Treatment and Symptom Relief
There are a variety of treatments that can and should be tried, depending on the symptoms and what has worked in the past. If you experience bleeding go directly to our Bleeding page before proceeding further.
Rest
As noted on the Risk Factors page, humans suffer from hemorrhoids because we stand upright. If you have the opportunity, you can lay down after a bowel movement to counteract the effects of gravity on your hemorrhoids. You could also try hanging upside down, but we have no idea if that works or not.
Creams
Preparation H is the most well-known, and it does work pretty well on mild cases. Some creams have a mild anesthetic which may be useful for temporary relief. Also look for creams with a vasoconstrictor (something related to epinephrine) since those can shrink hemorrhoids. For cases that do not resolve with over-the-counter medications, you may be able to get your doctor to prescribe a prescription steroidal cream. There may also be over-the-counter creams with small amounts of steroids. If you are an athlete subjected to steroid testing, check with your testing authority before using such products. Most creams have an applicator that can be used to treat internal hemorrhoids if necessary.
Pain medicine
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) such as acetominophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin can be used to relieve the pain associated with hemorrhoids.
Witch Hazel
Small cloth pads infused with witch hazel (such as Tucks) are useful for relieving itching and pain. They can be used as a wipe or left in place after a bowel movement.
Water
A warm bath can provide pain relief. A Sitz bath can sometimes be less trouble and still provide relief. Men, this time it's your turn: if you don't know what a Sitz bath is, find a woman who has delivered a baby vaginally and ask her. If you are lucky enough to have a bidet, they can be very useful, both for pain relief and for cleaning. If you don't have a bidet but you have plumbing skills (or know someone who does) you can rig up a sink sprayer (like the one you might have in the kitchen to rinse off dishes) near the toilet to serve the same purpose.
Pads
This is more of a way to prevent embarrassment than to relieve symptoms. Feminine hygiene pads can be used to keep blood and other fluids from soiling your clothes. Men, don't be ashamed to ask the women in your life for some pointers or to help you purchase supplies. Remember, there's nothing shameful about having hemorrhoids and there is certainly nothing shameful about not wanting them to ruin your clothes or cause embarrassing stains.
Bowel Habits
There is a complete page devoted to bowel habits as they relate to treatment of hemorrhoids. Basically, this page describes how to push external hemorrhoids back into the rectum so that they do not cause symptoms.
Surgery
This is a drastic step and most doctors won't recommend it unless you have a very serious case. There are several varieties, including putting rubber bands around the hemorrhoids to cut off their blood supply ("rubber band ligation"), and excising them directly ("hemorrhoidectomy"). These methods can be very painful (if there is anesthesia, the pain is just delayed until after the anesthesia wears off), and have long recovery times, but are very effective. Other methods can be used to remove or reduce the hemorrhoids, such as electrocautery, cryosurgery, and lasers.