Hemorrhoids are vascular cushions in and around the anus that become swollen due to stretching under pressure. Symptoms of hemorrhoids include rectal pain, bleeding, itching and, rarely, rectal prolapse. Hemorrhoids are very common in both men and women: about half of the American population has them by age 50. Hemorrhoids may develop as a result of straining during bowel movements. They are also associated with pregnancy, heredity, aging, and chronic constipation or diarrhea. Hemorrhoids are either internal (inside the anus) or external (under the skin around the anus).
Board certified colon and rectal surgeons at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) offer minimally invasive surgery approaches and non-surgical treatment options for patients with hemorrhoids. Learn more about hemorrhoids.
Colon and rectal surgeons at Brigham and Women's Hospital provide a range of procedures for diagnosing hemorrhoids, including:
Surgical Treatment
You may need a surgical approach to remove or reduce hemorrhoids. Colon and rectal surgeons at Brigham and Women's Hospital offer a range of treatments, including:
Non-Surgical Treatment
Your surgeon may recommend non-surgical treatment of hemorrhoids to relieve symptoms:
Read instructions for laxative and fleet enema mini prep prior to surgery.
You will receive a thorough diagnostic examination to evaluate if you have hemorrhoids and if surgery is needed. Careful monitoring and the involvement of an experienced colon and rectal surgeon are important to the successful outcome for patients with colorectal conditions.
If you are having surgery or a procedure, you will likely be scheduled for a visit to the Weiner Center for Preoperative Evaluation for pre-operative information and tests.
The day of surgery, you will be taken care of in the operating room by surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses who specialize in hemorrhoid surgery. After surgery, you will go to the post-surgical care unit where you will receive comprehensive care by an experienced surgical and nursing staff.
Brigham and Women's Hospital provides a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, collaborating with colleagues who have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating hemorrhoids. In addition, patients have full access to BWH's world-renowned academic medical community with its diverse specialists and state-of-the-art facilities.
Go to our health library to learn more about hemorrhoids.
Visit the Kessler Health Education Library in the Bretholtz Center for Patients and Families to access computers and knowledgeable staff.
Visit the Weiner Center for Preoperative Evaluation.
Access a complete directory of patient and family services.
For over a century, a leader in patient care, medical education and research, with expertise in virtually every specialty of medicine and surgery.
About BWH