Internal Hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids are hemorrhoids that develop within the interior of the rectal canal, above the dentate line.

The dentate line is the line within the anal canal that differentiates teh anus from the rectum. Generally, these hemorrhoids cannot be seen or felt though they can cause considerable bleeding.

Internal hemorrhoids are not easy to detect. Generally they do not cause itching or pain. They can cause bleeding. An indication of an internal hemorrhoid is bleeding during defication. Blood may appear on the stool or toilet paper. Though internal hemorrhoids can cause bleeding from within the rectum, that is not the only potential cause of this. So, while bleeding from the anus can indicate internal hemorrhoids, it may instead be caused by something else altogether.

Another indication of internal hemorrhoids is that after defication, the victim still feels full, or like they still need to go to the bathroom. These symptoms are rather subtle and may not actually be caused by internal hemorrhoids.

Sometimes internal hemorrhoids may prolapse, or stretch from the interior wall of the rectum all the way through the anal opening. These hemorrhoids can be seen and can bleed quite a bit but generally do not cause itching or pain.

Prolapsed internal hemorrhoids are in one of three categories: Prolapsed Stage I, Prolapsed Stage II and Prolapsed Stage III.

Prolapsed Stage I - these are internal hemorrhoids that only stretch to the exterior of the anus during defication. After the bowel movement is complete the hemorrhoid retracts back into the rectum.

Prolapsed Stage II - these are internal hemorrhoids that stretch to the exterior of the anus during defication and remain that way until manually pushed back up into the anus.

Prolapsed Stage III - these are internal hemorrhoids that have permanently stretched to the outside of the anus and cannot be pushed back into the rectum.