How Long Do Postpartum Hemorrhoids Last?

As a natural physician, my patients often seek advice on how to manage health concerns with natural remedies.

I have recently had an increased number of patients suffering with postpartum hemorrhoids and it prompted me to dig deeper into the best way to help them.

The questions that most of my patients are asking is how long do postpartum hemorrhoids last and what's the fastest way to get relief?

How Long Do Postpartum Hemorrhoids Last?

Generally, after-birth hemorrhoids will go away on their own by 4-6 weeks postpartum. However, with natural remedies, the pain and swelling should decrease dramatically within a few days.

The length of time hemorrhoids last after giving birth is best determined by what type of hemorrhoid you have and what grade of severity. See below for greater details on each.

After-birth hemorrhoids are much more common than you might think, with as many as 50% of women reporting symptoms at 4 weeks postpartum.

They are actually very common during pregnancy as well, thanks to constipation and the extra pressure on your veins from your enlarged uterus.

If you managed to avoid them during pregnancy, you can still develop them after childbirth due to straining during labor. If you did have them during pregnancy, as expected, child birth can make them worse.

One of the biggest contributors of hemorrhoids after child birth is constipation. Constipation can lead to straining, which can cause hemorrhoids or make smaller hemorrhoids enlarge.

Let's take a look at the different types of hemorrhoids so that you can better determine how long your postpartum hemorrhoid will last.

Types of Postpartum Hemorrhoids:

There are (4) Types of Hemorrhoids: Internal, External, Prolapsed and Thrombosed and there are

(4) Grades of Severity of Hemorrhoids: Grade 1-4

Hemorrhoids occur when the veins in your anus and rectum become swollen. They can happen internally (inside the rectum) or externally (around the anus).

(1.) Internal Hemorrhoids:

Hemorrhoids that don’t protrude out of the anal canal are called internal.

How Long Do Internal Hemorrhoids Last?

Internal hemorrhoids are found inside your rectum. They can’t always be seen because they are too deep in your anus to be visible.

Internal hemorrhoids aren’t normally serious and tend to go away on their own in a few day or maybe a week.

(2.) External Hemorrhoids:

Those that protrude out but go inside on their own are termed as external.

How Long Do External Hemorrhoids Last?

External hemorrhoids occur directly on the surface of of your anus where your bowel movements occur. They appear as red bumps on the outside of the anal area.

External hemorrhoids aren’t usually a serious issue and may only last for around 7-9 days but can be prolonged up to a few weeks if the issue causing the inflammation isn't corrected such as constipation.

The symptoms of external hemorrhoids are essentially the same as those of internal ones. But since they’re located on the outside of your rectal area, you may feel more pain or discomfort when you sit down, do physical activities, or have a bowel movement.

(3.) Prolapsed Hemorrhoids:

When internal hemorrhoids inflame and protrude, it is called a prolapsed hemorrhoid.

How Long Do External Prolapsed Hemorrhoids Last?

When inner hemorrhoids swell and protrude, a prolapsed hemorrhoid happens. Determining how long this lasts depends on the severity of prolapse. It typically takes a couple of weeks to resolve.

Prolapsed hemorrhoids look like swollen red bumps outside your anus. They can cause itching, burning and pain.

(4.) Thrombosed Hemorrhoids:

Thrombosis is an internal or external hemorrhoid that has formed a blood clot (thrombosis). Intense itchiness, burning, pain, redness and swelling may accompany thrombosis symptoms that tend to be worse than ordinary.

How Long Do External Thrombosed Hemorrhoids Last?

Thrombosed hemorrhoids are essentially a complication of a hemorrhoid, in which a blood clot forms (thrombosis) within the hemorrhoid tissue or vein. They appear as lumps or swelling around the anus.

The pain of thrombosed hemorrhoids may improve within 7-10 days and may disappear within two to three weeks.

When a thrombosed hemorrhoid ruptures, it may bleed. The bleeding shouldn’t last more than 10 minutes. If it last much longer, you may want to reach out to your physician.

Once the major bleeding episode is over, you may find intermittent traces of blood in your stool.

And while a ruptured hemorrhoid doesn’t require any treatment, you will want to keep the area clean and help it heal well.

Hemorrhoid Grading System:

Hemorrhoids can be classified according to their location as external or internal hemorrhoids. Furthermore, hemorrhoids can be graded according to severity into 4 grades

Grade 1: No prolapse is visible

Grade 2: Protruding but retracts by itself. This happens when you strain during a bowel movement. Once you relax it will return to it's normal position.