best hemorrhoid treatment in los angeles

Can I Get Hemorrhoids From Anal Sex?

January 6, 2017 by admin

Another question from the grab bag this week: Is it possible to get hemorrhoids from having anal sex?

We know that viral illnesses such as HPV are strongly associated with anal sex, but what about hemorrhoids? Is it possible that somewhere in all that friction and activity, your butt could somehow become more susceptible to the dreaded piles?

Nope. Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels which develop in and around the anal opening. They are associated with straining, but typically that’s from straining outward during bowel movements. The pressure of anal sex is unlikely to cause the sort of long-term swelling that leads to hemorrhoids.

That doesn’t mean you can’t get hurt, however. Constant abrasion without any lubrication can weaken the tissues, leading to other kinds of injury:

Though Lauren Streicher MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University and author of The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy Sex Rx, tells Bustle, “While anal sex can cause a myriad of problems (this is a one-way chute), hemorrhoids are not on the list,” lube is still super important when you’re having anal sex. Your butt lacks the natural lubrication your vagina has, and you’re at risk for tissue tears.

Bottom line, as it were: hemorrhoids come from sitting, straining, and poor diet. Anal sex has nothing to do with these things, but it can pose risks of its own, which is why it’s always wise to lube up and avoid serious trauma on this sensitive area.

Resist The Zen of the Toilet!

November 6, 2016 by admin

As an LA hemorrhoid doctor, a good part of my job is spent at the intersection of medical and cosmetic concerns. Our sister site MedBar focus on vaginal rejuvenation and anal beauty, including procedures such as ThermiVa; this site is more focused on medical concerns including anal warts, anal skin tags, and hemorrhoids.

Many women ask us about how to prevent hemorrhoids through lifestyle changes alone, and the advice I typically give them centers around fiber, exercise, and preventing straining during bowel movements.

But recently one article included a piece of advice about hemorrhoids that I hadn’t heard before, but which is immediately self-apparent:

2. THE TOILET SHOULDN’T BE YOUR ZEN PLACE

“Many people read, check email, play on their phones, escape work, kids, or life, or do other activities on the pot. The toilet works like a gravity sink and your hemorrhoids engorge with blood and swell from this. Limiting your time on the toilet can improve or help prevent hemorrhoid symptoms. Try meditation or yoga instead.” —Grucela

It is an excellent point, and one which speaks in particular to young mothers and fathers who have a tendency to “escape” to the bathroom during otherwise arduous marathons of childcare. Sitting in that position too long creates damaging pressure.

For more good advice on hemorrhoid treatment in Los Angeles, contact the Proctology Institute.

Further Reading on Straining, Hemorrhoids, and How to Poop

October 1, 2016 by admin

Americans are seeing a spreading awareness of the importance of good posture on the toilet. (I hesitate to call it a “movement” for obvious reasons.)

A sentiment which began many years ago and has since gathered steam holds that squatting during defecation is far more comfortable, easeful and safe than the traditional 90-degree seated position we all grew up with. The Squatty Potty is one of many products capitalizing on this trend, although common sense also dictates that you could achieve largely the same effect with a simple footstool.

Interestingly, the tradition of sitting upright during pooping is fairly recent, and not at all the product of safety or convenience:

The first seated toilets ever built were used primarily for royalty and the disabled. However, after the advent of indoor plumbing in the 1800s, the water closet was adapted with a “porcelain throne” to fit the average home. That meant common folk could now poop in a “civilized” manner — just like the queen. But prior to that, our ancestors were squatting to relieve themselves, much like any other mammal. In fact, squatting is still the primary method for pooping in many cultures. Just visit any European, Asian or Middle Eastern country and you’ll soon discover that many public bathrooms consist of squatting toilets.

And indeed, the pendulum is swinging back. And not a moment too soon either: our poorly postured habits lead to greater strain, which can create issues from hemorrhoids to anal abscess.

Want the best advice for all things proctological? Contact the Proctology Institute for better hemorrhoid treatment in Los Angeles.

What’s the Best Treatment for Hemorrhoids in Los Angeles?

August 5, 2016 by admin

Hemorrhoid treatment in Los Angeles can run the gamut from home remedies all the way up through surgical interventions. Along the way are a number of intermediate options which are more invasive than a sitz bath, but far less invasive than conventional surgery.

The Proctology Institute is widely regarded as the leader in minimally invasive hemorrhoid treatments in LA, which is why we are constantly updating our website and this blog with the very latest news and information.

Case in point: this study, which looked at the comparative risks and benefits of two common hemorrhoid treatments: rubber band ligation, and artery ligation. The results clearly indicated that artery ligation required fewer follow-ups to achieve the same success:

After 19 months of recruitment from 18 UK centres we gathered data on 372 participants. One year post-procedure 30% of haemorrhoidal artery ligation group had evidence of recurrence and 49% after RBL (p=0.001). The main reason for the difference was the number of extra procedures required to achieve improvement/cure. If repeat RBL is not counted as recurrence there was no statistical difference between groups (adjusted odds ratio=1.53, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.44, p=0.071).

But declaring a clear winner gets tricky. It turns out that rubber band ligation offered a number of tangible benefits in the study as well: patients reported far less pain and shorter recovery times. And the procedure was less expensive.

So what’s the takeaway? There is no one-size-fits-all hemorrhoid treatment. But if you require rubber band ligation for hemorrhoids, you may find that the trade-off in time is worth it for the extra comfort and savings you’ll get.

What’s The Best Treatment For Hemorrhoids?

June 9, 2016 by admin

So you have hemorrhoids. What’s the best way to treat those hemorrhoids and eliminate the problem without undergoing a significant surgical procedure?

Hemorrhoids form as a result of pressure and stress on the blood vessels in and around the anus. As pressure increases, these blood vessels can begin to bulge, resulting in a distended and often painful appearance. Hemorrhoids may present inside or outside the anus (or they may originate inside and protrude through the opening, a condition known as prolapse).

The best treatment for hemorrhoids is undoubtedly whatever is easiest. For most people that means lifestyle changes: changing your diet, standing more often, exercising, and hydrating. It may also include sitz baths and topical creams or ointments.

But not all hemorrhoids respond to such basic measures, which is why it’s sometimes necessary to step it up. Hemorrhoids can be surgically treated in three ways:

Hemorrhoid banding
Sclerotherapy
Infrared Coagulation

Each of these methods involves removing the hemorrhoid physically: banding squeezes the blood supply; sclerosing hardens and removes the hemorrhoids physically; and IR coagulation lases them. Your medical history and the physical properties of the hemorrhoids involved will usually determine which method your doctor chooses, which is why this is a conversation you want to begin as early as possible.

At the Proctology Institute of Beverly Hills, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, we offer the best hemorrhoid treatment in Los Angeles. To speak with the experts right away, call us here.

Menu