Can you have intercourse with hemorrhoids?

If you've been living with internal hemorrhoids, you may already be dealing with painful, disruptive symptoms. And that may be impacting several areas of your life. But if you're wondering, can you have intercourse with hemorrhoids, here's what you need to know.

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids (or piles) are just enlarged veins in your rectum or anus. Sometimes, the walls of these vessels stretch very thin, causing bulging and irritation in the veins. Now, we classify your hemorrhoids according to the severity of your symptoms. You'll be diagnosed with:

• Grade 1 hemorrhoids
  if they are small, and not visible or palpable. While unlikely to cause discomfort, they may cause bleeding when you pass a bowel movement.
• Grade 2 hemorrhoids
  are larger, and may pop out of the anus when you pass a bowel movement. Symptoms can include pain, itching and bleeding.
• Grade 3 hemorrhoids
  are internal vessels that bulge outside your anal canal, and will not return unless you reposition them manually. They are also symptomatic.
• Grade 4 hemorrhoids
  are the most severe. The bulging vessels will stay outside the anal canal, even if you manually reposition them, and your symptoms are likely to be severe.

Can you have intercourse with hemorrhoids?

With more severe hemorrhoids, intercourse (either vaginal or anal) may be painful. Now, while this may prevent you from connecting with penetration, that doesn't mean you'll have to avoid intimacy altogether. Instead, you and your partner may need to find other ways to express your intimate connection. Then, once you relieve your discomfort with hemorrhoid treatment, you can return to your former sexual connections, following your recovery period.

Hemorrhoid Treatment in Texas

Here at the Texas Hemorrhoid Institute, we treat grade two and three internal hemorrhoids with Hemorrhoid artery embolization (HAE), a non-surgical procedure that relieves your symptoms with a fast recovery, reduced risk for side effects and minimal discomfort.

Wondering if you can have intercourse with hemorrhoids despite your pain, itching and bleeding? You may be able to connect with penetration without treatment. But you're more likely to enjoy intercourse, and the rest of your daily activities, by seeking relief via treatment. Ready to begin your recovery journey? Click here to request an appointmentClick here to request an appointmentClick here to request an appointment with our hemorrhoid experts in Texas.