Hemorrhoid and anal sex?

[chiaroscuro]

Hi I'm looking for a little advice. I got an external hemorrhoid a couple of years ago. It was never sore, just very annoying the fact it existed (in fact I was freaking out thinking my ass was somehow deformed) took a few months for it to settle down, until I didn't notice it. I didn't have any problems for a year, but this year I became aware of it at the start of the year for a few months and now again recently. My doctor said it's a non-thrombosed external hemorrhoid and that it wasn't bad and was nothing to worry about and was nowhere near needing surgery. I got a steroid cream and am doing all the right things re fibre, water, diet, not straining, etc.

The funny thing is, I can't really feel any swelling when I've been sitting or lying down. I only feel a lump when I've been standing for any length of time. So it comes and goes. Is that normal?

I've been getting to know a guy online who really wants to meet me. I'm versatile and he is too, but he definitely wants to fuck me and says he likes rough sex. Because I've been noticing it again recently (a flare up?) I'm guessing rough sex is not a good idea. Or any sex at all? I don't bottom often, last time was about a year ago and I didn't have any problem. Does anyone have experience with this?

 

[KaraBulut]

Hemorrhoids are very common. It's probably one of the more common problems that general practitioners see in their office.

Your physician is choosing a conservative approach by starting with a topical cream. Unless the physician has a number of gay male patients, it may not occur to him that there are some additional questions and followup needed.

However, if the cream isn't working for you or if the hemorrhoid is aggravated by anal sex, then you can talk with your physician about a more aggressive treatment.

 

[chiaroscuro]

Thanks for the reply KaraBulut I did ask about other treatments. They don't do the banding or injections, etc for external hemorrhoids here apparently, they can only do surgery. And I was told they only do that if it was very symptomatic and problematic, which it isn't. She also said surgery has certain risks and is extremely painful. Basically she said I should just keep doing the things I'm doing re diet, not straining etc, and ignore it.

I heard that once a hemorrhoid vein is damaged it will never be completely right?

Also, is it still OK to have receptive anal sex with a small external hemorrhoid (which seems to actually shrink away when I'm lying down?)? It isn't painful but I wouldn't want to make it any worse obviously.

 

[KaraBulut]

...They don't do the banding or injections, etc for external hemorrhoids here apparently, they can only do surgery. And I was told they only do that if it was very symptomatic and problematic, which it isn't.

That is correct. There are two types of hemorrhoids- internal and external. External hemorrhoids tend to be more sensitive, so office procedures for external hemorrhoids are usually very limited to reduce the amount of post-procedure pain. It's preferable for problematic external hemorrhoids to be treated by a colorectal surgeon in a surgery center (even though it's a relatively minor outpatient procedure).

For the typical male, conservative treatment is often enough- after all, they're just using the area when they go to the bathroom. But for men who enjoy anal sex, there are other considerations and sometimes you have to make it clear that it's interfering with your sex life.

..I heard that once a hemorrhoid vein is damaged it will never be completely right?

Well, it depends. A hemorrhoid is just a large dilated vein (similar to the varicose veins that some people develop in their legs). Sometimes the vein swells and develops clotted blood- similar to a busted lip. The inflammation and clot will go away and the varicosity shrinks back to a more normal size. There are some people who (like varicose veins in the leg) have a tendency to get dilated veins in the anus. For those who tend to get hemorroidal varicose veins, they do tend to recur and often surgery is often necessary to get rid of them permanently.

...Also, is it still OK to have receptive anal sex with a small external hemorrhoid (which seems to actually shrink away when I'm lying down?)? It isn't painful but I wouldn't want to make it any worse obviously.

Pain should be your guide. If the area is swollen or tender, then you should avoid reinjuring it (the same as you would do when eating with a busted lip). If the area isn't inflamed, then you can apply a hemorrhoidal cream the day before and immediately after sex to help reduce the inflammation.

 

[Benvolio]

It is better not to use a corticosteroid cream if they are not swollen. Other creams are avilable. Use at least a lubricant if you feel an irritation to help prevent a problem developing. The steroid creams are said to make the skin thinner over time and can make the problem worse.

 

[chiaroscuro]

Thank you for the information KaraBulut and Benvolio. That's really helpful. The doctors I saw certainly didn't provide that much information. It didn't seem to be a concern to them at all. I guess because they are used to dealing with more serious conditions. I will play it by ear and see how it goes. Kinda puts my mind at ease a bit.

 

[cgymike]

It is interesting that, over the years this subject gets brought up even more than STD's.

I'm surprised there isn't more a permanent cure for the dreaded H....


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