Piles (haemorrhoids)
Piles (haemorrhoids) are lumps inside and around your bottom (anus). They often get better on their own after a few days. There are things you can do to treat and prevent piles.
Symptoms of piles include:
- bright red blood after you poo
- an itchy anus
- feeling like you still need to poo after going to the toilet
- slimy mucus in your underwear or on toilet paper after wiping your bottom
- lumps around your anus
- pain around your anus
See what piles look like


Do
drink lots of fluid and eat plenty of fibre to keep your poo soft
wipe your bottom with damp toilet paper
take paracetamol if piles hurt
take a warm bath to ease itching and pain
use an ice pack wrapped in a towel to ease discomfort
gently push a pile back inside
keep your bottom clean and dry
exercise regularly
cut down on alcohol and caffeine (like tea, coffee and cola) to avoid constipation
Don't
do not wipe your bottom too hard after you poo
do not ignore the urge to poo
do not push too hard when pooing
do not take painkillers that contain codeine, as they cause constipation
do not take ibuprofen if your piles are bleeding
do not spend more time than you need to on the toilet
Ask a pharmacist about treatment for piles
A pharmacist can suggest:
- creams to ease the pain, itching and swelling
- treatment to help constipation and soften poo
- cold packs to ease discomfort
Many pharmacies have private areas if you do not want to be overheard.
If there's no improvement to your piles after home treatments, you may need hospital treatment.
Talk to your doctor about the best treatment for you. Treatment does not always prevent piles coming back.
Treatment without surgery
Common hospital treatments include:
- rubber band ligation: a band is placed around your piles to make them drop off
- sclerotherapy: a liquid is injected into your piles to make them shrink
- electrotherapy: a gentle electric current is applied to your piles to make them shrink
- infrared coagulation: an infrared light is used to cut the blood supply to your piles to make them shrink
You'll be awake for this type of treatment, but the area will be numbed.
You should be able to go home on the same day.
If these treatments do not work, you may need surgery to remove your piles.
Surgery
Surgical treatments include:
- haemorrhoidectomy: your piles are cut out
- stapled haemorrhoidopexy: your piles are stapled back inside your anus
- haemorrhoidal artery ligation: stitches are used to cut the blood supply to your piles to make them shrink
You'll usually need to be asleep for this type of treatment and may need to stay in hospital for more than 1 day.
Piles are swollen blood vessels. It's not clear what causes them.
Things that make piles more likely:
- constipation
- pushing too hard when pooing
- pregnancy – read about piles during pregnancy
- heavy lifting