Treating hemorrhoids before pregnancy is key

As you may or may not know, hemorrhoids can be itchy and mildly uncomfortable – or downright painful. Pregnancy can be uncomfortable and painful as well, which is why it is important to remove hemorrhoids before the pregnancy in order to minimize discomfort.

Hemorrhoids occur in up to 50% of the adult population. They are often misunderstood by patients and physicians alike, and most often treated incorrectly.

There are a number of different treatment options available, and it depends on the location and severity of the hemorrhoids. For internal hemorrhoids, La Peer gastroenterologist, Dr. Nowain, uses an internal hemorrhoid treatment technique called hemorrhoid banding ligation. (Our Colorectal and General Surgery Department also offer a hemorrhoidectomy, which is a surgical procedure that removes both types of hemorrhoids.)

Banding ligation is a brief, painless, and surgery-free procedure with little to no recovery time. Because of its low risk of complication and high success rate, it is a very popular procedure among women who are planning on getting pregnant.

Dr. Nowain uses a gentle suction to hold the hemorrhoid in place and then places a small rubber band around the tissue just above the hemorrhoid.. This is a painless procedure as it is above the nerve line (the dentate line). The procedure simply cuts off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid, which will fall off after a day or two. You will not feel it when it falls off, and will pass it when you use the restroom. Once the hemorrhoid has fallen off, the wound will heal in a few days.

Because women cannot have this procedure during pregnancy, Dr. Nowain strongly suggests you take necessary preventative measures and receive treatment before becoming pregnant.

This procedure can also be performed for men and women of all ages who suffer from hemorrhoids. There is no reason you should have to live with recurring flare-ups and increasing pain of hemorrhoids when there is a simple and painless way to get rid of them. Instead, contact Beverly Hills hemorrhoid expert Dr. Nowain today by calling (855) 360-9119, and end your discomfort for good.