Overview
The name hemorrhoids is a contraction of two Latin words: hæmpere: to swell; and, prepare: to bleed. On average, about one in five people has hemorrhoids. On average, about one in five people has hemorrhoids, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services. They’re often caused by constipation, excessive sweating, consuming too much fiber, straining while urinating, pregnancy and anal sex..
The organ is composed of smooth muscle cells which, when stimulated by overlying tissue or pressure, dilate the blood vessels,” says Colleen D. Lohr, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale School of Medicine. “This results in the development of blood vessels that dilate and leave the rectum, forming a blood clot in the anus that can lead to a “hemorrhoid”.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are nothing more than piles of lumps (often called “tissues”) inside your rectum, anus. Even if the tissues are small, they may hurt. You may feel a little pain when you first have one. You can probably see the lump by thinking back to when you first felt the lumps.
Hemorrhoids may be painful, even after a bowel movement, or may not get better at all. You may have bleeding in your rectum and bowel (intestines) if you have hemorrhoids. They are painful and may look smaller than the normal anal opening, and it may be sore.
Are hemorrhoids common during pregnancy?
Yes, they are. At least 75% of pregnant women experience them during their pregnancy. Most hemorrhoids occur during the last trimester and up to 2 – 3 months after giving birth.
A study in Inter science of Human Development reveals that not only hemorrhoids are more common during pregnancy, but that some are more likely to be more difficult to get rid of or treatment during pregnancy, too.
Is it normal to have hemorrhoids during pregnancy?
A hemorrhoid is a swollen, open, painless blood vessel that runs down your bum. These blood vessels become dilated and connect to nearby bowel nodes and muscle.
However, if it is at all possible, try to avoid putting on weight in this area during pregnancy.
Though you may be just looking at your stomach a bit more frequently, the same size belly doesn’t mean that your bum should necessarily swell.
What leads to hemorrhoids during pregnancy?
What leads to hemorrhoids during pregnancy? The odds are that the person will experience hemorrhoids during the first few months of pregnancy. Hemorrhoids develop during pregnancy because the baby pushes against the vein in the anus that carries blood away from the anus to the heart.
The baby is also able to manipulate the nerve endings in the anus so they are sensitive to their own physical contact, giving them the sensation of the rectal passage. If this pressure continues, the blood pooling in the rectum gives way, causing the blood to flow into the anus and then the veins in the lower intestine.
This can cause hemorrhoids to develop. As a person moves through the day, the pressure from the baby will allow more blood to collect in the rectal passage and the veins will become more stretched.
Symptoms of Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are non-cancerous piles of blood vessels inside your anus that can develop as a result of pregnancy.
It is rare for hemorrhoids to cause any symptoms if you wait until after you go into labor, but they are more common during pregnancy.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should see your doctor for an evaluation:
- pain in your upper abdomen
- fever
- nausea
- abdominal bloating
- loss of appetite
- constipation
- tiredness
- excessive bladder urgency
If you do have hemorrhoids, the doctor will like to prescribe a medication or a treatment plan for them.
What causes hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids may develop from irritated blood vessels in the anal area. The blood vessels may become infected, and the presence of blood can swell the blood vessels in the anus, making the bleeding more painful. Decreased blood flow to the blood vessels can also cause hemorrhoids to develop.
Located right below the anal opening, the rectum is the larger of the two organs that supply feces and urine. Hemorrhoids develop when a blood vessel in the rectum becomes irritated, making it more difficult for stool and urine to exit.
Additionally, hemorrhoids are more common among African American women in Africa, according to studies. Hemorrhoids can also happen during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Hemorrhoids can also caused by the accumulation of tissue at the sides of the anus (perineal skin), especially at the time of childbirth. A type of perineal adhesions formed at childbirth can cause constriction of the anus when a person gets up after birth.
Occasionally, hemorrhoids can become infected. This is rare but can be caused by other conditions or by infection during pregnancy. The infection causes a reddish or brown clot at the opening of the rectum. This is not dangerous and usually does not require treatment
Causes of postpartum hemorrhoid
The most common cause of postpartum hemorrhoids is constipation. While constipation is often treated with laxatives, this can lead to dehydration, especially in women with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30.
Risk factors during pregnancy
Several things that can increase your risk of developing hemorrhoids during pregnancy.
Diet
A diet that includes a lot of red meat, and unprocessed carbohydrates, such as bread, noodles, and potatoes, can increase your risk of developing hemorrhoids.
Risk factors such as constipation, diarrhea, and smoking can increase your risk.
Stress
Stress and feelings of tension can affect your blood flow and make it more likely to develop hemorrhoids.
Risk of hemorrhoids in future pregnancies
When a woman has children: Before a woman’s first child, her body produces hormone pheromones that can encourage the development of enlarged hemorrhoidal tissue in the anus, thus increasing the risk of hemorrhoids in the future pregnancies.
How to diagnose
There are many different ways to diagnose hemorrhoids While the most obvious sign of hemorrhoids is an uncomfortable itching, any tender or swollen tissue is cause for concern.
It may be best to seek medical help if symptoms go on for more than two weeks. Diagnosis A doctor can usually diagnose hemorrhoids simply by feeling the area of hemorrhoids.
They may insert a finger or a very soft brush tip into the area and if a lump comes out, this is the most likely sign of a hemorrhoid.
Another way is by using ultrasound. A doctor will usually perform this procedure during your 20th or 24th week of pregnancy. The procedure includes using a small, thin probe to scan the area around your anus. Ultrasounds are normally painless, but some people may have bleeding. There may be other, less common ways to check for and diagnose hemorrhoids as well.
Medical treatment.
Hemorrhoids can be treated with medicine, medication, bandages, tape, compression pads or an incision and drainage procedure.
A doctor will usually prescribe hemorrhoids medication if they are severe enough. These treatments are known as prokinetics and are available over the counter in many countries, including the United States and Europe.
There are other drugs available as well that may be effective for treatment.
It is best to see a doctor if hemorrhoids affect your life, become painful, or are accompanied by changes in stool consistency or smell.
Treatment plans vary, but doctors may prescribe medication, sclerotherapy, or steroid injections into hemorrhoids to relieve the symptoms.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a procedure that creates scar tissue on hemorrhoids to block bleeding. A doctor may inject hemorrhoids with a solution containing a small amount of a medication called lidocaine. The doctor then leaves the needle in for 30 minutes.
The combination of lidocaine and ultrasound has been proven to speed healing in people with hemorrhoids and may be an effective treatment. However, some people may experience bleeding when the procedure is done.
Foods to take for hemorrhoids treatment
Use low-salt, unprocessed foods, and dietary supplements to support a healthy placenta and smooth muscles. Increase your copper intake to help with gas and contractions of your uterus.
Bottom Line
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are very common. Seek medical attention if you have an enlarged, painful, or hard-to-pass pain that lasts for more than a few days.
Sirisha B