Lindsay Curtis is a health & medical writer in South Florida. She worked as a communications professional for health nonprofits and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of ...

Hemorrhoids can cause itching, burning, pain, or bleeding around your anus. External hemorrhoids usually go away on their own within days. See a doctor if hemorrhoids do not improve in a week.

Blumberg is a contributor for TIME. Blumberg is a contributor for TIME. Hemorrhoids aren’t exactly dinner-party conversation, but you or someone you know has likely dealt with them. In fact, there’s a ...

We all have a cluster of veins around the anal canal. Trouble can occur when they swell and become irritated, causing either an internal or external hemorrhoid. Consider a laxative. Straining on the ...

The terms “hemorrhoids” and “rectal varices” are often used interchangeably, but they’re separate conditions with different causes and treatments. Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen veins in ...