Hemorrhoids (often misspelled as “hemroids”) are cushions of swollen tissue and blood vessels in the lower rectal area. Hemorrhoids are classified as either internal or external. Hemorrhoids can be caused by a number of things, including constipation, straining, pregnancy, etc., and can be unpleasant if left untreated. You can read more about the different types of hemorrhoids here.
If you have hemorrhoids, you might be asking the question, “Can hemorrhoids pop?” While hemorrhoids can burst, they will not pop in the sense that you can “pop” a pimple. A hemorrhoid is very different than a pimple or a boil. Hemorrhoids are rectal veins that have become swollen or inflamed. They will only burst to secrete blood in the most severe of cases.
If a hemorrhoid has become thrombosed, meaning it’s bulging and painful, it will burst on its own and secrete blood. While similar to a pimple or boil – which will build up in pressure until it pops – a thrombosed hemorrhoid will simply begin to bleed if it becomes too full with blood and/or puss. Of course, the hemorrhoid would have caused severe pain in the days leading up to bursting. Most people would have already sought medical attention due to the intense symptoms of thrombosis, thus taking care of the problem before the hemorrhoid bursts. This is perhaps why it is rare to hear about a hemorrhoid popping on its own.
If you’re hemorrhoids are severe enough to consider popping them on your own, call a doctor instead. If you call within 48-72 hours of the thrombosed hemorrhoid forming, the doctor should be able to help relieve the pain. Trying to pop your own hemorrhoid, whether with a pin or between your fingers can only make the problem worse. Talk to a physician about relieving symptoms or learn more about professional hemorrhoid treatments. If your hemorrhoids are bad enough that you’re wondering to yourself whether hemorrhoids can pop, chances are it’s time to consider a hemorrhoid treatment like the CRH O’Regan System and get rid of your hemorrhoids for good.
Bleeding from a popped hemorrhoid can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Bleeding from a popped hemorrhoid should not last more than 10 minutes. It is normal for bowel movements to exacerbate the hemorrhoid and cause spotting and short bursts of bleeding.
It’s a good idea to see a doctor if a hemorrhoid bursts. It doesn’t usually require extensive treatment at that point but it’s good to have the area checked out to make sure there’s nothing more serious going on. A sitz bath is a good idea if you’re looking for pain relieve and to prevent infection. The warmth of the sitz bath will also stimulate the area which will help the hemorrhoid heal. Read our blog post all about sitz baths for step-by-step instructions.
Any type of anal pain, especially if it involves bleeding or swelling tissue should be properly evaluated by an MD. The pain may not always be hemorrhoids and it’s extremely important to see a doctor to make sure there’s nothing more serious going on. Other conditions that sometimes exhibit similar symptoms as hemorrhoids include colorectal cancer, IBS, constipation and anal fissures.
