Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Prolapsedhemorrhoidsare swollen veins situated inside the rectum that suddenly bulge (prolapse) out of the anus. These are different from external hemorrhoids, which occur on or around the skin of the anus, and internal hemorrhoids, which remain inside the rectum.
Prolapsed hemorrhoids aren’t usually painful but can cause bleeding, itching, and discomfort, particularly while sitting or during bowel movements. Most are uncomplicated, but some severely prolapsed hemorrhoids have been known to burst, form clots, or become trapped in anal muscles and deprived of blood flow (strangulated).
How long a hemorrhoid lasts can vary from person to person. In many cases, a prolapsed hemorrhoid will shrink on its own within a few days or resolve with simple, at-home remedies.Medications or surgery may be needed for those that don’t.
This article takes a closer look at the symptoms and causes of prolapsed hemorrhoids, including how they are diagnosed and treated.
Prolapsed Hemorrhoid Symptoms
Verywell / Cindy Chung
Common symptoms of prolapsed hemorrhoids include:
Can Hemorrhoids Cause Constipation? What to Know
Complications of Prolapsed Hemorrhoids
A prolapsed hemorrhoid may become severely swollen, obstructing bowel movements and causing significant bleeding. If the hemorrhoid is large, the rupture of the underlying vein can cause severe bleeding and a steep drop in blood pressure, resulting in dizziness, lightheadedness, and, in rare cases, shock and death.
Other serious complications of prolapsed hemorrhoids include:
Do Hemorrhoids Go Away on Their Own?
What Causes a Prolapsed Hemorrhoid?
It is unclear why some people get hemorrhoids and others don’t. Many things can contribute to the development of hemorrhoids, but they are ultimately due to the breakdown of supporting tissues in the anal canal.
If hemorrhoids are untreated, persist for a long time, or are placed under extreme vascular pressure (such as from straining or coughing), they can become prolapsed.
Risk factors for prolapsed hemorrhoids include:
Placing something in the anus, such as a sex toy or medical instrument, can also place excessive pressure on the anal canal and cause an internal hemorrhoid to spontaneously prolapse.
Prolapsed Hemorrhoid Diagnosis
A hemorrhoid is prolapsed when it protrudes beyond the rectum. Your healthcare provider can identify them with a physical examination of the anus.
Internal hemorrhoids are classified depending on how much they protrude:
Grade 4 hemorrhoids are at high risk of strangulation and almost invariably require specialist treatment, including surgery.
Prolapsed Hemorrhoid Treatment
Most prolapsed hemorrhoids will shrink on their own but may require at-home remedies, medications, or surgery if the condition worsens or does not improve.
Self-Care Treatments
The following self-care strategies can help shrink or prevent the worsening of a prolapsed hemorrhoid:
Home Remedies for Hemorrhoids
Medications
If your hemorrhoid does not get better or it comes back, there are a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications that may help:
Hemorrhoid Treatment Options
Specialist Procedures
When conservative measures fail, several specialist procedures can be used to shrink or remove a prolapsed hemorrhoid:
Hemorrhoid Surgeries
Surgery is a more invasive way to tie off or remove a prolapsed hemorrhoid. Surgery may be necessary if your prolapsed hemorrhoid is severe or does not respond to other treatments.
There are different types of surgery that may be used:
Recovery From Hemorrhoid Surgery: What to Expect
Summary
A prolapsed hemorrhoid is an internal hemorrhoid that protrudes out of the rectum.
Common symptoms include a painless lump at the anus, itching or irritation, mucus discharge, and bright red rectal bleeding. Severely prolapsed hemorrhoids are at risk of painful complications like clotting of or reduced blood flow to the hemorrhoidal vein.
The treatment of prolapsed hemorrhoids depends on their severity. It may involve self-care strategies, medications, specialist procedures, or surgery.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYes, it is generally safe to push a hemorrhoid back in. Doing so can protect the blood vessel and reduce the risk of complications. You should still see a healthcare provider, however. If the hemorrhoid cannot be pushed back in, go as soon as possible.Prolapsed hemorrhoids don’t always smell, but they can if mucus is present. This may be a fishy or rotten smell.It is rare, but possible. A strangulated hemorrhoid is one that is trapped in anal muscles and completely deprived of blood. If left untreated, gangrene can develop. This, in turn, increases the risk ofsepticemia(the spread of infection into the bloodstream),septic shock, and death.
Yes, it is generally safe to push a hemorrhoid back in. Doing so can protect the blood vessel and reduce the risk of complications. You should still see a healthcare provider, however. If the hemorrhoid cannot be pushed back in, go as soon as possible.
Prolapsed hemorrhoids don’t always smell, but they can if mucus is present. This may be a fishy or rotten smell.
It is rare, but possible. A strangulated hemorrhoid is one that is trapped in anal muscles and completely deprived of blood. If left untreated, gangrene can develop. This, in turn, increases the risk ofsepticemia(the spread of infection into the bloodstream),septic shock, and death.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Scripps Health.Can hemorrhoids go away on their own?Ali SA, Shoeb MFR.Study of risk factors and clinical features of hemorrhoids.Int Surg J. 2017;4(6):1936. doi:10.18203/2349-2902.isj20172051Sun Z, Migaly J.Review of hemorrhoid disease: presentation and management.Clin Colon Rectal Surg.2016 Mar;29(1):22–9. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1568144Slauf P, Antos F, Marx J.Complications of hemorrhoids,Rozhl Chir.2014 Apr;93(4):223-5.Sobrado Júnior CW, Obregon C de A, e Sousa Júnior AH da S, Sobrado LF, Nahas SC, Cecconello I.A new classification for hemorrhoidal disease: the creation of the “BPRST” staging and its application in clinical practice.Ann Coloproctol. 2020;36(4):249-255. doi:10.3393/ac.2020.02.06Mir SA, Intikhab M, Tak SA, Wani M.Profile and management of complicated (Strangulated) prolapsed internal hemorrhoids at a tertiary care hospital – a prospective study.IJCMR. 2019;6(5). doi:10.21276/ijcmr.2019.6.5.3Lohsiriwat V.Treatment of hemorrhoids: a coloproctologist’s view.World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(31):9245. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i31.9245National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for hemorrhoids.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Scripps Health.Can hemorrhoids go away on their own?Ali SA, Shoeb MFR.Study of risk factors and clinical features of hemorrhoids.Int Surg J. 2017;4(6):1936. doi:10.18203/2349-2902.isj20172051Sun Z, Migaly J.Review of hemorrhoid disease: presentation and management.Clin Colon Rectal Surg.2016 Mar;29(1):22–9. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1568144Slauf P, Antos F, Marx J.Complications of hemorrhoids,Rozhl Chir.2014 Apr;93(4):223-5.Sobrado Júnior CW, Obregon C de A, e Sousa Júnior AH da S, Sobrado LF, Nahas SC, Cecconello I.A new classification for hemorrhoidal disease: the creation of the “BPRST” staging and its application in clinical practice.Ann Coloproctol. 2020;36(4):249-255. doi:10.3393/ac.2020.02.06Mir SA, Intikhab M, Tak SA, Wani M.Profile and management of complicated (Strangulated) prolapsed internal hemorrhoids at a tertiary care hospital – a prospective study.IJCMR. 2019;6(5). doi:10.21276/ijcmr.2019.6.5.3Lohsiriwat V.Treatment of hemorrhoids: a coloproctologist’s view.World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(31):9245. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i31.9245National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for hemorrhoids.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Scripps Health.Can hemorrhoids go away on their own?Ali SA, Shoeb MFR.Study of risk factors and clinical features of hemorrhoids.Int Surg J. 2017;4(6):1936. doi:10.18203/2349-2902.isj20172051Sun Z, Migaly J.Review of hemorrhoid disease: presentation and management.Clin Colon Rectal Surg.2016 Mar;29(1):22–9. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1568144Slauf P, Antos F, Marx J.Complications of hemorrhoids,Rozhl Chir.2014 Apr;93(4):223-5.Sobrado Júnior CW, Obregon C de A, e Sousa Júnior AH da S, Sobrado LF, Nahas SC, Cecconello I.A new classification for hemorrhoidal disease: the creation of the “BPRST” staging and its application in clinical practice.Ann Coloproctol. 2020;36(4):249-255. doi:10.3393/ac.2020.02.06Mir SA, Intikhab M, Tak SA, Wani M.Profile and management of complicated (Strangulated) prolapsed internal hemorrhoids at a tertiary care hospital – a prospective study.IJCMR. 2019;6(5). doi:10.21276/ijcmr.2019.6.5.3Lohsiriwat V.Treatment of hemorrhoids: a coloproctologist’s view.World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(31):9245. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i31.9245National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for hemorrhoids.
Scripps Health.Can hemorrhoids go away on their own?
Ali SA, Shoeb MFR.Study of risk factors and clinical features of hemorrhoids.Int Surg J. 2017;4(6):1936. doi:10.18203/2349-2902.isj20172051
Sun Z, Migaly J.Review of hemorrhoid disease: presentation and management.Clin Colon Rectal Surg.2016 Mar;29(1):22–9. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1568144
Slauf P, Antos F, Marx J.Complications of hemorrhoids,Rozhl Chir.2014 Apr;93(4):223-5.
Sobrado Júnior CW, Obregon C de A, e Sousa Júnior AH da S, Sobrado LF, Nahas SC, Cecconello I.A new classification for hemorrhoidal disease: the creation of the “BPRST” staging and its application in clinical practice.Ann Coloproctol. 2020;36(4):249-255. doi:10.3393/ac.2020.02.06
Mir SA, Intikhab M, Tak SA, Wani M.Profile and management of complicated (Strangulated) prolapsed internal hemorrhoids at a tertiary care hospital – a prospective study.IJCMR. 2019;6(5). doi:10.21276/ijcmr.2019.6.5.3
Lohsiriwat V.Treatment of hemorrhoids: a coloproctologist’s view.World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(31):9245. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i31.9245
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for hemorrhoids.
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