Symptoms of piles (other than Prolapse):
Itching
The skin around the anus may be irritable and itchy.
Swelling
The anus may be visibly swollen and may feel tender.
Pain and Discomfort
There may be achy feelings around the anus and back passage, especially during and after a bowel movement.
Bleeding
Blood may appear in the stool and on toilet paper after a bowel movement.
Urge to Go
There may be a feeling that the bowels need to be emptied, even when there is no need to go.
Generally, prolapsed piles are considered to be a more serious condition than piles that are not protruding.
Grades
The severity of internal piles can be measured in “grades”.
| Grade |
Symptoms |
| 1. |
No rectal prolapse |
| 2. |
Prolapse moves back into the rectum on its own |
| 3. |
Prolapse can be manually moved back into the rectum |
| 4. |
Prolapse cannot be moved back manually |
Grades 2, 3, and 4 piles can cause additional symptoms, such as extra pain and discomfort when using toilet paper, and may cause a mucus discharge.
To find out what grade of piles you may have, take a quick Piles Quiz
* Disclaimer:
Please note we are not in a position to diagnose or prescribe for specific medical conditions on our Helpline. Should you have any queries relating to your particular condition we recommend that you consult your GP.