Which doctor is responsible for this?

If there is a suspicion of hemorrhoids during pregnancy, it is advisable to first consult a gynaecologist in confidence and discuss the symptoms. He will perform a rectal examination and, if necessary, confirm the suspicion of hemorrhoids. The family doctor can also diagnose the hemorrhoids and treat them if necessary. If the treatment of hemorrhoids exceeds the competence of the family doctor or gynaecologist, a referral to a proctologist will be made. The treatment of haemorrhoids falls within his specialty.

Associated symptoms

Hemorrhoids are an unpleasant but very common topic during pregnancy. Depending on the severity and stage of the hemorrhoids, various accompanying symptoms can occur. However, hemorrhoids can also be completely unremarkable – even during pregnancy.

The most common symptom is a slight light red bleeding, which is particularly noticeable when going to the toilet. The irritation caused by bowel movements causes slight bleeding, which usually appears as red droplets on the toilet paper. Hemorrhoids can also itch or cause pain.

The latter, however, is rather rare. Much more often, hemorrhoids simply said feel a bit “strange”. Many pregnant women describe this as a kind of pressure feeling in the anus.

Very large hemorrhoids can even feel like a foreign body. Hemorrhoids are dilatations of blood vessels. These vessels hang together like a kind of cushion and are called plexus.

They are therefore very well supplied with blood, so bleeding can easily occur.Especially during bowel movements, light bleeding is not exactly rare. The mechanical irritation, which is particularly severe in the case of very hard bowel movements, leads to injuries to the dilated vessels and thus to bleeding. These can be of varying severity: from small drops of blood to very heavy bleeding, anything is possible.

The bleeding is bright red and can occur once, but also recurrently. It is the most common symptom of hemorrhoids during pregnancy. Bleeding during pregnancy is also favored by frequent constipation and hardened bowel movements.

Contrary to common assumptions, pain is rather a rare symptom of hemorrhoids. Even during pregnancy, haemorrhoids rarely cause pain. In some cases, however, pain does occur.

Especially small injuries of the hemorrhoids, which occur during defecation, can become inflamed and painful due to the contamination with stool. The pain is particularly severe when the hemorrhoids are stressed by prolonged sitting or standing. Special seat cushions for hemorrhoids relieve the affected area when sitting and are perceived as very comfortable by those affected.

In most cases, hemorrhoids are painless during pregnancy. Despite being painless, haemorrhoids can therefore be present. However, other symptoms such as slight anal bleeding, itching or a burning sensation in the anus are possible signs of hemorrhoids during pregnancy, even if there is no pain. Mucus secretion or a dull feeling in the anus can also be indications of hemorrhoids. In advanced stages, hemorrhoids can even cause a kind of foreign body sensation in the rectum, which nevertheless does not have to be painful.