Hemorrhoid Quiz
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Hemorrhoids
Painful anus
Bleeding from anus
Blood in stool
A lump at the anal opening
Rectal pain
Rectal bleeding
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Hemorrhoid?
Commonly known as piles, hemorrhoids are swollen areas around the anus where feces are excreted from the body. They can form inside or outside the anus, often due to excessive straining or poor blood flow, and may result in painless bleeding.
Typical Symptoms of Hemorrhoid
- Blood in stool
- Hemorrhoids or lumps around the anus
- Bleeding from the anus
- Anal pain
- Constipation with urge to go but unable to pass stool
- Itching around the anus
- Mucous in stool
- Ulcers in the genital area
Diagnostic Questions for Hemorrhoid
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Have you noticed any blood in your stool?
- Do you have hemorrhoids or lumps around your anus?
- Are you experiencing anal bleeding?
- Are you experiencing anal pain?
- Do you have constipation where you feel the urge to go but can't pass stool?
Treatment of Hemorrhoid
Piles can initially be treated with simple home remedies like increasing fiber intake and using sitz baths. Other options include creams, procedures like rubber band application, and surgeries.
Reviewed By:
Carlos Cuenca, MD (General Surgery)
Dr. Cuenca graduated from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is currently a categorical surgical resident at UC Davis Health.
Aiko Yoshioka, MD (Gastroenterology)
Dr. Yoshioka graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine. He worked as a gastroenterologist at Saiseikai Niigata Hospital and Niigata University Medical & Dental Hospital before serving as the Deputy Chief of Gastroenterology at Tsubame Rosai Hospital and Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital. Dr. Yoshioka joined Saitama Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital as Chief of Gastroenterology in April 2018.
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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With a free 3-min Hemorrhoid quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Stools looks like strawberry jam
- Stool looks like raspberry jelly
- Poop looks like strawberry jam
- Poo looks like currant jelly
- Fresh blood from anus
- Blood and mucus in stool
- Stool looks like jelly
- Anal pain
- Bloody diarrhea
- Red sticky poo
- Burning pain in anus
See full list
Symptoms Related to Hemorrhoid
Diseases Related to Hemorrhoid
FAQs
Q.
Sitting on Glass? Why Your Hemorrhoids Swell & Steps to Heal
A.
Hemorrhoids swell when pressure builds in rectal veins from straining, constipation or diarrhea, prolonged sitting on the toilet, pregnancy, obesity, aging, or heavy lifting, and the sharp “sitting on glass” pain often comes from an inflamed or thrombosed external hemorrhoid. Most improve with fiber and hydration to soften stool, limiting toilet time, warm sitz baths, short-term topical relief, gentle hygiene, and reducing sitting pressure with regular activity; there are several factors to consider, so see below for key red flags that may change your next steps and the in-office treatments available if home care does not help.
References:
* Menteş BB, Yılmaz G, Menteş A. Current Insights in Hemorrhoidal Disease Management. J Clin Med. 2022 Nov 22;11(23):6911. doi: 10.3390/jcm11236911. PMID: 36498616; PMCID: PMC9738914.
* Jacobs D, Amodeo L, Khoury T, Grewal R. Hemorrhoids: An Updated Overview. Dig Dis Sci. 2021 Nov;66(11):3799-3807. doi: 10.1007/s10620-021-06977-z. Epub 2021 Apr 19. PMID: 33876307.
* Gallo G, Valerio M, Bottini C, Sturiale A, Clerico G, Magrini S, Bianco F, Sforza D, Pescatori M, Trompetto M. Hemorrhoidal disease: From basic proctology to new clinical approaches. World J Gastroenterol. 2020 Nov 28;26(44):6919-6931. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v26.i44.6919. PMID: 33328795; PMCID: PMC7711478.
* Pigot F. Treatment Options for Hemorrhoidal Disease: A Review. J Clin Med. 2022 Oct 13;11(20):6046. doi: 10.3390/jcm11206046. PMID: 36294371; PMCID: PMC9606456.
* Quijano M, Ruiz-Tovar J, Die Trill M. Hemorrhoidal disease: current concepts. Cir Esp. 2015 Mar;93(3):149-55. doi: 10.1016/j.ciresp.2014.07.016. Epub 2014 Sep 10. PMID: 25217462.
Q.
Hemorrhoids in Women: Relief, Causes & Your Vital Next Steps
A.
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum or anus that are especially common in women during pregnancy, after vaginal delivery, and with constipation or straining, with other contributors like low fiber, prolonged sitting, and aging. Most cases improve with fiber and hydration, avoiding straining and long toilet time, warm sitz baths, cold compresses, and short-term over the counter creams or suppositories. Rectal bleeding should never be ignored, so seek care for heavy or persistent bleeding, severe pain, or symptoms that do not improve, especially if you are over 45 or have a family history of colon cancer; there are several factors to consider, and the complete next steps and important details are outlined below.
References:
* Ismaeel A, Al-Thani H, Al-Thani M, et al. Hemorrhoids during pregnancy: Pathophysiology, prevalence, and management considerations. BMC Gastroenterol. 2023 Feb 1;23(1):31. doi: 10.1186/s12876-023-02640-5. PMID: 36725946; PMCID: PMC9892900.
* Lohsiriwat V. Risk factors for symptomatic hemorrhoids: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Coloproctol. 2021 Feb;37(1):1-12. doi: 10.3393/ac.2020.00685.0007. Epub 2021 Feb 28. PMID: 33621931; PMCID: PMC7931327.
* Garg P, Singh P, Garg M. Hemorrhoids: An Updated Review on Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management. Ann Coloproctol. 2023 Dec;39(6):639-650. doi: 10.3393/ac.2023.00445. PMID: 38167389; PMCID: PMC10762397.
* Giani S, Zampino MG, D'Orazio B. Management of Hemorrhoids. JAMA. 2024 Jan 16;331(3):266. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.23847. PMID: 38227092.
* Chang L, Tang B, Yang C, et al. Nonsurgical Treatment for Hemorrhoids. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2017 Dec;30(5):343-349. doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1606132. PMID: 29184518; PMCID: PMC5701880.
Q.
When to see a doctor for hemorrhoids?
A.
Mild hemorrhoids often improve with home care, but see a doctor if you have heavy or recurrent bleeding, severe pain that doesn’t respond to treatment, a non‑reducible or very tender lump, fever or pus, dizziness/shortness of breath, a change in bowel habits, or symptoms lasting more than 7–10 days. People over 40–50 or with anemia, unexplained weight loss, a family history of colon cancer, liver disease, use of blood thinners, or immunosuppression should be evaluated sooner—there are several factors to consider; see details below to guide your next steps.
References:
Practice Parameters Committee of the American College of Gastroenterology. (2003). American College of Gastroenterology practice guidelines on the manag… Am J Gastroenterol, 12916420.
Castera L, Forns X, & Alberti A. (2008). Non-invasive evaluation of liver fibrosis using transient elast… J Hepatol, 18280353.
D'Amico G, Garcia-Tsao G, & Pagliaro L. (2006). Natural history and prognostic indicators of survival in cirrhosis: a systematic… Hepatology, 16805403.
Q.
What do hemorrhoids look like and what are the causes?
A.
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum or anus, often caused by straining during bowel movements, constipation, or prolonged sitting.
References:
Oberi IA, Omar Y, Alfaifi AJ, Ayoub RA, Ajeebi Y, Moafa SH, et al. (2023). Prevalence of Hemorrhoids and Their Risk Factors Among .... Cureus, 37885500.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37885500/
Shafik A. (1981). Urethral discharge, constipation, and hemorrhoids. New .... Urology, 7269018.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7269018/
Quijano CE, & Abalos E. (2005). Conservative Management of Symptomatic and/or .... The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 16034920.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Lohsiriwat V. Treatment of hemorrhoids: A coloproctologist's view. World J Gastroenterol. 2015 Aug 21;21(31):9245-52. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i31.9245. PMID: 26309351; PMCID: PMC4541377.
https://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v21/i31/9245.htmTalaie R, Torkian P, Moghadam AD, Tradi F, Vidal V, Sapoval M, Golzarian J. Hemorrhoid embolization: A review of current evidences. Diagn Interv Imaging. 2022 Jan;103(1):3-11. doi: 10.1016/j.diii.2021.07.001. Epub 2021 Aug 27. PMID: 34456172.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2211568421001704?via%3Dihub