Hemorrhoids are a problem shared among many – studies show that 50% to 85% of adults worldwide experience them. What can cause hemorrhoids?1 A number of factors, including constipation, pregnancy, obesity and lifestyle (diet, exercise, hydration). These swollen veins in your rectum and anus can be both internal and external, prompting painful symptoms that include itching, soreness and bleeding. A hemorrhoid can also have a more significant impact on the body as its physical presence may interfere with regular pooping. Let’s discuss what to do if you can’t poop because of hemorrhoids and the different remedies for relief.
Table of Contents
- Understanding Constipation from Hemorrhoids
- Natural Remedies for Constipation
- How to Poop with Hemorrhoids
- Medical Alternatives for Constipation Relief
Who are we? We’re Doctor Butler’s, experts in down-there care of hemorrhoids and related conditions. We make proctologist-developed hemorrhoid ointments and complementary products to help you quickly leave the pain behind. Dr. Robert Cutler medically reviews all of the information here.
Understanding Constipation from Hemorrhoids
As a hemorrhoid sufferer, you may already be familiar with constipation. One of the main causes of hemorrhoids, constipation leads to chronic straining and hardens your stool.2 Over time, this erodes the tissue in place to support the anal canal and stretches out the hemorrhoid veins to accommodate the extra pressure. Lacking the proper elasticity, blood begins to pool in these veins, causing them to swell and push downward and often outside and around the anal lining.
Can hemorrhoids cause constipation? Once the hemorrhoid veins are swollen, they have the potential to block the passage of your stool. This is particularly true when it comes to prolapsed hemorrhoids, which are hemorrhoids that have formed internally and protruded outside the anus. The more swelling your veins are experiencing, the greater risk they carry for causing constipation from hemorrhoids.
The other constipation risk unique to hemorrhoids is the pain element. This could look like fear of further irritating chapped and sensitive skin around the hemorrhoid site or more acute pain as the poop makes contact with the hemorrhoid while exiting the anal canal. Hemorrhoid-related pain can cause you to delay bowel movements or change the foods you’re eating to prevent stools, both of which put you at risk of constipation and bloating.
It is important to address constipation quickly, as you are at risk for more significant consequences the longer the condition remains. If stools are impeded from smoothly exiting the anal canal, the prolonged build-up of poop inside the body can lead to complications such as fecal impaction or rectal prolapse.
Natural Remedies for Constipation
Just like hemorrhoids, constipation is a common occurrence that can be treated via a multitude of at-home remedies and recommended lifestyle changes. Focusing attention on the habits that may be exacerbating your constipation (oftentimes overlapping with those that aggravate hemorrhoids as well) is an effective tool in promoting healthy digestion.
Pay attention to the foods you’re eating. Following a specific diet for hemorrhoid sufferers can ensure your meals aren’t causing inflammation and blocking the passage of stool. Increasing physical activity will stimulate speedier digestion and intestinal contractions, limiting the water absorption that causes hard, dry stools. Increasing the amount of water and non-caffeinated beverages you consume throughout the day helps your stool pass smoothly through the intestine and ensures the extra fiber you’re consuming is functioning effectively in the digestive system.
These natural remedies for constipation can make a big impact when incorporated into your daily routine. Regardless, flare-ups happen and you may still be tackling how to poop with hemorrhoids. Let’s explore some tips for healthy and harm free bathroom visits if you can’t go due to hemorrhoids.
How to Poop with Hemorrhoids
If you thought there was one way to poop, you thought wrong! There are plenty of techniques that can help you feel your best on the toilet when your hemorrhoids are causing constipation. From the positioning of your body to breath work to the toilet seat that might just be the culprit, we cover practical tips for bowel movements when dealing with hemorrhoids.
How to Ease the Discomfort and Strain During Bowel Movements
Do what you can during the day to eliminate pressure from the rectum. Do not sit for long periods of time and make sure you are getting at least low-impact movement when possible. While it may be tempting, do not delay bowel movements, as this will build-up pressure. Go as soon as you feel the urge, and try to reduce forceful pushing (increasing fiber and water intake will help keep stools softer, decreasing the use of force).
The Importance of Proper Posture and Positioning
Posture isn’t just for your spine anymore; the posture you maintain while using the toilet affects how easily stool can exit the rectum. When it comes to pooping, squatting is the way to go, and anything you can do to raise your knees above your hips will ensure a smoother bowel movement. Squatting aligns your rectum with your colon, relaxes your pelvic floor muscles and straightens the anorectal angle. Placing a small stool or squatty potty at the base of the toilet and resting your feet on this during bowel movements will help you achieve squatting posture.
Relaxation and Gentle Techniques
What could breathing have to do with my poop? Studies show that diaphragmatic breathing has a host of health benefits that promote smoother bowel movements, from lowering cortisol levels, slowing your heart rate and blood pressure, and strengthening core stability. To try it, inhale through your nose, breathing deeply into your belly (feel it push out), then exhale through your lips, feeling your belly contract back in. Combine this while on the toilet with other relaxation techniques such as mindful meditation, guided imagery (visualizing a calming scene while you breathe), putting on calming music or progressive muscle relaxation (tense and then relax muscles throughout your body in a systematic manner).
Using the Appropriate Toilet Seats
Just as donut pillows are not recommended for hemorrhoids due to their circular shape, it’s important to look for a toilet seat that is more ovular. A round shape places the bulk of your body weight onto your rectum, whereas an ovular shape helps distribute this pressure more evenly and outward away from your anus. Seek out an elongated toilet seat that is 2 inches longer than the standard 16.5” round bowl, giving your body more space and distributing the weight accordingly.
Medical Alternatives for Constipation Relief
If you’ve tried at-home methods and found that you still can’t kick the constipation, there are a number of medical options that you can utilize to keep the condition from worsening. Whether it’s over-the-counter drugs, stool softeners or prescription treatments, these alternatives can help alleviate discomfort and encourage regular bowel movements. As always, consulting your physician for personalized recommendations based on your health history is always strongly encouraged.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Over-the-counter options for constipation include all different manner of medication. Bulk-forming (Metamucil, Citrucel), osmotic (Miralax, Phillips’) and stimulant (Dulcolax, Senokot) laxatives trigger bowel movements or pull water into the colon. Creams and ointments help target the hemorrhoid itself, alleviating blockage. An enema kit will contain a tube or nozzle attached to a bag that holds liquid. Two types of enemas are typically used for constipation – one lubricates the bowels and the second is a retention enema, which stays in the body longer and usually uses oil to soak and soften stool.
Stool Softeners
Stool softeners (Dulcolax, Colace) are actually a type of laxative called an emollient laxative. Using docusate sodium and docusate calcium, they wet and soften stool, making it easier to pass. Stool softeners are not a long-term option like bulk-forming laxatives and should only be used for short term relief.
Prescription Treatments
There are a number of medications your doctor can prescribe for chronic constipation.
- Lubiprostone – increases fluid secretion in the bowels
- Linaclotide – increases intestinal fluid secretion
- Plecanatide – increases fluid secretion in the bowels
- Prucalopride – increases contractions in the colon
Consult your doctor to see if they recommend any of the prescription options listed above, or if your constipation does not get better after attempting at-home and non-prescription methods. In addition to prescribed medications, treatments such as anorectal biofeedback or even surgery in cases of severe constipation can be discussed.
Prone to Constipation
Failure to take preventive lifestyle and dietary adjustments increases the likelihood that your constipation will remain chronic or return. The same goes for taking care of your hemorrhoids. Making sure you are on top of symptom management and treatment will reduce future risk of constipation from hemorrhoids. Avoid situations that place pressure on your rectum when possible. Note when taking drugs that have a known side effect of constipation, such as antidepressants and narcotic pain medication.
Toilet Seat Options for Comfort
Depending on how much you’re looking to spend, there are different options for upgrading your standard toilet seat. Ergonomic seats can be designed to your unique body specifications and have features such as a curved backside. As mentioned previously, elongated and ovular seats help remove pressure from your rectum. Toilet seat cushions are a soft pad that can be placed over top the existing seat to further minimize pressure.
Eating for Digestive Health
Balanced nutrition not only improves your overall health but has a very direct effect on your body’s ability to prevent constipation. Fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains add bulk to stool, absorbing water and moving food through your digestive system at a steady pace. Proper hydration helps break down and soften stools, again ensuring a smooth exit.
Recovering from Constipation Caused by Hemorrhoids
While specific OTC treatments (laxatives, stool softeners) may offer instant relief, treating constipation caused by hemorrhoids will take patience and consistency. Employing new habits and seeing the effects of exercise and increased fiber and fluids will improve constipation over time, not overnight. Gradual improvements help promote long-term management and recovery. You can do this!
Key Steps to Relieving
Now that you know what to do if you can’t poop because of hemorrhoids, it’s time to put those steps into action. Whether your route is lifestyle changes, natural remedies, a visit to your doctor or refitting that spankin’ new ergonomic toilet, there are plenty of strategies you can employ if you feel a bout of constipation coming on. A little consistency goes a long way when it comes to a regulated digestive system, so stick with it and you’ll be smooth sailing in no time!
Sources
- Al-Masoudi, R. O., Shosho, R., Alquhra, D., Alzahrani, M., Hemdi, M., & Alshareef, L. (2024). Prevalence of Hemorrhoids and the Associated Risk Factors Among the General Adult Population in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Cureus, 16(1), e51612. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.51612 ↩︎
- Sandler, R. S., & Peery, A. F. (2019). Rethinking What We Know About Hemorrhoids. Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, 17(1), 8–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2018.03.020 ↩︎
About Robert Cutler, D.O.
Dr. Robert Cutler has performed duties as a specialist in the field of Proctology over 30 years as a practicing physician. Over this time, he has had great success integrating patient care from both an efficiency standpoint and as a practical approach to holistic and preventative medicine.
Dr. Cutler also performs FDA approved Clinical Trials and has had formal research training in Human Subject Assurance Training, OHRP/NIH and Good Clinical Practice for Investigators, Quintiles. Dr. Cutler continues to work on creating more affordable solutions to help people who are affected by ano-rectal problems as well as various chronic or acute skin issues.
