Pregnancy is a rather difficult period in a woman’s life. It is during the bearing of the fetus, when the immune forces of the female body are weakened, that various health problems often arise. One of these problems can be hemorrhoids in pregnant women.
This disease occurs as a result of overfilling with blood of cavernous bodies (venous plexuses), which are located in the anus. The dilated veins form hemorrhoidal nodes, which can be either internal or external.
Why is hemorrhoids during pregnancy a common problem? The fact is that a provoking factor is such a thing as stagnation of blood in the pelvis, caused by an enlarged uterus, as well as constipation that often occur during this period. Of course, to say that pregnancy and hemorrhoids are two interrelated phenomena will be fundamentally wrong. In the event that the venous walls are strong, then repeated pregnancies or constipation arising at this time will not lead to disease. But if there is a predisposition (including hereditary), then the occurrence of hemorrhoids in pregnant women occurs quite often. Provoking factors are also increasing body weight, as well as a tendency to thrombosis.
According to their course, hemorrhoids in pregnant women are divided into chronic, which is noted more often, and acute, developing against the background of local vein thrombosis.
Acute hemorrhoids are manifested by a sensation of severe pain, prolapse of hemorrhoids, and heavy bleeding. Chronic disease is characterized by periodic bleeding, minor pain.
Blood that appears with hemorrhoidal bleeding has a bright scarlet color, which is a hallmark of this disease. When bleeding occurs, the focus of which is located in the upper sections of the intestine, the blood is secreted in dark color. Hemorrhoids in pregnant women are often accompanied by the formation of anal fissures, which are manifested by severe itching and the appearance of an uncomfortable sensation in the anus. It should be noted that anal fissures are not always the result of hemorrhoids, but these two diseases often occur together.
Unfortunately, not all women realize that hemorrhoids in pregnant women are a serious reason to see a doctor. Many consider the manifestations of this disease to be an “inevitable evil” that occurs during pregnancy, which you just need to endure. This is fundamentally wrong opinion! If you experience unpleasant sensations in the anus, it is imperative to consult a doctor, as hemorrhoids can affect the course of labor and cause complications in the postpartum period. In addition, chronic hemorrhoids often become the cause of anemia and can provoke the appearance of various diseases of the genitourinary system. You need to see a doctor also because the symptoms of hemorrhoids are similar to the manifestation of other diseases of the rectum, including cancer.
Thus, do not underestimate the severity of this disease and, if hemorrhoids are detected in pregnant women, treatment should be started immediately. If the disease is asymptomatic, that is, does not cause much concern to a woman, then patients are usually recommended to limit themselves to preventive measures. These include physiotherapy exercises, a special diet that helps to eliminate constipation, hygiene procedures. Herbal medicine is sometimes prescribed to normalize the intestines.
If the disease is at the first or second stage, when patients notice bleeding, the occurrence of anal itching, pain arising from bowel movements, then conservative treatment is prescribed, including the use of rectal suppositories and ointments. Trays with infusions of medicinal herbs or a solution of potassium permanganate are useful for such patients.
If the disease has gone far and heavy bleeding and prolapse of nodes are noted, then the pregnant woman is hospitalized and treated with surgical methods.
In any case, only the doctor can determine the stage of development of the disease and choose the treatment regimen. Therefore, you should not delay a visit to a specialist, because it is much easier to cure hemorrhoids at the initial stage than to deal with a running disease.