Will pregnancy hemorrhoids go away

Published 13 March 2026 ·Last reviewed 13 March 2026 by the editorial team ·How we create our content

A composite account, drawn from many real anonymised experiences. It is not any one person's story.

What this experience covers

This experience describes what happens to pregnancy-related hemorrhoids after delivery — whether they go away, how long it takes, and what people find helpful during the postpartum period. It is a composite drawn from many anonymised accounts.

The pattern

During pregnancy

Hemorrhoids are common during pregnancy. The growing uterus increases pressure on the pelvic veins, hormonal changes soften the blood vessel walls, and constipation is frequent. Many people develop hemorrhoids for the first time during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester.

After delivery

The question people ask most: will they go away now that the pregnancy is over?

For many people, yes — at least partially. The pressure and hormonal factors that caused or worsened the hemorrhoids during pregnancy resolve after delivery. People commonly describe:

Significant improvement within the first few weeks postpartum
Gradual shrinking of hemorrhoids over one to three months
Some residual issues — particularly skin tags where hemorrhoids were
Full resolution for mild cases within a few months

For some people, no — not completely. Larger hemorrhoids, those that were present before pregnancy, or those that thrombosed during delivery may not fully resolve. These may need ongoing management or eventually treatment.

The delivery factor

How the baby was delivered affects the hemorrhoid picture:

Vaginal delivery: the pushing phase can significantly worsen hemorrhoids. People describe hemorrhoids that were manageable during pregnancy becoming much worse immediately after delivery.
Forceps or assisted delivery: additional pressure can exacerbate the problem
Caesarean section: the delivery itself does not worsen hemorrhoids, but the pregnancy-related ones still need time to resolve

The postpartum timeline

People describe a general pattern:

Week 1 to 2: hemorrhoids are often at their worst, especially after vaginal delivery. Pain, swelling, and discomfort are significant.
Weeks 2 to 6: gradual improvement. The swelling reduces, pain decreases.
Months 2 to 3: most pregnancy-related hemorrhoids have improved significantly. Mild symptoms may linger.
Beyond 3 months: if symptoms are still present and bothersome, it is reasonable to discuss treatment options with a clinician.

What helps during the postpartum period

Stool softeners: constipation after delivery is common and worsens hemorrhoids
Sitz baths: warm water soothes the area and helps with both hemorrhoids and any perineal healing
Ice packs: for swelling, particularly in the first few days
Adequate hydration: especially important if breastfeeding
Fibre-rich diet: prevents the constipation that keeps hemorrhoids inflamed

What people wish they had known

That postpartum hemorrhoids are common and usually temporary — but that “temporary” can mean weeks to months, not days. And that seeking help is reasonable if they are significantly affecting quality of life during what is already a demanding time.

When to contact your doctor

Seek medical attention if you experience:

Heavy rectal bleeding
Severe pain that is not improving
A new, rapidly growing, or very painful lump
Symptoms that persist beyond three months
Any concerns at all — postpartum care teams expect these questions

When to seek care Heavy bleeding or feeling faint? Get emergency help now. Emergency: 911

Not sure how urgent it is? Get help today.

Emergency
Heavy bleeding, black tarry stools, feeling faint, severe pain or trouble breathing.

Call 911 or go to the ER.
Today
Fever, pain getting worse, a hot swollen lump, or trouble passing urine.

Call your doctor or go to urgent care.
Soon
Bleeding or bowel changes nobody has checked, or anything lasting 3 weeks.

Book a doctor’s appointment.

Feeling overwhelmed? Call or text 988, any time.

See all the signs

For this topic, get medical advice if you notice:

Severe or worsening pain
Heavy bleeding
Fever
Black stools
Fainting or dizziness
Pus or unusual discharge
Inability to pass stool or gas
Unexplained weight loss

Recording how you feel is not the same as being checked. These are the signs that need a doctor’s attention.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room now if you have:

bleeding that will not stop, a lot of blood (the toilet water turns red, or you pass large clots), or any bleeding with feeling faint or dizzy
fainting, a racing heart or trouble breathing
confusion or slurred speech, extreme shivering, no urine in a day, or blotchy skin
sudden severe belly pain, or a swollen, hard belly with vomiting or not passing stool or gas
you cannot pass urine at all, or your bladder feels full and painful and you can’t empty it
redness, swelling or severe pain spreading quickly around your anus, genitals or groin, especially with a fever or feeling very ill
a fever with a painful swelling near your anus if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system (for example, from chemotherapy or transplant medicines)
black, tarry stools

Call your doctor or go to urgent care today (or the ER if you can’t be seen today) if you have:

a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, vomiting, or feeling generally unwell
pain that is getting worse over days, or severe pain that stops you sitting or sleeping
a hot, swollen or very tender lump near your anus or at the top of the crease between your buttocks, or foul-smelling discharge
trouble urinating
bleeding that is getting heavier or more frequent, or blood mixed into your stool
feeling much more tired than usual, looking pale, or getting out of breath more easily than you used to
not passing stool for several days, or new belly pain

Make an appointment with your doctor if:

you have never had these symptoms checked by a doctor or nurse — whatever your age
you have had rectal bleeding for more than 3 weeks
your bowel movements have been looser, thinner or more frequent than usual for 3 weeks or more, or you have lost weight without trying
symptoms have not settled after a week or so, or keep coming back
you notice a new lump near your anus, between your buttocks or in your belly, or an itch or discharge that does not clear
you have new leakage or trouble controlling your bowels
you are 45 or over, or have a family history of bowel cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, and any of these symptoms are new for you

If you are unsure, it is always reasonable to ask. If things feel overwhelming, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or chat at 988lifeline.org, any time. If you don’t feel safe, call 911.

Showing US care routes. Change region at the foot of the page.

Discreet symptom tracking

Symptoms that come and go? Keep track, day by day.

For hemorrhoids, fissures, fistulas and other anal and rectal problems. A short, discreet email asks how things have been, and saves each answer, so you can look back at every flare and every good week in your own words. If you haven’t had your symptoms checked, see your doctor first.

About ten seconds a check-in. No app, no password.
Nothing in the subject or preview says what it’s about.
Each Sunday, a link to your week, ready for your next appointment.

Start tracking →

Your notes

Your check-in

Takes about ten seconds.

20:00

Example. Nothing on the lock screen hints at symptoms or conditions.