What to expect from a GP consultation for haemorrhoids

Expect questions about bright-red bleeding, pain, itching, swelling, mucus, constipation, diarrhoea and straining. Your GP may ask whether blood is mixed into the stool and whether bowel habits have changed. They may examine the skin around the anus and, with your consent, perform a gentle internal examination. Rectal bleeding has several possible causes, so describing its colour, amount and timing helps the clinician decide whether more tests are needed.

Follow advice to keep stools soft, drink enough fluid for your needs, include fibre if suitable and avoid prolonged straining on the toilet. A GP may recommend a short course of topical treatment or a laxative depending on your symptoms and other medicines. Tell the clinician if you take blood-thinning medicine. Arrange review if symptoms do not settle, recur often or interfere with daily activities.

Seek urgent help for heavy or persistent rectal bleeding, black stools, dizziness, fainting, severe abdominal pain or rapidly worsening anal pain with fever. Prompt review is also needed for a new bowel-habit change, unexplained weight loss or bleeding that keeps returning.

Ask whether the bleeding pattern fits haemorrhoids, how to soften stools safely, how long to use any cream, and which changes should lead to a follow-up examination.