Hemorrhoids and anal warts

Hemorrhoids and anal warts

It's pretty bad if you find out you have hemorrhoids, but it can be much worse if you mistake hemorrhoids for another health problem. I mean, the pain, fear, and embarrassment of discovering something wrong in the anal area is bad enough, let alone not knowing exactly what you have. On the positive side, not too many health problems can arise in this area. One of the most common health conditions confused with hemorrhoids is anal warts. While neither is much fun, they have very different causes and are treated in very different ways.

Anal warts, also known as condyloma acuminata, are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus is highly contagious and is usually transmitted through sexual intercourse. Some strains of HPV can lead to an increased risk of cervical cancer, but these are not the same strains as those that cause anal warts. The virus gets into the skin or mucous membrane cells and causes them to grow in the characteristic wart pattern. HPV infection does not cause hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids arise from weak spots in hemorrhoidal veins beneath the skin or mucous tissue. When the weak spot gives way, it expands, taking the surrounding tissue with it. Traumatized hemorrhoids can become infected with a variety of bacteria and/or viruses, but infection does not cause hemorrhoids. That would be like putting the cart before the horse.

Anal warts and hemorrhoids can feel like lumps or masses of tissue in the anal area. However, there are several differences that, upon close inspection, can lead to proper identification. A detailed examination may not sound like fun, but it is much better than unsuccessfully trying to treat the wrong thing. Upon closer inspection, anal warts have a distinctive "rough" texture and range in size from the head of a pin to about the size of a pea, and are quite difficult to touch. They occur in clusters around the anal opening and can sometimes extend to the genital area. They almost never appear alone. Hemorrhoids, on the other hand, have a smooth texture that is identical to the tissue from which they originate, whether it is external skin or internal mucous membrane. They are often soft or “mushy” to the touch and range in size from the size of a pea to the size of a grape. You won't find them anywhere except right around the anal opening. Additionally, warts almost never hurt, although they can itch a bit. External hemorrhoids, on the other hand, often hurt a lot.

Hemorrhoids are usually best treated at home through a high-fiber diet, a healthy amount of exercise, and easily over the counter. Home remedies often work well for hemorrhoids and surgery is rarely necessary. Anal warts, on the other hand, always have to be treated surgically, usually on an outpatient basis. The warts will not go away on their own. Instead, a doctor must use liquid nitrogen to freeze them. Additionally, hemorrhoids can often be kept away by maintaining the lifestyle changes made to heal them. Anal warts often return under your control for no reason, as the virus can lie dormant in your skin cells for a long time. One day, when the virus can wake up and bam, you'll have anal warts again.

As you can see, confusing anal warts with hemorrhoids can lead to serious problems. At the very least, you're stuck trying to treat a problem you haven't had for a while. Why waste all this time and discomfort? If you can't figure out what you have on your own, make a doctor's appointment and have your diagnosis confirmed. It will save you a lot of trouble, pain and grief in the long run.

Inspired by Donald L. Urquhart