Are Women More Prone to Hemorrhoids?

Why Pregnancy Increases Hemorrhoid Risk

Hemorrhoids are cushions of vascular tissue located in the rectum and around the anus that help with bowel control. They become symptomatic — causing pain, itching, bleeding, or prolapse — when the veins within those cushions become enlarged and swollen. Pregnancy creates several simultaneous conditions that place significant pressure on that tissue.

Research published in Canadian Family Physician (PMC) estimates that 25% to 35% of pregnant women develop hemorrhoids, with some studies placing the rate as high as 85% in the third trimester. The contributing mechanisms include:

• Increased abdominal pressure — The expanding uterus presses directly on the rectal veins, reducing blood flow and causing pooling and swelling in the hemorrhoidal tissue.
• Increased blood volume — Blood volume rises substantially during pregnancy, placing added load on the venous system throughout the body, including the vessels in the anorectal region.
• Hormonal changes — Elevated progesterone and estrogen levels slow bowel motility, which can lead to constipation and harder stools — both associated with straining that aggravates hemorrhoidal tissue. Research in IntechOpen notes that fluctuating progesterone levels may directly contribute to hemorrhoid formation.
• Straining during delivery — Vaginal delivery itself substantially increases risk. One prospective cohort study found that the process of childbirth raises the likelihood of hemorrhoids by nearly eight times, and that risk compounds with each subsequent pregnancy.
• Prior hemorrhoid history — A 2024 PMC study found that women with a previous diagnosis of hemorrhoids were more than five times as likely to develop hemorrhoids again during a subsequent pregnancy.

Note: Many women dismiss hemorrhoid symptoms during pregnancy as a normal part of the experience. While symptoms often improve after delivery, persistent or worsening symptoms warrant evaluation by a specialist.

How Parity Affects Long-Term Hemorrhoid Risk in Women

The number of times a woman has given birth — referred to clinically as parity — is one of the most well-documented risk factors for hemorrhoidal disease in females. The large-scale Korean cohort study published in Scientific Reports (2022), which examined nearly 195,000 adults, found that the prevalence of hemorrhoidal disease was meaningfully higher in parous women (those who had given birth) compared to nulliparous women (those who had not). The association between parity and hemorrhoidal disease persisted even after adjusting for other lifestyle and metabolic factors.

This suggests that repeated pregnancies and deliveries may cause cumulative changes to the pelvic floor and anorectal vasculature, contributing to a higher baseline risk of symptomatic hemorrhoids later in life. Women who have had multiple vaginal deliveries, experienced prolonged labor, or delivered large newborns may be at elevated risk.

Note: The relationship between body weight distribution and hemorrhoidal disease also differs by sex and parity. Research indicates waist circumference may be more strongly associated with hemorrhoid prevalence in parous women specifically, while the pattern differs in nulliparous women and men.

Symptoms Women Should Not Ignore

Hemorrhoid symptoms can range from mild irritation to significant daily discomfort. Because many women normalize these symptoms — particularly after pregnancy — it is worth knowing which signs indicate a need for evaluation. Hemorrhoidal disease can be internal, external, or both, and the symptom picture often differs by type.

• Rectal bleeding — Bright red blood during or after a bowel movement is one of the most common early signs. Research consistently identifies fresh blood in stools as strongly associated with the presence of hemorrhoidal disease, though rectal bleeding should always be evaluated by a clinician to rule out other causes.
• Pain or pressure — Discomfort around the anus, especially during or after bowel movements, may indicate internal or external hemorrhoids. Thrombosed external hemorrhoids can cause acute, sharp pain.
• Itching and irritation — Perianal itching, burning, or mucus discharge are common with hemorrhoidal disease and may worsen with prolonged sitting.
• Prolapse — Internal hemorrhoids that protrude through the anal opening during or after bowel movements, or that require manual reduction, indicate a more advanced stage that warrants prompt specialist evaluation.
• Feeling of incomplete emptying — A persistent sensation that the bowel has not fully emptied, sometimes called tenesmus, has been associated with hemorrhoidal disease in research literature.

Risk Factors Beyond Pregnancy that Affect Women

While pregnancy is the most distinctive female-specific risk factor, several other contributors to hemorrhoidal disease apply broadly and can be particularly relevant for women across different life stages.

• Constipation — Chronic constipation is associated with increased straining during bowel movements, which places repeated pressure on the hemorrhoidal cushions. Hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle and during perimenopause can influence bowel regularity.
• Sedentary lifestyle — Prolonged sitting — whether during office work or extended rest — is among the most commonly reported lifestyle risk factors. Research from a Saudi Arabian cross-sectional study identified lack of physical activity (83% of participants) and prolonged sitting (51%) as the top risk factors reported.
• Low-fiber diet — Diets low in fiber and fluid intake are consistently associated with harder stools and increased straining. Consuming food with high saturated fat content was also identified as a contributing factor in recent survey data.
• Increasing age — The supporting tissue around the hemorrhoidal cushions naturally weakens with age, making displacement and prolapse more likely. Prevalence of hemorrhoidal disease rises in older age groups for both men and women.
• Family history — A family history of hemorrhoids is associated with higher personal risk, suggesting a hereditary component to the condition’s development.

Hemorrhoid Treatment Information

What Hemorrhoid Treatment Looks like Today

Many women wait longer than necessary before seeking care for hemorrhoid symptoms, often because they are uncertain whether treatment is available beyond lifestyle changes or over-the-counter creams. Today, office-based and minimally invasive procedures can address hemorrhoids without general anesthesia or hospital stays.

USA Hemorrhoid Centers offers Hemorrhoid Artery Embolization that is performed in an outpatient setting, typically completed in under an hour, and designed to allow patients to return to normal activities quickly. A board-certified specialist evaluates the grade and type of hemorrhoids before recommending the most appropriate approach. Treatment is tailored to each patient’s specific anatomy, symptom severity, and medical history — including obstetric history for women.

If symptoms have persisted for more than a few weeks, worsened over time, or are interfering with daily life, an evaluation is the appropriate next step.

Find a Center Near You