Are Hemorrhoids Transmissible? Breaking The Hemorrhoid Myth!

“Are hemorrhoids transmissible?” is a question many people ask about this health condition. It’s a grave concern, so it’s natural that people get worried when talking about hemorrhoids and fear it’s spread to their partner or other family members if they live in a house with many people.

Well, the good news is that hemorrhoids are not transmissible. You cannot transmit the condition to others, even through direct contact, like sexual intercourse. But some symptoms of hemorrhoids closely resemble other health concerns like genital warts, which are very contagious, so you must always be wary and get an accurate diagnosis.

In this article, we will attempt to answer the “Are hemorrhoids transmissible?” and deal with a few other related topics. Continue reading to know more!

Table of Contents

What Exactly Are Hemorrhoids, And How Are They Transmitted, If At All?

Hemorrhoids are a health condition concentrated around the rectum and the anus. More specifically, hemorrhoids happen when the veins in your anus and lower rectum get swollen. This condition is also called piles. People who suffer from hemorrhoids experience pain when they pass stool streaked with blood.

There are two different types of hemorrhoids that one might be diagnosed with, which are internal and external.

Internal Hemorrhoids:

This is when the condition is inside the rectum. You won’t be able to see or even feel it physically, but it can cause you discomfort. You might notice painless bleeding along with your stool when you have internal hemorrhoids.

When the tissues inside your rectum become too big, they might get pushed out when you exert too much pressure when passing your bowels. When this happens, it is called a prolapsed hemorrhoid which might cause even more discomfort.

In this case, you can see it, but they eventually go back inside on their own, or you can even push it back inside your rectum.

External Hemorrhoids:

This is the condition where you can see and feel your hemorrhoids. It causes small lumps to form under the skin around the anus. Since there are more nerves in this area than the inside of your rectum, external hemorrhoids hurt more than internal hemorrhoids.

You might feel itchiness, swelling, pain, and even bleeding when you have external hemorrhoids. Generally, it is not a cause of extreme concern, but if your symptoms don’t go away after some OTC treatments, visit your doctor and get a proper diagnosis.

How It Happens

Hemorrhoidal tissues are present in everyone, but these tissues are irritated and swollen in those with hemorrhoids. The most common reason why this happens is due to extreme pressure.

The anal canal pushes and moves the bowels as a normal bodily function through vascular structures that are spongy in nature and very rich in blood supply.

They contract and swell as they move our bowels along the anal canal. Sometimes when these tissues get stretched out excessively, it can cause them to start swelling and inflamed. This is when you get hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids cannot transmit from one person to another other, nor do they spread to other parts of the body. Some people think that hemorrhoids can be passed through sexual intercourse, but it is not true. Hemorrhoids are not STIs.

Hence, there is no need to worry about it being contagious. However, you might experience much discomfort during sexual intercourse if you have hemorrhoids.

Can Hemorrhoids Be Passed From Person To Person?

No. Hemorrhoids cannot be passed on from one person to the next. This health condition is concentrated in the rectum and anal canal, where you might experience discomfort when doing everyday activities like sitting or passing stool.

There are mainly two types of hemorrhoids- internal and external hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids are primarily concentrated in the lower rectum. If your internal hemorrhoids continue to swell and get larger, they might get pushed out of the anal canal when you pass stool.

This condition is called prolapsed hemorrhoids. On the other hand, external hemorrhoids show up under the skin and form small lumps around the anus.

Either of these conditions is not contagious, so you don’t have to worry about passing it to another person when you sit on the toilet or touch the infected area.

Is It Possible To Develop Hemorrhoids Through Exposure To Contaminated Environments, Such As Swimming Pools Or Hot Tubs?

You might risk getting infections when you go to a public pool or a hot tub that is not properly cleaned. But you can’t get hemorrhoids through contact since they are not contagious.

Rather, hot tubs and swimming are two of the remedies many people suggest if you want to get relief from the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Swimming pools have chlorine, a disinfectant for hemorrhoids, so swimming is a good idea.

However, if you are thinking of swimming in naturally occurring water bodies like lakes and ponds, swimming in salt water is recommended to provide more relief.

At the same time, if you have other infections like open sores in the anal area where your hemorrhoids are, it is better to avoid public places like these and play it safe by running a bath at home. This is especially important for those who have external hemorrhoids.

Likewise, hot tubs and Jacuzzis are also seen as remedial treatments for hemorrhoids as they can relieve the patient’s irritation and pain. However, you must be careful about the pressure you apply and not stay in the hot tub too long.

According to an article posted by the Los Angeles Colon and Rectal Surgical Associates, sitting in hot baths or hot water to relieve your hemorrhoids is not a good idea because it can enlarge the swelling and make your blood pool. Instead, use lukewarm water and don’t soak in it for too long either.

Ensure you dry yourself well after the water and apply some ointment to help fasten the healing process.

Can Hemorrhoids Spread To Other Parts Of The Body?

No, hemorrhoids cannot spread to other parts of the body, but there is a chance that your hemorrhoids will become infected.

In such a case, the infection can spread to other body parts. Infections in your hemorrhoids are typically due to restricted blood flow to the area.

Typically, internal hemorrhoids are less likely to be infected, but if it becomes a prolapsed hemorrhoid, it is more prone to infections since the blood flow might be cut off to the vein.

Other than this, if you have external hemorrhoids and try to pop them, it will become an open wound that can get easily infected by bacteria from the external environment.

Conclusion

To sum up, are hemorrhoids transmissible? The answer is no. Hemorrhoids are not contagious. Hence, you don’t have to worry about getting it from another person or passing it on to others.

However, you could risk getting your hemorrhoids infected if you don’t care for them properly with proper medical attention.

If you have any symptoms close to hemorrhoids, it is best to get them checked out before the condition gets too severe.

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