What Happens If Hemorrhoids Go Untreated?
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| What Happens If Hemorrhoids Go Untreated? |
Last Updated: June 2026 | Medically Reviewed | Based on Clinical Research
Many people ignore hemorrhoids — either out of embarrassment, hoping they'll go away on their own, or simply because life gets in the way.
Sometimes mild hemorrhoids do resolve without treatment. But leaving hemorrhoids untreated for extended periods is not a neutral choice.
Depending on the type and grade, untreated hemorrhoids can progress in ways that range from uncomfortable to genuinely serious.
Here's an honest look at what actually happens when hemorrhoids are left alone.
The Best Case: Mild Hemorrhoids That Resolve Alone
To be fair — small, acute hemorrhoids triggered by a temporary bout of constipation, pregnancy, or straining sometimes do resolve on their own within 1–2 weeks, especially if the underlying cause is removed.
Soft internal hemorrhoids at early grades can shrink back without intervention.
This is the exception, not the rule. And even when they do resolve, they're far more likely to return without dietary and lifestyle changes.
What Typically Happens Without Treatment
1. Gradual Progression to Higher Grades
Internal hemorrhoids are graded I through IV based on severity and prolapse.
Without treatment and lifestyle changes, Grade I hemorrhoids (bulging into the canal but not prolapsing) commonly progress to Grade II (prolapsing during straining but reducing spontaneously), then Grade III (requiring manual reduction), and eventually Grade IV (permanently prolapsed and irreducible).
Check our Article: How to identify and Manage Hemorrhoid Grades Easily.
This progression doesn't happen overnight — it can take months or years — but it is driven by the continued straining, constipation, and sitting that caused the hemorrhoids in the first place. Without addressing those root causes, the hemorrhoids get worse.
2. Chronic Bleeding
Untreated hemorrhoids that bleed regularly cause chronic low-level blood loss.
While a small amount of bright red blood on toilet paper is not immediately dangerous, repeated blood loss over weeks and months can lead to iron-deficiency anemia — a condition where the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity is reduced.
Symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, pale skin, and dizziness.
If you're regularly seeing blood from hemorrhoids and you feel persistently tired, anemia from hemorrhoidal bleeding is a genuine possibility and warrants a blood test.
3. Thrombosis
Untreated external hemorrhoids — particularly those subjected to continued straining and irritation — are at elevated risk of developing thrombosis (blood clot formation).
A thrombosed hemorrhoid is significantly more painful than a regular one, often causes severe acute pain, and may require urgent medical treatment.
4. Prolapse and Complications
As internal hemorrhoids progress to Grade III or IV without treatment, prolapse becomes permanent. Permanently prolapsed hemorrhoidal tissue causes:
- Continuous mucus leakage and perianal moisture
- Chronic itching and skin irritation around the anus
- Fecal soiling and hygiene difficulties
- Significant impact on quality of life and social confidence
Prolapsed hemorrhoidal tissue that remains outside the body can also become trapped (incarcerated) if the anal sphincter contracts around it, cutting off blood supply and causing severe pain — a medical emergency.
5. Strangulation
In severe cases, prolapsed hemorrhoids that cannot be reduced back inside can become strangulated — the anal sphincter constricts around the prolapsed tissue, cutting off its blood supply.
Strangulated hemorrhoids cause extreme pain and rapid tissue breakdown. This requires emergency medical attention and typically urgent surgical intervention.
6. Anal Skin Tags
Even hemorrhoids that do eventually resolve on their own often leave behind permanent skin tags — small flaps of extra skin around the anal opening.
These are harmless but can cause hygiene difficulties and ongoing discomfort, and removing them requires a minor surgical procedure.
7. Delayed Diagnosis of Something Else
This may be the most important risk of leaving hemorrhoids untreated without medical evaluation.
The symptoms of hemorrhoids — rectal bleeding, mucus discharge, anal discomfort — can also be symptoms of colorectal polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, and colorectal cancer.
Many people attribute rectal bleeding to hemorrhoids and never get it evaluated.
Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when caught early and significantly less so when caught late.
Any rectal bleeding, especially in people over 40, that hasn't been evaluated by a doctor should be evaluated — even if hemorrhoids seem like the obvious explanation.
When to Stop Waiting and See a Doctor
You should seek medical attention for hemorrhoids if:
- Symptoms persist beyond 2–3 weeks without improvement
- You are regularly seeing blood — even small amounts
- You notice a prolapsed lump that won't reduce
- Pain is severe or suddenly worsens
- You have any change in bowel habits alongside hemorrhoid symptoms
- You are over 40 and have never had a colorectal evaluation
Conclusion
Mild, acute hemorrhoids sometimes resolve without treatment. But persistent, worsening, or recurring hemorrhoids do not get better through neglect — they progress, cause complications, and reduce quality of life significantly.
More importantly, leaving rectal symptoms unexamined means potentially missing something more serious. Getting a hemorrhoid diagnosis and starting proper treatment — even conservative home care — is always the better path.
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📚 Medical sources
- Lohsiriwat V. Hemorrhoids: From basic pathophysiology to clinical management. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2012.
- American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Signs and Symptoms.
- American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Hemorrhoids.
