Haemorrhoid treatment, discreet and effective

What are haemorrhoids?

Haemorrhoids are swollen veins inside the back passage (internal haemorrhoids) or around the opening of the back passage (external haemorrhoids). They are remarkably common — estimates suggest around half of UK adults experience them at some point — and they are more likely during pregnancy, after childbirth, with straining during bowel movements, and in people who sit for long periods.

Symptoms include itching or irritation around the back passage, bright red bleeding after going to the toilet (blood on the paper or in the bowl), discomfort or pain — especially when sitting — and occasionally a lump or swelling around the back passage. They are rarely dangerous, but they are uncomfortable and can significantly affect daily life if left untreated.

What causes haemorrhoids?

The main culprit is increased pressure in the veins around the back passage, most often from straining during bowel movements. Chronic constipation or diarrhoea, a low-fibre diet, pregnancy, and long periods of sitting — particularly on the toilet — all contribute. They are more common with age as the tissue supporting the veins becomes less supportive, and excess body weight also increases the risk.

The good news is that addressing the underlying causes alongside treatment makes a real difference. Increasing fibre intake, drinking more water, not delaying going to the toilet, and avoiding straining all help resolve the current episode and reduce the chance of recurrence.

How are haemorrhoids treated?

Prescription topical treatments for haemorrhoids typically combine a local anaesthetic to reduce pain and discomfort with a steroid to reduce swelling and inflammation. This dual action often provides faster and more effective relief than over-the-counter options, which typically rely on the anaesthetic alone.

Alongside topical treatment, simple lifestyle adjustments are important: adding more fibre to your diet (vegetables, wholegrains, pulses), drinking plenty of water, using a footstool when on the toilet to reduce straining, and not sitting on the toilet for longer than necessary. These changes support the treatment and reduce the risk of haemorrhoids returning.

Treating haemorrhoids with NewGen

NewGen Pharmacy is a GPhC-registered community pharmacy on Stratford High Street. Our online service covers internal and external haemorrhoids in adults where symptoms are consistent with a previous diagnosis or a typical, non-alarming presentation. The consultation screens for any symptoms that need GP investigation first, then a UK prescriber reviews your answers before anything is dispensed. Treatment is delivered in plain packaging or available for collection.

How the consultation works and when to see your GP

The consultation asks about your symptoms — itching, pain, bleeding, prolapse — and how long you have had them. It screens for red-flag symptoms such as heavier bleeding, blood mixed in your stools, or unexpected weight loss, and asks whether this is a new presentation or a recurrence of a known condition.

See your GP instead if you have not been assessed before and have rectal bleeding for the first time, if bleeding is heavy or does not stop, if you are 50 or over with new rectal bleeding, or if you have any other bowel symptoms such as a change in your toilet habits or unexplained weight loss alongside the bleeding. These symptoms need investigation to rule out other causes before treatment begins.