The most common signs that you have hemorrhoids are bleeding during bowel movements and itching and pain in the rectal area. If your hemorrhoids are external, you most likely will be having pain because a hard lump has surfaced under the skin of your rectum. When you wipe after a bowel movement, there may be streaks of blood on the toilet paper. On the other hand, internal hemorrhoids cause rectal bleeding that will appear on toilet paper after wiping or may show up as red blood in the toilet after you have a regular bowel movement.

There are other symptoms that you may experience with a hemorrhoid condition. You may have frequent itching in your anal area that may be accompanied by mucus that irritates the skin. The itching may be mild, depending on the size of the hemorrhoid and how much it protrudes from the anus. Large hemorrhoids may bulge from the end portion of the large intestine and give you an uncomfortable feeling after you have had a regular bowel movement. Internal hemorrhoids tend to be painless but external hemorrhoids that protrude and become swelled can cause much pain and discomfort. Severe pain in the rectal area can indicate that the blood supply to the hemorrhoid has been cut off. If this happens, it is advisable that you seek medical attention immediately.

While it is rare, rectal bleeding and pain in the anal area can be early signs of colon, rectal and anal cancer. That is why it is so important to see your doctor if home treatment does not help eliminate your hemorrhoid symptoms. Just pay close attention to the symptoms you are experiencing and then see how well they are responding to home treatment.