Hemroids in Excretory Orifice skin 

The term hemroids refers to a condition in which the veins around the Excretory Orifice or lower rectum are swollen and inflamed. 

Hemroids may result from straining to move stool. Other contributing factors include pregnancy, aging, chronic constipation or diarrhea, and Excretory Orifice intercourse. 

Hemroids are either inside the Excretory Orifice (internal) or under the skin around the Excretory Orifice (external). (See figure.) 

What Are the Symptoms of Hemroids?

 Many anorectal problems, including fissures, fistulae, abscesses, or irritation and itching (pruritus ani), have similar symptoms and are incorrectly referred to as hemroids. 
Hemroids usually are not dangerous or life threatening. In most cases, hemroidsal symptoms will go away within a few days. 

Although many people have hemroids, not all experience symptoms. The most common symptom of internal hemroids is bright red blood covering the stool, on toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl. However, an internal hemroids may protrude through the Excretory Orifice outside the body, becoming irritated and painful. This is known as a protruding hemroids. 
Symptoms of external hemroids may include painful swelling or a hard lump around the Excretory Orifice that results when a blood clot forms. This condition is known as a thrombosed external hemroids. 

In addition, excessive straining, rubbing, or cleaning around the Excretory Orifice may cause irritation with bleeding and/or itching, which may produce a vicious cycle of symptoms. Draining mucus may also cause itching. 

How Common Are Hemroids? 

Hemroids are very common in both men and women. About half of the population have hemroids by age 50. Hemroids are also common among pregnant women. The pressure of the fetus in the abdomen, as well as hormonal changes, cause the hemroidsal vessels to enlarge. These vessels are also placed under severe pressure during childbirth. For most women, however, hemroids caused by pregnancy are a temporary problem. 

How Are Hemroids Diagnosed? 

A thorough evaluation and proper diagnosis by the doctor is important any time bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stool occurs. Bleeding may also be a symptom of other digestive diseases, including colorectal cancer. 
The doctor will examine the Excretory Orifice and rectum to look for swollen blood vessels that indicate hemroids and will also perform a digital rectal exam with a gloved, lubricated finger to feel for abnormalities. 

Closer evaluation of the rectum for hemroids requires an exam with an anoscope, a hollow, lighted tube useful for viewing internal hemroids, or a proctoscope, useful for more completely examining the entire rectum. 

To rule out other causes of gastrointestinal bleeding, the doctor may examine the rectum and lower colon (sigmoid) with sigmoidoscopy or the entire colon with colonoscopy.

Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy are diagnostic procedures that also involve the use of lighted, flexible tubes inserted through the rectum.