Internal hemorrhoids can be the most uncomfortable of all the hemorrhoids and they can be painful depending on the type. Most are easy to treat but some will need an emergency medical procedure.

What Are Symptoms of Internal Hemorrhoids

Although most people understand varicose veins in the legs this is a similar thing (although not exactly the same) that is located in the anus. When they are internal they surround the anus and then they dilate and protrude outward. Sometimes they hang outside the body but in this case they protrude inside.

When this happens many people will first experience it because they will see blood on the toilet paper after they wipe at the end of a bowel movement. They might also see blood on the stool surface after they stand up. This is normal and is not cause for alarm unless it is also accompanied by extreme pain.

Most of the time, these are veins that are small and swollen and are attached to the anal canal wall. If they bulge out they can be squeezed by the muscles of the anus which can cause the pain.

Sometimes blood supply can be cut off from the hemorrhoid and this can cause another condition called “strangulation.” If this occurs it may indicate an immediate need for a physician’s assistance.

Types of Internal Hemorrhoids

There are basically four types of internal hemorrhoids that people encounter and they are presented by the degree of severity:

• First degree — this is the type that will bulge into the anal canal when a person has a bowel movement. This may occur without any discomfort or it may have a minor irritation.

• Second degree — this one will bulge away from the anus during a bowel movement then retract when it is finished. This may have minor irritation.

• Third degree — this one is like a second degree but it does not retract on its own. Instead you will need to use a finger to push it back in.

• Fourth degree — this is one that would protrude from the anus all the time and it cannot be put back easily. Sometimes these are very painful and a physician will have to perform surgery for relief.

When to Speak to a Doctor About Hemorrhoids

In most cases a hemorrhoid is not a cause to talk to a doctor necessarily if you are not having real discomfort. Often an over the counter cream or suppository can take care of the problem. If it continues to give irritation you may want to talk to a physician.  And if in any doubt at all you should always speak to a doctor.

The one thing that a physician can do is rule out any other problems that may be causing the burning or itching.  A physician can also take a look at the hemorrhoid and recommend the best treatment for it based on the degree of the problem.

The doctor will most likely do a digital (finger) rectal exam and an anoscopy to see what is going on before they suggest a treatment or more examinations.

Vaginal hemorrhoids are not common and many people think that they do not exist. Usually this can happen and it is normally during pregnancy that this can happen. Visit our hemorrhoids during pregnancy page for more information on dealing with hemorrhoids when you are pregnant.

Hemorrhoids are varicose veins that get protracted during the stress of a bowel movement. In pregnancy this can happen when blood vessels get overly swollen due to some type of strain from carrying the baby or from bowel movements.

When a woman is pregnant she may experience hemorrhoids that will make her uncomfortable. She would notice this because of an itchy or burning sensation in the vagina or rectum.

Because pregnancy can produce veins that are swollen because of the increased blood volume in the vagina some of the blood flow can be blocked from the rectum and the lower pelvis. Another example is when Rectoceles happens (bulging of front wall of the rectum into the vagina) and obstructs the veins that go into the wall of the rectum.

In any case this can be somewhat painful for the women experiencing the problem. There are two reasons why hemorrhoids can happen in pregnancy:

• The uterus puts more pressure on veins that would normally bring back blood from the lower body and progesterone relaxes the vein walls. This creates a swelling in the lower half of the body and gravity adds to it. This creates the reason why a woman cannot stand for long periods and can cause the hemorrhoids.

• The abdomen creates more pressure on the veins in the vagina because of the combination of the weight of the baby and constipation during pregnancy. This can create a hard bowel movement and make the veins protrude in the vagina or the anus.

In most cases doctors recommend that you keep your body regulated so that you have easy bowel movements to avoid hemorrhoids from happening. To do this you must eat a good diet of fruits and vegetables that are geared to keep you from constipation. Also, drinking plenty of water when you are pregnant will help keep things moving easily.

Treatment for Vaginal Hemorrhoids

Some of the best treatments for vaginal hemorrhoids are the same as for any other type:

Sitz Bath – Sitting in your bathtub in warm water can do wonders for your hemorrhoids providing that you can get into a tub. If you cannot get down into your tub there are plastic tubs that fit into your toilet for the purpose of helping ease the discomfort from hemorrhoids. You can ask at the pharmacy.

Witch hazel pads – Pads that contain with hazel can be perfect for helping with hemorrhoids. One brand name is called Tucks. These pads are an astringent which means they will help sooth the hemorrhoids and dry them.

If you suspect you have vaginal hemorrhoids it is a good idea to check with your physician before trying any of the remedies suggested for your vagina. The doctor may have a prescription that would work better or they will know something over the counter.