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Hemorrhoids in Pregnancy: Medical Treatments by: Sue Bristol,R.N. You're pregnant! Wonderful! But you have hemorrhoids that are taking on a life of their own! Not wonderful! You have tried everything that you could possibly do in order to bring relief from the burning, itching, pain, bleeding. The doctor has said it's time to go to the next level of treatment. Well, don't despair, it's not the end of the world and your hemorrhoids can be treated during pregnancy without harm to you or your baby. So what will treatment involve? Your physician will probably start with a "minimally invasive" procedure which may be done in his office or as an outpatient and require only local anesthesia. For example: A simple incision may be all that is needed to remove a clot that has developed in a hemorrhoid. Ligation is a procedure in which rubber bands are placed around the hemorrhoids to cut off the blood supply, causing them to dry up and fall off. This is usually a very effective treatment for hemorrhoids. Rubber band ligation is the most common method for treating small to medium sized internal hemorrhoids because it is typically successful. The down side of rubber band ligation is that it is often more painful than other methods. Methods which shrink or destroy hemorrhoid tissue include sclerotherapy on which a chemical is injected into the hemorrhoid. Coagulation therapy uses heat, or light, or laser beams and Cryotherapy uses cold to freeze the hemorrhoid. These methods are generally less painful than rubber band ligation but often the results are less long-lasting.
Alternative, or natural, therapy includes the use of supplements such as vitamin E, Aloe, wheat germ oil, carrot juice and others. Some seek help during the pregnancy through acupuncture or acupressure.
If these simpler approaches have not been effective, the physician will usually advise you to wait until after the baby has been delivered. Often the hemorrhoids resolve on their own once the "pressure" of the growing fetus is no longer there, hormones return to normal, and constipation is no longer an issue. Even though complications are seldom associated with hemorrhoidectomy during pregnancy, there are potential risks which could include premature labor, infection, or difficulty with the passage of urine following the procedure. However, in the rare event that you are having severe or excessive pain or bleeding, it may be necessary to surgically remove the hemorrhoids during pregnancy by way of a (hemorrhoidectomy). The development of a clot (thrombus) which is choking off the blood supply (strangulation), may require emergency surgery. But, you needn't worry. You and your baby will be under the watchful eyes of your surgeon and your obstetrician. Whatever kind of treatment you and your doctor decide on, remember, if you don't change certain lifestyle habits, your hemorrhoids may return. Hemorrhoids are much easier to prevent than to treat so do what you can to avoid their return. Avoid the hard dry stools of constipation and anything else that causes straining or increased pelvic pressure. Institute dietary changes so as to increase fiber and water intake. Change bowel habits so as to avoid the extremes of rushing or dawdling while sitting on the toilet. Answer "nature's" call, and give your bowels a chance to move as quickly as possible. Avoid rubbing the anal tissue and don't use perfumed soaps or wipes. A few simple changes such as these will pay big dividends in the future. Have a happy hemorrhoid-free life!
Do you want to learn more about getting rid of your hemorrhoids? If so, download my brand new free e-book "Getting Rid of Hemorrhoids" here.
HemorrhoidCure101.com
Sue Bristol, R.N.
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