Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstruation comes to an end. Health professionals define menopause as 12 months after a woman's last menstrual period. Unfortunately menopause often comes with some unfavorable characteristics, one of which is hemorrhoids. Swelling and dilation around the veins of the anal region causes hemorrhoids. In some circumstances, hemorrhoids can bleed. Due to the increased susceptibility of developing hemorrhoids during menopause, women have a greater risk of experiencing bleeding hemorrhoids.
Causes
Although hemorrhoids can occur at any age, approximately 1/2 of all women will experience them by age 50, according to menopauserx.com, which is around the average age of menopausal onset in the United States. A woman's susceptibility to experiencing bleeding hemorrhoids during menopause can be increased from various conditions including prior childbirth, chronic constipation, prolonged sitting and the aging process, which includes going through menopause. One strong theory of the cause of hemorrhoids is varicose veins, which are also a result of the aging process.
Types
There are two types of hemorrhoids: external and internal. It is the internal hemorrhoids that are the most common cause of bleeding. Internal hemorrhoids lie above the dentate line, which separates the anal canal from the rectum. They are typically painless except if the vein is disturbed during a bowel movement. Although they lie within the anal canal, they may develop inflammation and become enlarged enough to project through the anal opening. Internal hemorrhoids also frequently leave individuals with a feeling that they did not completely empty their bowels during a bowel movement. External hemorrhoids, which lie below the dentate line, can result in extreme pain. Occasionally, a thrombosis--a blood clot formed by a dilated vein--can occur on the external hemorrhoid. When this occurs, the external hemorrhoid becomes hard and may be ulcerated to produce bleeding.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary depending on what type of hemorrhoid the woman has. Internal bleeding hemorrhoids are associated with rectal blood that appears bright red and leaves streaks on toilet paper during wiping and in the toilet bowl following a bowel movement. The stool may also have a bloody, mucus-like consistency. Internal bleeding hemorrhoids that become irritated and inflamed cause the feeling of having to pass stool even after a bowel movement has occurred. Common symptoms of external bleeding hemorrhoids include severe pain and blood stains in the underwear.
Treatment
Treatment for bleeding hemorrhoids during menopause varies. Suppositories, creams, natural remedies and surgery are all treatment options. A large selection of creams can be purchased over the counter to be used on external bleeding hemorrhoids. Suppositories are used for internal bleeding hemorrhoids but typically only treat pain and itching, not bleeding. Some women decide to use natural remedies such as topical herbs. On average, natural methods take longer to be effective but are just as successful as other treatment methods. Excessive hemorrhoid bleeding may require surgical methods of treatment. Banding is the most popular surgical technique. In this method, a rubber band is used to tie off the affected vein, thus preventing the blood supply from reaching it. Without adequate blood supply, the hemorrhoid will shrink and die. Another popular surgical technique is laser surgery. In this method, the vein is cauterized to avert the flow of blood to the hemorrhoid.
A Common Mistake
During the beginning of menopause and before the complete cessation of the menstrual period, many women experience sporadic menstrual bleeding. This often results in mistaking hemorrhoidal bleeding for menstrual bleeding. It is imperative for all women to know where their bleeding is coming from to recognize the existence of bleeding hemorrhoids. Whereas menstrual bleeding comes from the vagina, blood from hemorrhoids comes from the anal canal. There are still many other possible causes of bleeding during menopause, some of which can be life-threatening. In any circumstance, a woman should visit her doctor if she is experiencing bleeding of any kind.
Tags: bleeding hemorrhoids, bowel movement, during menopause, anal canal, experiencing bleeding, hemorrhoids during