What should I do if hemorrhoids cause rectal bleeding?

Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
Updated on June 24, 2025
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Hemorrhoids generally manifest as prolapsed hemorrhoidal tissue, with a minority of individuals experiencing symptoms of fresh blood in their stool. If the amount of blood in the stool is very small, it is advised not to strain during bowel movements, maintain smooth bowel movements, avoid spicy and irritating foods, abstain from alcohol, and apply topical medications for symptomatic treatment; typically, the bleeding can stop. If there is significant or prolonged bleeding with hemorrhoids, it is necessary to promptly visit a formal hospital for hemostasis and comprehensive examinations such as colonoscopy and digital rectal examination to rule out other intestinal diseases. If confirmed as hemorrhoidal bleeding, it is advised to consider surgical treatment as soon as possible. This is because significant or prolonged hemorrhoidal bleeding can lead to hemorrhagic anemia and iron-deficiency anemia, ultimately affecting physical and mental health. (Note that this answer is for reference only. Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor, and self-medication is strongly discouraged.)

Other Voices

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids in pregnant women?

After pregnancy, the volume of the female uterus increases, and in late pregnancy, the fetus descends into the pelvis. These factors can compress the veins in the pelvic area, obstructing blood flow around the anus, causing venous blood stagnation around the anus, and making it easy for pregnant women to develop hemorrhoids or for pre-existing hemorrhoids to worsen during pregnancy. The symptoms of hemorrhoids in pregnant women include the following aspects: first, you can feel polyp-like tissue outside the anus with your hand. Second, when hemorrhoids are severe, they can cause the prolapse of hemorrhoidal tissue or be accompanied by anal bleeding. Third, hemorrhoids can sometimes be accompanied by constipation, and hemorrhoids during pregnancy should be treated through diet, exercise, and medication.

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Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
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How many days of hospitalization are needed for hemorrhoid surgery?

The hospital stay for hemorrhoid surgery is generally divided into two periods: pre-operative and post-operative. The pre-operative period mainly involves pre-operative examinations, such as electrocardiograms, chest X-rays, and blood tests, which typically take about one to two days. The post-operative period mainly involves waiting for all the hemorrhoidal ligature threads to fall off, which typically takes about seven to ten days. Therefore, patients can usually be discharged about seven to ten days after surgery, making the total hospital stay approximately eight to twelve days. Thus, a normal and smooth hemorrhoid surgery generally requires a hospital stay of eight to twelve days.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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What causes hemorrhoids to bleed?

Internal hemorrhoids can easily cause rectal bleeding. The main reason is the varicosity of hemorrhoidal veins. During defecation, dry and hard stools scratch the hemorrhoidal veins causing them to rupture and bleed. Additionally, due to the long-term presence of hemorrhoids, the hemorrhoidal veins become overstretched, making the vein walls thin and fragile, and easily damaged during bowel movements. For hemorrhoid-induced rectal bleeding, treatment can be administered through medications aimed primarily at reducing bleeding symptoms and alleviating the varicosity of the hemorrhoidal veins. Sitz baths can also be used to reduce swelling around the anus. If medication provides limited relief, minimally invasive or surgical treatments may be considered.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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What should a pregnant woman do if she has bleeding hemorrhoids?

Due to the impact of hormone levels during pregnancy, pregnant women are easily prone to significantly slower gastrointestinal motility, which can lead to constipation. Frequent constipation can persistently irritate the local area around the anus, easily causing hemorrhoids. Therefore, it is essential to have a nutritious diet that is light and includes plenty of coarse fibrous vegetables and fresh fruits during pregnancy, as these can promote gastrointestinal motility and alleviate symptoms of constipation. If there is bleeding at the site of anal hemorrhoids after defecation, it is necessary to seek medical attention promptly for examination, hemostasis, anti-inflammatory treatment, and symptomatic treatment.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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What's causing hemorrhoids to itch?

Hemorrhoids cause secretions to flow out from within the anal canal, particularly in the case of internal hemorrhoids. When severe, these secretions can flow outside the anus due to changes in the position of the anus or the patient's body, irritating the local skin and mucosa around the anus, thus leading to symptoms of itching. Additionally, with repeated prolapse of internal hemorrhoids, the mucosa may get trapped at the anal opening and cannot retract normally, also causing irritating itching and possibly even pain and bleeding due to repeated friction. To treat the itching from hemorrhoids, it is first necessary to alleviate the increased secretion from internal hemorrhoids. Options include using anti-inflammatory suppositories or gels, and washing the anal area with saline water or herbal washes that have antipruritic effects.