Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are a common condition involving swollen and inflamed veins around the rectum or anus. This aggravating condition often results in unrelenting discomfort, pain, itchiness, and bleeding. A high-fiber diet and over-the-counter (OTC) stool softeners can help alleviate related constipation, and topical creams might also be recommended by your doctor. In some cases, however, a procedure such as sclerotherapy or hemorrhoidectomy may be recommended, although the latter is rare these days.

Key Terms

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What causes hemorrhoids?

    Hemorrhoids are associated with bowel movement problems. Chronic constipation, diarrhea, straining during bowel movement, and sitting for a long time on the toilet exert stress on veins that drain blood from the colon and rectum. The ensuing rise in blood pressure can cause them to slip from muscles and connective tissues meant to hold them in place, leading to the formation of a hemorrhoid.

  • What do hemorrhoids look like?

    Hemorrhoids can be internal or external. Internal hemorrhoids are inside the rectum and cannot be seen. External hemorrhoids are on the outside of the anus and form a hard lump. If the hemorrhoid becomes inflamed and engorged with blood, it may appear bluish-purple.

  • How do you get rid of hemorrhoids?

    Hemorrhoids typically resolve in time with treatment to relieve symptoms and prevent recurrence. In more severe cases, they may require nonsurgical treatments, such as rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, or infrared coagulation, to shrink the hemorrhoid. Surgery is reserved for the most severe cases.

  • How long do hemorrhoids last?

    Most of the time, hemorrhoids go away on their own. The pain and discomfort can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. If you have painful hemorrhoids that aren’t responding to over-the-counter treatments and last longer than two weeks, talk to your doctor.

  • What do hemorrhoids feel like?

    A hemorrhoid can be inside or outside of the anus. Internal hemorrhoids do not usually have symptoms because of a lack of sensory nerve endings in the rectum. An external hemorrhoid may feel like a hard lump that is smaller than a marble accompanied by anal pain, burning, tenderness, and itchiness. Typically only irritated during a bowel movement, more severe hemorrhoids may hurt more frequently.

  • Do hemorrhoids bleed?

    Yes. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lower rectum that can cause bleeding. You may notice bright red blood on the toilet paper after wiping, on the stool itself, or in the toilet bowl after a bowel movement. If you experience bleeding from your rectum, call your doctor’s office as bleeding can be a sign of a more serious condition.

A Closer Look at Hemorrhoids

Explore an interactive model that shows a cross-section of a human rectum, and how hemorrhoids can develop in the anal canal (internal hemorrhoids) or the tissue around the anus (external hemorrhoids).

Page Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Sun Z, Migaly J. Review of hemorrhoid disease: Presentation and management. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):22-29. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1568144

  2. Mott T, Latimer K, Edwards C. Hemorrhoids: Diagnosis and treatment options. Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(3):172-179.

Additional Reading