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. 

Let’s take a closer look at how long it usually takes for hemorrhoids to go away, things you can do to help speed up the process, and when it’s time to see a healthcare professional.

How long do hemorrhoids last?

Hemorrhoids are usually temporary and can go away within a few days or last for weeks. This is true whether or not you use at-home treatment. How long it takes for hemorrhoids to go away depends on the grade and severity of the hemorrhoid:

• Grade 1: Hemorrhoids remain inside the anus and aren’t visible. They may cause mild itching or bleeding, but they usually aren’t painful. Most grade 1 hemorrhoids resolve on their own within a few days to a week.

• Grade 2: Hemorrhoids push through to the outside of the anus during a bowel movement but shrink back inside on their own. They may cause discomfort or light bleeding. Grade 2 hemorrhoids typically resolve within 1 to 2 weeks with at-home care.

• Grade 3: Hemorrhoids push through the anus and need to be pushed back inside manually. They can cause more significant pain, bleeding, and a feeling of fullness or pressure in the rectum. Grade 3 hemorrhoids may take several weeks to resolve and often require treatment beyond basic home remedies.

• Grade 4: Hemorrhoids stay outside the anus and can’t be pushed back in. They can cause significant pain and discomfort. Grade 4 hemorrhoids are unlikely to go away on their own and usually require a procedure or surgery.

What home remedies help get rid of hemorrhoids?

Here are some things you can do at home to help your hemorrhoids go away faster:

• 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. Getting enough fluid 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 (OTC) 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’ll likely go away on its own.

Do hemorrhoids go away on their own?

Sometimes, minor hemorrhoids go away on their own or with OTC at-home treatment. 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 don’t go away on their own and 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 cell 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’re 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 clotted blood. They can burst and bleed, which can be painful. 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. A healthcare professional may need to do a procedure to stop any bleeding or remove the hemorrhoid. 

When should you seek care for hemorrhoids?

You should see a healthcare professional 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 a healthcare professional. 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 NYC. She's 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:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

Reviewed by:

Farzon A. Nahvi, MD

Farzon Nahvi, MD, is an emergency medicine physician and author of “Code Gray: Death, Life, and Uncertainty in the ER.” He works at Concord Hospital in Concord, New Hampshire, and teaches at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

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