How Long Do Hemorrhoids Last? What to Expect and What to Do if They Don’t Go Away

If you’ve ever had a hemorrhoid, you know how uncomfortable they can be. They can make it painful to poop or even sit. They also can be itchy. No matter what your symptoms, you probably want them to go away fast. The good news is that they usually go away on their own. Learn about how long this usually takes and things you can do to help speed up the process. And if they are lasting longer than you expect, read about when it’s time to see your provider.

Will hemorrhoids ever go away? 

Hemorrhoids are usually temporary. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins that develop in the lower part of a person’s rectum (anus). They are often caused by activities or things that increase the pressure in the anal area. This includes straining from constipation, pregnancy, and frequent heavy lifting. Getting older can cause them too. 

How long they persist depends on a few different factors.

How long do hemorrhoids last? 

Hemorrhoids can go away within a few days or last for weeks. This is true whether or not you use at-home treatment. The time course depends on the severity of your hemorrhoid. 

Hemorrhoids can be divided into different grades based on severity:

• Grade 1: Hemorrhoids remain inside the anus.

• Grade 2: Hemorrhoids push through to the outside of the anus but shrink back inside.

• Grade 3: Hemorrhoids push through the anus and need to be pushed back inside.

• Grade 4: Hemorrhoids pop back out of the anus even if you push them back inside.

There are some home remedies that can help speed up the recovery of hemorrhoids.

What home remedies help get rid of hemorrhoids? 

Things you can do at home to help your hemorrhoids go away faster include:

• Avoid straining. Try to avoid pushing down too hard when stooling. This puts pressure on your bottom, which in turn can make your hemorrhoids worse.

• Take sitz baths. Sitz baths are shallow, warm water baths that you can use to soak the area around your bottom. This can help soothe the irritation from hemorrhoids. 

• Eat more fiber. Fiber can help with constipation, making it easier to pass stool without having to strain. 

• Use laxatives if necessary. If you’re constipated, taking laxatives can also help you soften and pass stool.

• Stay hydrated. This is important if you’re increasing your fiber or using laxatives. This will help keep your stool soft. 

• Avoid sitting for long periods of time. Sitting for long periods of time — especially on hard surfaces — can worsen hemorrhoids. This is especially true for hemorrhoids that are more external in position.

• Avoid holding your stool in. This will also put increased pressure on the hemorrhoid, making it worse. 

• Stay active. Exercising regularly can help you pass stool more often and avoid constipation. 

• Take over-the-counter topical treatments. These can help relieve pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids. This includes Preparation H products, witch hazel used in Tucks pads, and hydrocortisone suppositories.

It’s also OK to not use any at-home treatments, especially if your hemorrhoid is small and not bothering you. It will likely go away on its own.

What happens if you ignore hemorrhoids?

In some cases, larger hemorrhoids may not go away on their own. And they can cause more problems than just pain and discomfort. If they worsen significantly, they can lead to complications, such as:

• Anemia: Sometimes the blood loss from hemorrhoids is severe enough to cause ‘anemia’ or a low red blood count. This can lead to feelings of tiredness, dizziness, headaches, shortness of breath, or a fast heart rate. These symptoms can be a sign that you are losing too much blood for your body to keep up.

• Strangulation: This is when the blood supply to the hemorrhoid gets cut off. It can cause significant pain. And it can be dangerous because the tissue around the hemorrhoid can die. Blood clots may develop in the hemorrhoid.

• Thrombosis: Thrombosed hemorrhoids are filled with blood. They can burst and bleed, which can be painful. The blood can also clot. And you’ll need a procedure to remove the hemorrhoid. If this happens on external hemorrhoids, it can sometimes leave extra skin (skin tag).

But these complications are rare. If you get one of them, it is important to see your provider for treatment. Sometimes, they may need to do a procedure to stop the bleeding or cut out the hemorrhoid. There are symptoms to know when it’s time to see your provider. 

When should you see a provider for hemorrhoids? 

You should see your provider for hemorrhoids if you experience:

• Symptoms that last longer than 7 days

• Extreme pain in or around the rectum

• Significant amounts of bright red blood coming from your rectum

• Feelings of lightheadedness or dizziness or any fainting episodes

• Abdominal pain

• Unintended weight loss

• Fever

If you still have discomfort after trying at-home treatments, talk to your provider. You can discuss other treatment options that may improve your hemorrhoids and make going to the bathroom less stressful.

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Written by:

Cherilyn Davis, MD

Cherilyn Davis, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician in New York City. She has held local and national roles at the American Medical Women’s Association including board member of the physician division and physician chair of social media.

Edited by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

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