Doctors who treat hemorrhoids include:
- Primary Care Physicians (General Practitioners): They can diagnose and provide initial conservative treatment such as lifestyle advice and medications for mild hemorrhoids
- Gastroenterologists: Specialists in digestive system disorders who can diagnose hemorrhoids, provide non-surgical treatments like rubber-band ligation and sclerotherapy, and rule out other causes of symptoms such as colon cancer. They handle more severe cases not responding to conservative care and can perform some minimally invasive procedures
- Colorectal Surgeons (Proctologists): Surgeons specialized in diseases of the anus, rectum, and colon. They provide surgical treatments for hemorrhoids, including hemorrhoidectomy, stapled hemorrhoidopexy, and hemorrhoidal artery ligation, especially for severe or complicated hemorrhoids
- General Surgeons: They can also perform hemorrhoid surgeries if needed
- Obstetricians/Gynecologists: May be consulted for hemorrhoids related to pregnancy or postpartum conditions
In summary, for mild hemorrhoids, a primary care doctor or gastroenterologist may suffice. For severe, prolapsed, or complicated hemorrhoids requiring surgery, a colorectal surgeon or general surgeon is typically the specialist to see
