO” is one of these!

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Hemorrhoids and its symptoms. Which doctor to contact

Hemorrhoids are varicose veins of the cavernous plexuses located in the anal canal. The treatment of diseases of the colon and anus is carried out by proctologists, the more correct name of the doctors of this specialty is coloproctologists.

Hemorrhoids is one of the most common diseases of the rectum, but at the same time, people are reluctant to go to the doctor with this problem, preferring to endure or self-medicate. However, over time, the symptoms only worsen, bringing more and more suffering to the patient, and the disease itself progresses, “accumulating” complications. In this case, a radical cure is impossible without full-fledged proctological operations.

Why hemorrhoids occur

In the region of the anus and the terminal part of the rectum there are special formations – cavernous bodies, which are formed by a plexus of blood vessels supported by connective tissue. It is assumed that their main function is to ensure the closure of the anus and the retention of feces.

If the functioning of the connective tissue is disturbed, the vessels are overfilled with blood and its outflow is disturbed, which leads to the expansion of the lumen of the vessels and their protrusion. Thus, a hemorrhoid is formed. The following reasons can provoke this condition:

• Stool disorders – constipation and diarrhea.
• Overweight (more).
• Pregnancy and childbirth (details).
• Diseases of the liver characterized by venous congestion.
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• Excessive exercise, especially heavy lifting.

Symptoms of hemorrhoids

In the initial stages of the disease, when hemorrhoids are small, symptoms are often absent. When the nodes are injured by fecal masses, an inflammatory reaction often occurs, which is accompanied by exudative discharge from the anus, pain, itching or burning sensation. Gradually, the inflammation subsides, the symptoms level out, and patients do not rush to the doctor, but the disease itself continues to progress. Hemorrhoids increase in size and prolapse (protrude) first into the lumen of the anal canal, and then beyond.

At first, the nodes protrude after defecation or strong straining and gradually retract. Then their spontaneous reduction becomes impossible, and the patient is forced to help himself with his hands. With large knots, even manual reduction does not always end in success. Against this background, a person experiences pain, sometimes unbearable, itching and burning in the anus. There may be bleeding.

Diagnosis of hemorrhoids

Symptoms of hemorrhoids may be similar to other proctological diseases, such as anal fissures or malignant neoplasms of this area. Therefore, never self-medicate, because, firstly, it is ineffective, and secondly, you may miss a more serious life-threatening illness.

As part of the diagnosis, your doctor will perform an anorectal examination, digital rectal examination, and anoscopy. If necessary, additional methods of research will be carried out, for example, a biopsy.

Treatment of hemorrhoids

Treatment of hemorrhoids directly depends on the stage of the disease. Medical (conservative) and surgical methods are used.

Drug therapy as an independent treatment is effective only in the initial stages of hemorrhoids. In other cases, it is used to relieve symptoms of exacerbation and prepare for surgical treatment. Such treatment eliminates pain, stops inflammation, thrombosis and bleeding. For example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve inflammation, rectal suppositories with anesthetics can be prescribed to relieve pain – they act quickly and give a fairly lasting effect. Heparin-based ointments are used to eliminate blood clots. Stop bleeding is carried out using hemostatic sponges based on fibrinogen or alginate. To achieve the maximum effect, combined preparations have been developed that allow you to simultaneously solve several problems at once. Radical treatment of stage 2-4 hemorrhoids, as a rule, requires the use of surgical procedures of varying degrees of complexity.

Minimally invasive techniques possible in early stages:

• Coagulation of hemorrhoids using laser, radio wave or infrared radiation. In this case, local tissue heating is performed, as a result of which the lumen of the vessel is sealed and the node decreases in size.
• Sclerotherapy – has a similar effect, only the sealing of the vessel lumen is performed due to a chemical burn from the introduction of a sclerosing drug.
• Ligation with latex rings – a latex ring is applied to the base of the node, which compresses the blood vessels and disrupts its nutrition. The node becomes necrotic and dies.
• Cryodestruction – the node is exposed to low temperatures, due to which it necrotizes and dies.

With stage 4 hemorrhoids or with frequent recurrences after minimally invasive methods, hemorrhoidectomy is used – surgical excision of hemorrhoids. Depending on the degree of involvement of the surrounding tissues in the process, only the node itself or the nodes together with the mucous membrane of the anal canal or rectum can be removed. These operations are quite traumatic, and the recovery period is accompanied by severe discomfort.