Pregnancy Week by Week

Hemorrhoids during Pregnancy

According to statistics, in the case of women who have not yet given birth, hemorrhoids occur 5 times rarer than in women who have given birth. Age plays an important role: the more advanced is the age, the higher the incidence (eg. in pregnant women over 30, hemorrhoids occur 3 times more often than in women who are in their 20s.)

Pregnancy is not a pathogenetic factor for hemorrhoids, but it can complicate this xondition. On the other hand, hemorrhoids often complicate the clinical picture of diseases and can lead to complications during delivery or in postpartum period.

To prevent undesirable complications in the future, it is very important to diagnose hemorrhoids early. So even on your first visit, you have to give your doctor your complete medical history; it is recommended that you have a manual analysis of the large intestine or a Rectoscopy (investigation to determine asymptomatic hemorrhoids or other diseases of the large intestine.) In case of detection of hemorrhoids, women should consult with a proctologist to establish the right treatment.

Symptoms of Hemorrhoids during Pregnancy

Clinical symptoms of hemorrhoids in pregnancy are indistinguishable from those who appear in regular, non-pregnant patients. Namely, they are: pain in the anus (rectum), hemorrhage (bleeding), rectal pruritus (itching in the anus region). Often hemorrhoids in pregnant women are asymptomatic (symptom free), and diagnoses are based on Rectoscopy. In this case, detection in due time and the prevention procedures carried out may prevent disease progreSion and complications during childbirth.

When the number of pregnancies increases, the oDs of hemorrhoids also increase. AProximately half of pregnant women suffer from hemorrhoids and postpartum exacerbation of the disease often occurs. During birth, when the child passes through the basin, the small veSels of this region, including the rectum, suddenly compreS. It disrupts the venous circulation, and venous statis and hypoxia occur. As a result of these processes, internal and external hemorrhoid nodules are formed, which increase in volume, become tough, and sometimes rupture because of pressure.

Constipation, which is often met during pregnancy, is particularly acute during the postpartum period. During this period, the resulting hemorrhoids are painful. Taking into consideration all these factors, postpartum women are advised to eat food rich in fiber (especially wheat bran), and exercise regularly.

Hemorrhoid Treatment

To determine the correct treatment, we distinguish three groups of pregnant patients with hemorrhoids:

For the first group, hemorrhoids are asymptomatic (symptom free). For these women, prophylactic measures are indicated, limiting salt, cypress, etc. They must eat as many products containing vegetable fibers, etc. and must indulge in gymnastics, enemas before defecation, special baths, etc.

The second group represents patients who accuse: constipation, bleeding, pain during defecation and pruritus (itching). Apart from preventive measures, these women also need medication. Usually the prognosis for these two groups is favorable without aggravation of hemorrhoids and complications during childbirth.

In the third group are included women who require surgical treatment. These are women with prolapsing of hemorrhoidal nodules, freequent exacerbation, heavy bleeding, also necrosis in the nodule. Because surgery is dangerous during pregnancy, they are recommended to have surgery after giving birth. The terms of the surgery are determineed individually, but in general these patients need surgery to prevent serious complications that may arise along the way, especially if the woman wants to get pregnant again in the future.