Hemorrhoid creams during pregnancy

Which Hemorrhoid Cream Is Safe During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a trial of the will! It’s a long and often uncomfortable process, and there are so many side effects. One we hear all about at Doctor Butler’s is hemorrhoids (It’s our specialty!). As if pregnancy doesn’t cause enough discomfort itself, adding hemorrhoids to the mix just takes it to a whole other level. The good news is, however, that there are remedies proven safe to use as a pregnant woman, so guilt-free relief is on the horizon.

At Doctor Butler’s, we use Lidocaine based ointments because they have been deemed safe by the FDA for pregnant women, which you can read more about further down this post. Typically, Lidocaine is administered either topically or is injected, usually for dental work or minor surgery, but is becoming increasingly common in relieving hemorrhoid pain through topical application.

There are multiple studies showing Lidocaine’s use in reducing pregnancy pain and documenting any downstream effects on the mother, fetus and breast milk. Unfortunately, no studies specifically focus on topical Lidocaine treatment for hemorrhoid relief in a pregnant mother. But from the studies that exist we can conclude that Lidocaine is safe to apply to hemorrhoids in pregnant woman when used at the correct dosage and according to packaging instructions. It’s generally recommended to use Lidocaine products after the first trimester, which we explain more about below.

While clinical decisions remain the responsibility of medical practitioners and specialists in pre- and post-natal care, Doctor Butler’s uses the most current standards of medicine in everything we do. Scientific data and medical trials tell us which ingredients have been found safe to use topically while pregnant and nursing, and which medications you may want to avoid.

You don’t have to live with the pain, irritation, itching, and swelling worrying that treating yourself might harm your baby. If you need more information before making the decision to talk to you doctor about what’s right for you, stick around and read our guide on hemorrhoid creams so you can learn which ointments are safe for your baby and get yourself some much-needed relief. Here is what we know as experts in anorectal care.

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What are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids, or piles, are inflamed blood vessels that develop in the anus from pressure, often the result of many factors including constipation and the pressure of pregnancy. Hemorrhoids come in two varieties. Internal hemorrhoids form inside of your rectum while external hemorrhoids appear on the outside of the anus.

What Causes Pregnancy Hemorrhoids?

More than 50% of pregnant women get hemorrhoids so there’s greater than a half and half chance you may experience them, too. The third trimester, or the final three months of the pregnancy, is when to expect pregnancy hemorrhoids. That’s the point when your blood flow increases. This alone can cause blood vessels to swell, but your growing uterus adds another layer of risk with the immense pressure it puts on the pelvic wall. The veins in your rectum don’t stand much of a chance with pressure coming at them from two different sources.

Pregnancy also causes an increase in progesterone production. Progesterone is a hormone that can relax the walls of your blood vessels, which means it’s much easier for them to become inflamed and swollen. Of course, pregnancy can sometimes come with constipation as well, which is one of the most common causes of hemorrhoids in everyone, pregnant or not. Your risk of hemorrhoids goes up higher if your constipation makes you strain on the toilet.

Hemorrhoids can cause itching, irritation, and pain. You may find it uncomfortable to sit and often, sufferers can feel a bulging lump or clusters of them around the anus. They can also cause bleeding during bowel movements and are all-around frustrating to have.

It’s not all bad news, though. Once you’ve given birth, any pregnancy-related hemorrhoids you might have are likely to clear up on their own. That doesn’t help now though, does it?

Questions we’ll answer in the next section:

How do we ease the pain and irritation of hemorrhoids during pregnancy without harming your baby?
How can you find hemorrhoid relief during pregnancy?

Let’s jump into it!

So, Which Hemorrhoid Cream is Safe During Pregnancy?

Which hemorrhoid cream is safe during pregnancy? We at Doctor Butler’s use Lidocaine as the main pain relieving topical anesthetic in our hemorrhoid formulas because it is a low-risk category B drug. That means it is considered to have almost no negative effect on the fetus or mother, as there are no proven risks in humans and animal studies have failed to show any risk to the fetus. Medical consensus around topical Lidocaine use during pregnancy is mixed, generally advocating for use after the first trimester of pregnancy, as we explain below.

Most tests of Lidocaine during pregnancy were not on hemorrhoids but on other uses of Lidocaine such as epidurals during labor and dental work during pregnancy. Topical application of Lidocaine for hemorrhoids is rarely discussed in the context of pregnancy. However, because hemorrhoids are a huge problem for pregnant women, more research into solutions is needed in the area. One 2019 study testing both topical and suppository based Lidocaine prescriptions explains that Lidocaine indeed helps reduce subjective hemorrhoid symptoms in women but insists that more studies should be done, and reaffirms the safety of the drug past the first trimester.

How soon you should use Lidocaine for hemorrhoids while your baby develops in the womb is up to you and your doctor. It’s recommended to wait as long as possible without using Lidocaine, especially as the baby is going through its first stages of development during the first trimester because Lidocaine can enter the bloodstream upon usage. This delay is mainly out of caution, and if there are cases where the benefits of Lidocaine are great, many doctors may recommend use in special cases. But for hemorrhoids, you’ll likely be told to wait.

No special precautions are required if using Lidocaine during breastfeeding, which has been confirmed through extensive medical testing of intravenous infusion and high doses of topical anesthetics specifically for labor pains. Still, you should speak with your doctor before using Lidocaine if you are breastfeeding, as the medicine can pass on to breast milk in small amounts. It is not considered harmful to the infant, but it’s always best to discuss it with your doctor anyway.

Other Products to Treat Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy At Home

Ointments and creams aren’t the only solutions for how to treat hemorrhoids during pregnancy. There are numerous other solutions on the market that can bring relief while you’re pregnant. In fact, if you want to avoid medicated options, there are plenty available. Let’s take a look at some of these products.

Perineal Spray

Doctor Butler’s Pregnancy and Postpartum Spray provides relief and protection for your skin “down there”. Instantly soothe any burning with this non-toxic herbal spray. Shop Doctor Butler’s perineal spray today.

Epsom Salts

Soothe hemorrhoids, reduce inflammation, relieve constipation, and experience relaxation with an Epsom salt soak in warm water. Calm your hemorrhoids with Epsom salts from Doctor Butler’s.

Memory Foam Seat Cushion

Sitting can be uncomfortable when you’re struggling with hemorrhoids while pregnant. This foam seat cushion from Doctor Butler’s provides relief and takes the pressure off. Shop our memory foam seat cushions now.

What To Do to Prevent Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

50% of pregnant women have to suffer with hemorrhoids but you can better those odds with some preventative measures. Preventing hemorrhoids can be tricky and you might still experience them no matter what you do because pregnancy can cause a great deal of pressure, but these tips and tricks are pretty easy to accomplish and they’ll certainly improve your odds. Let’s take a look at some pointers to lower pressure levels.

First, you want to prevent constipation and that means eating enough fiber in your diet. Veggies and fruits in every meal will help with this, but you may also think about incorporating a fiber supplement into your daily routine. A high fiber diet will keep constipation away, effectively preventing hemorrhoids from this source.

Hydration is also key to staving off constipation, so make sure you’re getting enough h3O throughout the day. While you’re drinking water, reducing your caffeine intake is also a good practice for expectant moms avoiding hemorrhoids.

Finally, get up and move around. Sitting or standing for long periods of time in the same position can put extra pressure on your lower regions and exacerbate or cause hemorrhoids.

Leave the Pain Behind with Hemorrhoid Cream from Doctor Butler’s!

While hemorrhoids are common and expected during your third trimester of pregnancy, there is no need to suffer from the pain and discomfort. There is a multitude of hemorrhoid relief solutions out there that are perfectly safe for a pregnant woman.

For hemorrhoids pregnancy treatment, our lidocaine based ointments provide powerful relief from pain, itching, swelling, and discomfort. Speak to your doctor about the best time to use it. Natural solutions like sitz baths and memory foam cushions can relieve the pressure and offer instant comfort, and treatments like our cooling mineral oil-based pregnancy spray are a quick & easy solution to pregnancy pains down there.

Doctor Butler’s has formulated all of these products to be safe and effective following modern scientific practices and the FDA’s guidelines. So, don’t suffer a moment longer. Shop Doctor Butler’s full line of hemorrhoid solutions today!

Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

Talk about a pain in the butt. Unfortunately, hemorrhoids during pregnancy are quite common, especially in the third trimester. Your body undergoes a lot of changes when you’re expecting, and swelling veins in the derriere happens to be one of them. But there are steps you can take to prevent this uncomfortable condition, as well as ways to ease your symptoms. Read on for relief.

In this article:
What are hemorrhoids during pregnancy?
Why are hemorrhoids more common during pregnancy?
How do you know if you have hemorrhoids during pregnancy?
How to get rid of hemorrhoids during pregnancy
How to prevent hemorrhoids during pregnancy

What Are Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy?

“The easiest way to understand hemorrhoids is they are varicose veins of the anus,” says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Yale School of Medicine. And pregnancy hemorrhoids are no different than ones you may experience when you’re not pregnant.

Veins in the rectal area get dilated under pressure, explains Scott Sullivan, MD, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Medical University of South Carolina, and “when they dilate to a certain size, they have difficulty getting back to a normal size,” he says. “Pregnancy tends to aggravate them.”

Hemorrhoids during pregnancy (or any other time) can either be inside the rectum or external. External ones are more likely to bleed and be itchy, while internal hemorrhoids are typically more painful and can have some bleeding too.

Why Are Hemorrhoids More Common During Pregnancy?

Some people are predisposed to them, but for most women, hemorrhoids are more common during pregnancy. One reason is that moms-to-be frequently find themselves dealing with constipation. “The straining causes blood vessels to become swollen,” says Candice Wood, MD, an assistant clinical professor at the University of Arizona and Banner University Medical Center Phoenix. “In addition, higher progesterone levels cause the vessels to relax and swell.”

During pregnancy, a woman’s blood volume will also increase significantly, by about 50 percent. That means there’s more circulating blood and fluid inside the veins—so the veins are bigger just from being pregnant. Exacerbating matters is that blood flow from the lower half of the body tends to be sluggish and obstructed because of the enlarged uterus—and a growing baby puts even more pressure on the blood vessels. The weight of the baby and uterus on the rectum helps push hemorrhoids out. That’s why when moms-to-be have hemorrhoids, they tend to have the worst symptoms late in the third trimester. And guess what? You’re not the only one suffering silently back there: “Almost all women have hemorrhoids during pregnancy to a greater or lesser degree,” Minkin says.

How Do You Know If You Have Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy?

There are a few telltale symptoms to look out for. “Pain and itching are the two main things, which can be there all the time and worsen during bowel movements,” Wood says. Sometimes you can see the hemorrhoids, which look like skin tags sticking out. You may also feel a lump or a mass, or even a general pressure in the rectal area. Pregnancy hemorrhoids also tend to bleed, so check for spotting when you wipe.

How to Get Rid of Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

First the bad news: Hemorrhoids are permanent, so unfortunately, you can’t get rid of them per se. The somewhat good news? Some women may not feel any symptoms, and if that’s the case with you, then you don’t have anything to worry about, Sullivan says. “Just monitor it.” However, if yours are uncomfortable, you can at least treat the symptoms. Here’s how to ease hemorrhoid pain during pregnancy:

• Ice pack. The simplest (not to mention cheapest!) remedy, a cold compress can offer immediate, albeit very temporary, relief.

• A sitz bath. This is an easy home remedy for pregnancy hemorrhoids. “If you’re having pain, your best friend is a warm tub of water,” Minkin says. “You don’t need to put anything in it—just sit there and read a book for 10 or 15 minutes. Get out of the tub, pat the area dry, and then take your hair dryer on low heat to the area—it’s soothing, and you don’t have to rub the area. Follow up with an over-the-counter medication (see below).

• Witch hazel pads. These have a cooling effect and can be used to clean the area or, when folded, as a compress to reduce swelling. One mom, plagued with no less than five hemorrhoids during pregnancy, found these pads to be especially helpful. “I use witch hazel wipes or pads every time after I go to the bathroom,” she says. In addition to generic witch hazel pads, you can also find treatments specifically for hemorrhoids, such as Tucks.

• Baking soda. Used wet or dry, baking soda can be applied topically to help alleviate the itching that comes with pregnancy hemorrhoids.

• Over-the-counter medications. There are several to choose from. Creams and ointments like Preparation H or Anusol provide a soothing protective layer over the tissue and help shrink the swelling, at least temporarily. For more severe cases, you can find formulations that contain steroids (which help soothe inflammation) or numbing agents (which are particularly helpful with painful hemorrhoids). As with any medication during pregnancy, check in with your doctor to make sure they’re safe for you to take.

How to Prevent Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

Unfortunately there isn’t a foolproof way to completely prevent hemorrhoids during pregnancy. “I’ve had patients who were the absolute picture of health and did everything you can do, and they still got them,” Sullivan says. “There’s also a genetic component to it—if your parents had them, you’re definitely at a higher risk because veins come in different sizes and strengths.” Still, there are steps you can take to help prevent your veins from swelling:

• Avoid getting constipated. “Keeping the stool soft is usually helpful, to both prevent and manage hemorrhoids during pregnancy,” Minkin says. Drink lots of fluids—especially prune juice—and get plenty of fiber. If you’re still struggling with constipation, talk to your doctor about medication to soften stools.

• Aim for healthy pregnancy weight gain. Try not to gain more than the recommended amount of weight—the more you gain, the more pressure there is on the rectum, so being overweight can predispose you to having pregnancy hemorrhoids.

Though recovery is a slow process—between four to eight weeks after giving birth—symptoms will improve. With a shift in progesterone levels, you’ll notice the discomfort easing up. “In addition, irritation should lighten up if you’re controlling constipation,” Wood says. In the meantime, take comfort in knowing that hemorrhoids don’t typically cause any major medical problems. As Sullivan says, “We try to send the message that it’s going to be okay. ”

About the experts:

Mary Jane Minkin, MD, is an ob-gyn at Yale NewHaven Health in New Haven, Connecticut and has been in practice for more than 40 years. She also serves as a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale University School of Medicine.

Scott Sullivan, MD, MSCR, is double board certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as maternal fetal medicine and is a professor at the Medical University of South Carolina. He received his medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

Candice Wood, MD, is an ob-gyn at Banner Health and an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Arizona. She earned her medical degree from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in 2005.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Home treatment for hemorrhoids

Do ointments, creams and other medicines help with hemorrhoids?

Many people, faced with such a delicate disease as hemorrhoids, experience a sense of shame and fear, they are afraid to go to a proctologist and prefer to use ointments, creams, suppositories, gels and other drugs that they need to get rid of the disease. advised by acquaintances, pharmacists in a pharmacy or who advertise Mass Media.

The effects of these drugs are usually short-lived. But such treatment does not solve the main problem: the causes of hemorrhoids do not disappear, but only disguised.

Moreover, the focus of the disease, while the external symptoms are removed, progresses. A common remedy at home in the treatment of hemorrhoids are suppositories, ointments and gels. They are inexpensive, and at first glance effectively cope with the manifestations of hemorrhoids.

Ointment and cream differ in base. The ointment is made on the basis of 100% fat. The basis of the cream is an aqueous emulsion containing about 50% fat. The cream is quickly absorbed, quickly relieves the unpleasant symptoms of hemorrhoids.

Gel is a water-based dosage form that does not contain fat, is easily absorbed and dries. The activity of gels and creams is higher than the activity of ointments. Gels are more physiological, absorb faster, have a drying and bactericidal effect. They are more suitable for the treatment of weeping wounds, ointments - for softening scaly wounds.

Advantages of ointments, creams and gels in the treatment of hemorrhoids:

drugs reduce inflammation fairly quickly
ointments, creams or gels to relieve swelling and congestion
thanks to medicines, the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels is restored and the tone of the rectum is restored
cosmetic effect
anal fissures are softened

All the advantages of drugs listed above in the treatment of hemorrhoids at home - remove the external manifestations of hemorrhoids without eliminating the cause and do not diagnose the factors leading to hemorrhoids. Meanwhile, the causes of the appearance and development of hemorrhoids can be very different - up to oncological formations in the rectum. Therefore, at the first discomfort in the rectum, it is necessary to contact a professional proctologist at Only Clinic in order to conduct a complete proctological examination and proceed to the treatment prescribed by the doctor.

Treatment of hemorrhoids at home

How are hemorrhoid ointments, gels and creams treated?

All ointments and creams are composed of many ingredients; a positive effect in the treatment of hemorrhoids is achieved by a combination of several components that enhance the action of each other. Remedies for hemorrhoids are effective and inexpensive.

Currently, there is a huge variety of inexpensive remedies for hemorrhoids that can provide first aid to a sick person at home, relieve pain, remove swelling, and produce a healing and regenerating effect.

Even if you used one of the remedies for hemorrhoids and felt relief, we strongly recommend that you make an appointment with a proctologist at Only Clinic and get qualified help from a professional doctor and get rid of an unpleasant illness forever.

Heparin ointment for hemorrhoids. The ointment not only effectively eliminates and prevents thrombosis of hemorrhoids due to its liquefying action

Cream Wax Healthy. Zdorov wax cream is a new drug for fast and effective treatment of hemorrhoids. It contains only natural natural ingredients

Ointment for hemorrhoids - Levomekol. The main active substance in the ointment is the antibiotic chloramphenicol. It eliminates pathogens, bacteria that provoke the development of hemorrhoids. External application relieves the body of the toxic effect of the antibiotic on the whole body

Ointment for hemorrhoids - Posterizan Forte. The ointment is a combined agent that combines hydrocortisone and bacteria

Hemorrhoid ointment - Esculus. Homeopathic ointment based on horse chestnut fruit extract. Has a regenerating and anti-inflammatory effect

Ointment for hemorrhoids - Heparoid Treatment. White emulsion with a characteristic odor, which contains the active substance heparinoid. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and counteracts thrombosis and accelerates resorption

Ointment for hemorrhoids - Hirudoproct. Gel based on horse chestnut extract, medicinal leech extract, sea buckthorn and methyluracil. The drug relieves inflammation, strengthens blood vessels, increases local immunity

Hemorrhoid ointment - Ultraproct. The ointment includes components - fluocortolone and cinchocaine, which mutually enhance the therapeutic effect, have an anesthetic effect and prevent bleeding

Hemorrhoid ointment – Relief. Relatively inexpensive and effective ointment, which contains shark liver oil and auxiliary elements that provide a good anti-inflammatory and regenerating effect

Ointment for hemorrhoids - Hepatrombin. The composition of the ointment includes active ingredients - heparin and prednisolone, as well as excipients - paraffin, lanolin, silicon dioxide

Ointment for hemorrhoids - Proctosan. Ointment based on lidocaine and bufexamac gives a good result in the treatment of hemorrhoids, as it provides pain relief and anti-inflammatory therapy

Ointment for hemorrhoids - Proctosedyl. Has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, regenerating properties. Relieves swelling, itching, burning, discomfort and irritation

Fleming's ointment. Homeopathic remedy based on calendula, witch hazel, horse chestnut, menthol, zinc oxide. Has an antiseptic and drying effect

Ointment for hemorrhoids - Troxevasin. The agent is an analgesic, venoprotector and an effective antiseptic. Reduces swelling, itching, burning, prevents the spread of bacteria

Ointments for the treatment of hemorrhoids during pregnancy. For pregnant women, it is recommended to use such ointments as Fleming's ointment, Posterisan, Troxevasin ointment, Heparin ointment. In addition, you can use sea buckthorn oil and Vishnevsky ointment. The drugs are not only effective, but also safe for the mother and unborn child.

How to use hemorrhoids

As a rule, ointments, creams and other hemorrhoids are supplied with an applicator that allows you to conveniently apply the drug to the sore spot and hemorrhoids. Means are used 3-4 times a day: after morning hygiene procedures, in the evening before bedtime, and also after each bowel movement.

It is desirable to inject the drug as deeply as possible. Since each hemorrhoid remedy has its own characteristics, special properties and side effects, it is better to consult a doctor . The proctologist will prescribe the right medicine.

Take care of your health, don't start the disease. Call or leave a request below. Use the phone number +7 (831) 266-77-60 for an appointment. We are always ready to help you!

Treatment of hemorrhoids during pregnancy | Articles of the medical center "SM-Clinic"

Hemorrhoids - a disease associated with inflammation and pathological expansion of the hemorrhoidal veins that form nodes around the rectum. This is a very common disease, its cause is usually venous blood stagnation in the lower body and legs.

The development of hemorrhoids takes place gradually - in the initial stage, there is heaviness and itching in the anus, pain, constipation, later - bleeding, sagging and prolapse of elastic hemorrhoids.

Factors that cause hemorrhoids are a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, obesity, alcohol abuse, cirrhosis of the liver of life.

This disease often accompanies pregnancy - about half of women who are expecting a child suffer from it. The main reasons for pregnant women are the pressure of the growing uterus on the lower abdomen, which compresses the veins, and constipation due to low intestinal motility.

In healthy women, hemorrhoids can develop in the second half of pregnancy, but if there is a hereditary predisposition, or the symptoms of hemorrhoids were manifested before pregnancy, then hemorrhoids can develop at an earlier date - already from the 12th week.

Symptoms of hemorrhoids during pregnancy

Hemorrhoids during pregnancy can occur in two forms:

sharp;
chronic.

The acute form is characterized by the sudden formation of a blood clot in the veins of the rectum, which causes burning pain, especially after the defecation process. Dense external nodes are formed, the diameter of which can reach 2-3 cm, the skin under them swells and turns red.

After 5-10 days, the acute form becomes chronic - the nodes soften and swell only when straining. The process is accompanied by discomfort in the anus and itching.

Blood appears in the fecal masses, sometimes in fairly large quantities, hemorrhoids can fall out of the anus, self-adjusting after some time. There may be no pain, there may be a feeling of incomplete emptying of the intestine, discomfort, bloating. Walking and sitting become painful.

Treatment of hemorrhoids during pregnancy

The main methods of treatment of non-acute hemorrhoids during pregnancy are strict adherence to diet and hygiene rules. The diet prescribed by a dietitian should help avoid constipation and regulate bowel movements - dried fruits, nuts, cereals, and sour-milk products are recommended for this. Spicy foods, rich products, strong tea should be excluded.

For hygiene procedures, it is recommended to use wet toilet paper, wash the anus after defecation. If external nodes occur, you can take baths with a weak solution of chamomile or potassium permanganate.

To reduce blood stasis, it is necessary to perform preventive gymnastics - its main exercises should be aimed at stimulating the muscles of the pelvis, anus and legs. In addition, it is necessary to adjust the daily routine - to take walks, combining them with moderate rest and sleep.

If these measures do not bring the desired result, it is possible to use medicines - suppositories, ointments, creams. However, it is worth remembering that any drug treatment must be agreed with the gynecologist - during pregnancy, self-medication and the use of drugs without a prescription is unacceptable.

If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgery may be required, but usually during gestation it is performed only in extreme cases, with careful monitoring of the proctologist and surgeon. Usually, if there is a need for surgical intervention, the operation is postponed until the postpartum period.

After childbirth, during the first two months, hemorrhoids may continue to bother, but usually - with the normalization of lifestyle and increased physical activity - it disappears. However, you should not run hemorrhoids during pregnancy - at the first sign, consult a doctor.

This will help to avoid complications, reduce discomfort, and also distinguish the disease from those that occur with similar symptoms (anal fissures, tumors), but require different treatment.