Symptoms of hemorrhoids in pregnant women

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on June 23, 2025
00:00
00:00

During pregnancy, many women experience hemorrhoids due to the growing fetus increasing the size of the uterus, which in turn presses on the veins in the legs that affect the blood flow back to the heart. This pressure impacts the venous plexus around the anus, leading to the development of prolapsed tissue around the anus, pain during bowel movements, and blood in the stool, as well as changes in the nature of bowel movements. At this time, it is important to visit a hospital to assess the severity of the hemorrhoids. If the condition is not severe, changes can be made through personal habits, including drinking more water, eating fresh vegetables and fruits, and engaging in moderate exercise to promote bowel movement. If pain and bleeding are severe, it is advisable to seek surgical treatment at a hospital.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
44sec home-news-image

Do hemorrhoids bleed?

Hemorrhoids can progress to a stage where there is rectal bleeding characterized by bright red blood that is separate from the stool. This is caused by the severe tortuosity and dilation of the superior hemorrhoidal veins. As the hemorrhoids worsen, congestion and dilation of the hemorrhoidal venous plexus become more pronounced. In the presence of bowel dysfunction and hard stools, the hemorrhoidal venous plexus can be injured, leading to rupture and bleeding. Initially, the bleeding is typically minimal yet frequent. Over time, this may lead to frequent and substantial bleeding. Chronic bleeding from hemorrhoids can cause chronic blood loss anemia, which impacts the physical and mental health of the individual.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
59sec home-news-image

Do hemorrhoids require surgery?

When severe hemorrhoids are in an acute attack phase, it is necessary to undergo surgical treatment as soon as possible. Besides surgery, treatment options for hemorrhoids also include conservative medication to alleviate symptoms. For mild hemorrhoids, or those that flare up less frequently, the primary treatment is conservative topical medication. However, when hemorrhoids repeatedly prolapse, cause pain, and result in significant rectal bleeding, affecting the normal functioning of the patient’s body, it is advised to promptly proceed with hemorrhoidectomy surgery. This helps avoid complications such as severe pain that interferes with normal living, or significant bleeding that could lead to anemia in patients, thereby worsening the condition and increasing the difficulty of future treatments. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician, and do not self-medicate.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
49sec home-news-image

How come hemorrhoids bleed?

In this case, it depends on the cause of the hemorrhoids. In general, the most common cause of hemorrhoids is varicose veins around the rectal veins, which can be caused by obstructed venous return. Generally, there are no corresponding venous valves around the upper rectal veins, and the veins or small vein walls of hemorrhoids are very thin. In the case of hemorrhoidal venous varicose, if the stool is relatively dry, it is easy to cause the veins to rupture and bleed during defecation. This type of bleeding is generally painless, and the bleeding can stop on its own, usually being bright red blood. Due to high local pressure, some people may experience significant bleeding, or even show signs of shock. In this case, surgical treatment measures must be taken to achieve radical cure.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
58sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
44sec home-news-image

Can hemorrhoid suppositories be used for hemorrhoid bleeding?

For hemorrhoid bleeding, if the bleeding is not severe, external hemorrhoid suppositories can be used to compress and stop the bleeding, which can be quite effective. If the hemorrhoid bleeding is heavy and prolonged and the suppository is not effective, hospitalization is required. Intravenous hemostatic drugs or oral hemostatics should be administered, with local gauze compression, and surgery should be performed as soon as possible to definitively stop the bleeding. If the bleeding is due to oral anticoagulants, it may be necessary to consider discontinuing these medications, providing symptomatic support treatment for hemostasis, and surgical treatment if necessary.