what type of doctor treats hemorrhoids

For hemorrhoids, the main doctors who treat them are:

• Primary care doctor / general practitioner – Often the first doctor to see. They can examine you, confirm if it’s hemorrhoids, prescribe creams, pain relief, stool softeners, and recommend lifestyle changes, and then refer you if needed.

• Gastroenterologist – A digestive system specialist who handles internal hemorrhoids and related bowel issues. They can do scopes (like colonoscopy), and office procedures such as rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, or infrared coagulation for more persistent hemorrhoids.

• Colorectal surgeon / proctologist – A surgical specialist for the rectum and anus. They manage severe, prolapsing, or recurrent hemorrhoids and perform operations such as hemorrhoidectomy or stapled hemorrhoid surgery when other treatments fail.

If you are unsure where to start, book an appointment with your primary care doctor; they can rule out more serious causes of bleeding and guide you to a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon if your hemorrhoids are advanced or not improving.

Quick Scoop

• Mild symptoms (itching, small bumps, occasional blood on toilet paper): start with a primary care doctor.
• Persistent pain, significant bleeding, or internal hemorrhoids: see a gastroenterologist.
• Very large, prolapsing, or repeatedly returning hemorrhoids, or ones not responding to other treatments: see a colorectal surgeon/proctologist.

If you have sudden heavy rectal bleeding, severe pain, dizziness, or feel faint, go to emergency care immediately, as these can be signs of something more serious. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.