Medical Treatment of Hemorrhoids

We would encourage you to consider natural hemorrhoid treatments before resorting to medical procedures because natural treatments (including lifestyle and dietary changes) are much kinder to your body. Natural hemorrhoid treatments and are often very effective - making medical procedures, as described below, unnecessary. See also our recommendations.

Medical treatments should generally be considered only in severe and the relatively rare cases that do not respond satisfactorily to natural treatments.

Some of the medical treatments available are:

Rubber band ligation

This is used for internal hemorrhoids. The doctor place a rubber band is placed around the base of the hemorrhoid to cus off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid. After a few days, the hemorrhoidal tissue dies and falls off. This is an effective treatment and some minor bleeding may occur.

Sclerotherapy (injection)

A chemical solution is injected around the blood vessel to shrink the hemorrhoid. The injection usually causes little or no pain. This treatment may not be as effective as rubber band ligation.

Coagulation

A device (usually a laser, infrared light or heat) is used to burn internal hemorrhoidal tissue. It causes the hemorrhoids to harden and shrivel. This treatment may not be as effective as rubber band ligation.

Stapled hemorrhoidopexy

A circular stapler is used to cut and remove a band of tissue around the affected area within the anal canal. The remaining tissue is then joined with the stapling device. This procedure is considered less painful than hemorrhoidectomy but it's still invasive and there are real risks of complications such as rectal prolapse (part of the rectum protrudes from the anus).

Hemorrhoidectomy

Surgery for hemorrhoids is known as hemorrhoidectomy. It's considered very effective, but it is also very invasive and has the highest rate of complications. You should consider this only as a last resort because recovery time is longer and painful - you may be out of action for a while!

You may be interested in our reviews of some effective natural hemorrhoid treatments. Further information on herbal treatments is presented in our articles.