What is a Thrombosed Hemorrhoid?

Thrombosed hemorrhoids are hemorrhoids that develop as the result of an internal or external hemorrhoid condition. To understand what is a thrombosed hemorrhoid we will first define what internal and external hemorrhoids are to help you gain a better understanding of thrombosed hemorrhoids and how they develop.


The anal canal contains sacs or anal veins that are filled with blood that are positioned on the anal wall to serve as a cushion when you pass a stool. When the anal veins become irritated they become swollen and develop into what is known as internal hemorrhoids.

External hemorrhoids are anal veins on the exterior of the anal opening that become swollen as a result of irritation caused by factors such as straining during bowel movements and any activity that causes pressure to be applied to the anal veins. External hemorrhoids appear as a soft lump on or around the anal opening or in the form of a series of lumps that look like a bunch of grapes around the anal opening.

Thrombosed hemorrhoids develop as a result of internal and external hemorrhoids becoming inflamed and irritated due to straining during bowel movements, poor diet, pregnancy, obesity, sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time, and other reasons.

About Thrombosed Hemorrhoids

Thrombosed hemorrhoids are internal or external hemorrhoids that have developed blood clots inside the hemorrhoid tissue. Thrombosed hemorrhoids can develop in one of two ways:

• Prolapsed Hemorrhoid

Thrombosed hemorrhoids can develop as a result of a prolapsed hemorrhoid. Prolapsed hemorrhoids are internal hemorrhoids that have become loose on the inside of the anal wall. Once they become loose they slide down the anal canal and protrude from the anal opening. When they push outside of the anal opening they can cause the sphincter muscle to go into spasms which traps the prolapsed hemorrhoid on the outside of the anal opening. The blood flow is then cut off from the prolapsed hemorrhoid which results in a strangulated hemorrhoid. Thrombosed hemorrhoids can develop as a result of a prolapsed hemorrhoid.

• External Hemorrhoids

External hemorrhoids develop as soft lumps on the outside of the anal opening. The lumps are anal veins which become irritated and swollen. If the condition is allowed to persist, external hemorrhoids can develop into thrombosed hemorrhoids in which the blood flow is restricted inside the anal veins. When this happens the blood vessels split which causes the blood to clot under the hemorrhoid tissue. This results in a thrombosed hemorrhoid which can rupture and bleed and be quite painful.

What Do Thrombosed Hemorrhoids Look Like?

Thrombosed hemorrhoids are easily visible on the exterior of the anal opening and appear as lumps that are either hard or soft to the touch. They are bluish in color and can also turn red when they become irritated. Thrombosed hemorrhoids can be quite painful and when pressure is applied they can rupture and bleed.

Symptoms of Thrombosed Hemorrhoids

If you have a thrombosed hemorrhoid condition you will most likely experience a lot of pain and swelling especially if you are sitting for prolonged periods of time. You may also have symptoms of anal itching and experience difficulty when having a bowel movement. If the thrombosed hemorrhoid is introduced to any type of pressure or friction you will have symptoms of bleeding from the anal area.

Causes of Thrombosed Hemorrhoids

The causes of thrombosed hemorrhoids begin with the causes of a regular internal or external hemorrhoid condition which include constipation, straining during a bowel movement, diarrhea, lifting weights, obesity, poor diet, and a number of other factors. If the internal and external hemorrhoids are left untreated this is what causes thrombosed hemorrhoids.

If you think you have thromobosed hemorrhoids it is important to consult your physician because sometimes the condition can get out of hand and require hemorrhoid surgery to remove the blood clot from the inside of the hemorrhoid. It is also a good idea to seek medical treatment to prevent thrombosed hemorrhoids from getting worse and to provide you with the piece of mind that there are no other health conditions present.

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