Anorectal — Pregnancy & Postpartum
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are extremely common — affecting up to 40% of pregnant patients, particularly in the third trimester and the first weeks postpartum. The combination of increased pelvic pressure, hormonal changes, and the effort of delivery itself makes them almost expected.
Most pregnancy-related hemorrhoids improve substantially in the weeks after delivery — without procedures, without surgery. For the ones that don't, the in-office banding treatment we use is safe and effective for the postpartum patient, and we time it around your recovery.
Most patients tell us they assumed the symptom was minor — or just something they would have to live with. Neither is usually true.
Treatment Approach
Most patients with hemorrhoids in pregnancy & postpartum improve significantly with behavioral, physical, and minimally invasive treatments — long before surgery enters the conversation. Here is the full toolbox, in the order we typically work through it.
What to Expect
A comprehensive first evaluation with Dr. Johnson. Time to be listened to. In-office diagnostics when possible.
Dr. Johnson has read your intake before you walk in. The conversation starts with the impact on your life — not the textbook.
Performed with explanation at every step. Nothing happens without your full awareness and consent.
Diagnostics are performed in-office where possible to avoid extra appointments.
Every option explained. Pros, cons, and what each one would mean for your week, your work, and your life.
A Patient Story
I had a rough delivery and three months of unmanaged hemorrhoids before my OB suggested PHII. Dr. Johnson timed the banding around weaning and walked me through every step. By month six postpartum, I had forgotten they had ever been an issue.
— C.B., treated postpartum for persistent hemorrhoids
Frequently Asked
For the most part, we manage hemorrhoid symptoms conservatively during pregnancy — bowel regimen, topical care, positional adjustments. In-office procedures are typically deferred until after delivery and the immediate postpartum period, unless symptoms are severe. We coordinate every recommendation with your obstetrician.
— Lisa L. Johnson, M.D., U.R.P.S.
For most patients, yes — significantly, within the first six to eight weeks. The ones that don't resolve, or that continue to cause meaningful symptoms beyond that window, are the ones we typically treat. We do not rush in; we let your body recover first.
— Lisa L. Johnson, M.D., U.R.P.S.
Yes. The procedure itself involves no medications that enter breast milk. We talk you through any peri-procedure recommendations (e.g., pain relievers, if any are needed) and confirm everything is breastfeeding-compatible.
— Lisa L. Johnson, M.D., U.R.P.S.
A thrombosed external hemorrhoid — a sudden, painful clot — is one of the situations where we may intervene during pregnancy, depending on timing and severity. The in-office procedure is brief and well tolerated. We coordinate with your obstetric team.
— Lisa L. Johnson, M.D., U.R.P.S.
Yes — and not just for hemorrhoids. Postpartum pelvic floor injuries, perineal repairs that haven't fully healed, and new-onset urinary or fecal symptoms after delivery are exactly what this practice was built to evaluate and treat. The threshold for postpartum evaluation should be low.
— Lisa L. Johnson, M.D., U.R.P.S.
A thorough, unhurried evaluation with Dr. Johnson. You will leave with a written plan — and clarity on what hemorrhoids in pregnancy & postpartum is doing in your body, and what to do about it.
