Hemorrhoids are common in both men and women, affecting nearly everyone at some point in life. Also known as piles, they develop when the veins around the anus and rectum stretch and bulge out under pressure. Piles can either be internal or external. While the internal ones are found in the rectum, the external ones develop under the skin surrounding the anus. Some of the symptoms of hemorrhoids are bleeding during bowel movements, coupled with pain, itching or swelling around the anus. Hemorrhoids are rarely serious, but they can be a painful intrusion in your life. As earlier indicated, piles are common among all people. However, unlike men, women tend to be more prone to hemorrhoids under certain conditions. This article will dwell on hemorrhoids in relation to women, as it explores what causes hemorrhoids in women.
One of the common causes of hemorrhoids in women is pregnancy, due to several factors. To begin with, the growth of the baby exerts pressure on the rectum, causing hemorrhoids. At the time, hormonal changes during pregnancy can make the rectal veins to become more susceptible to swelling. Another cause of hemorrhoids during pregnancy is the fact that pregnancy predisposes you to chronic constipation. Constipation causes you to strain when eliminating stool, putting pressure on your anal veins. Ultimately this leads to the development of hemorrhoids. The other cause of hemorrhoids in women is the strain of labor during delivery. During labor, there is intense pressure on the rectal and anal veins, as a woman pushes to deliver the baby. Consequently, it is easy for hemorrhoids to develop after the birth of your child.
Hemorrhoids in women can also develop as a result of age or due to certain lifestyle habits. With regard to age, the risk of developing hemorrhoids increases as you grow older. This happens as the tissues supporting the rectal and anal veins become weak and stretch. The veins become more vulnerable to pressure, leading to the development of hemorrhoids. As it relates to lifestyle, anal sex can easily cause you to develop hemorrhoids. This is due to the pressure applied to the anal veins during sex, predisposing you to hemorrhoids. The other condition that can cause hemorrhoids in women is being overweight. If you have excess weight particularly around the abdomen, the pressure on the anal and rectal veins tends to increase. This may eventually cause you to develop hemorrhoids. Additionally, certain medical conditions can cause hemorrhoids in women. Some conditions such as chronic liver disease may increase pressure on your rectal veins, causing hemorrhoids.
This article should sufficiently answer your question on what causes hemorrhoids in women. In view of this, you need not be unduly stressed should you notice the symptoms of this condition. Nevertheless, do not just assume that you have hemorrhoids even if your symptoms are similar to those addressed here. This is because there are certain medical conditions that could manifest the same symptoms. It is therefore advisable to seek medical advice, so that a proper diagnosis can be made.