Hemorrhoids are a very common condition that affects both women and men and affects one in three people, more frequently from the age of fifty.

WHAT ARE HEMORRHOIDS?

Hemorrhoids are small arteriovenous lakes (and not varicose veins, contrary to popular belief) located around and in the anus. They are part of normal anatomy and therefore everyone has them.

We speak of internal or external hemorrhoids, depending on their location.

External hemorrhoids are located at the entrance to the anus and are only visible if they become complicated. Internal hemorrhoids are located in the internal part of the anus. A simple rectal examination is not enough to examine them: a non-traumatic device called an anoscope must be inserted.

They cause symptoms when they increase in size, become inflamed or a clot forms inside.

WHAT FACTORS PROMOTE HEMORRHOID SYMPTOMS?

Constipation is the main cause. Pregnancy is very often accompanied by hemorrhoidal problems. Spicy foods are often considered an aggravating factor.

WHAT SIGNS CAN ALERT ME?

Hemorrhoids can cause different symptoms depending on the mechanism involved: acute pain when a clot forms, heaviness due to local inflammation, significant itching, or most often bleeding during bowel movements (defecations).

IS BLEEDING THE ONLY SIGN OF HEMORRHOIDS?

One of the signs of hemorrhoids is bleeding during bowel movements (or defecations) if they are internal hemorrhoids. But any bleeding in the stools must be given special attention and examination, in order to exclude the possibility of a more serious disease such as colorectal cancer. In addition, there are other anal diseases that can cause the same signs and a clinical examination during the consultation is therefore essential to make an accurate diagnosis.

IS IT HEREDITARY?

There is no proven heredity but since it is a common pathology, it is normal for there to be several cases in the same family.

SHOULD I GO FOR A CONSULTATION?

Yes. A consultation with your general practitioner and possibly a specialist (proctologist or gastroenterologist) is necessary to confirm and assess the severity of the problem. The choice of treatment depends on this and several treatments exist.

This consultation will allow another more serious pathology such as cancer to be eliminated.

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS?

Complications of hemorrhoids range from local discomfort, often disabling, to "hemorrhoidal thrombosis" (clot inside an internal or external hemorrhoid).

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS?

Many treatments are offered, their choice depending on the stage of the disease.

When the symptoms are minor and their volume is small, a local treatment with cream or suppository may be offered to you.

It will be necessary to ensure that any transit disorder is corrected.

Beyond this, and only for internal hemorrhoids, so-called instrumental treatments are considered: sclerosis, the so-called infrared method and especially elastic ligatures. Finally, different surgical solutions exist but they are only offered if the internal hemorrhoids are very large and the instrumental methods are no longer effective.

Not waiting too long before consulting is therefore the best way to avoid an operation.

Aspirin is not recommended in case of pain, because it can cause significant bleeding. Analgesics (painkillers), anti-inflammatories or phlebotonics each have a role in treating the symptoms of hemorrhoids in the acute period.

If an initial treatment proposed by your pharmacist fails, it is essential to be examined by a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and especially to choose the treatment most suited to your situation.

In the event of thrombosis, therefore a clot, in an external hemorrhoid, the treatment consists of a small incision made under local anesthesia to extract this clot. Oral treatment with anti-inflammatories will sometimes be prescribed before this intervention.

Hemorrhoids are a benign but very uncomfortable disease, which affects a significant number of individuals. The consultation is necessary to eliminate a possible more serious disease (cancer in particular) and to choose an appropriate and effective treatment quickly. Surgery only concerns a small minority of patients.