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. 2008 Feb;54(2):189-90.

Hemorrhoids in pregnancy

Arthur Staroselsky, Alejandro A Nava-Ocampo, Sabina Vohra, Gideon Koren

Hemorrhoids in pregnancy

Arthur Staroselsky et al. Can Fam Physician. 2008 Feb.

Abstract
in English, French

Question: One of my patients is in the third trimester of her first pregnancy. She has recently experienced spotting during her bowel movements. She has hemorrhoids. What medications are safe?

Answer: The treatment is mainly symptomatic for most patients. Most forms of the condition can be treated by increasing fibre content in the diet, administering stool softeners, increasing liquid intake, and training in toilet habits. Although none of the topical antihemorrhoidal agents commonly used have been assessed for safety in pregnancy, it is unlikely that the constituent parts (anesthetic, corticosteroids, and anti-inflammatory agents) will harm the third-trimester infant. In most women, most symptoms of the condition will resolve spontaneously soon after giving birth.

QUESTION L’une de mes patientes, à son troisième trimestre d’une première grossesse, a récemment remarqué de petites pertes sanglantes lorsqu’elle va à la selle. Elle a des hémorroïdes. Quels sont les médicaments sans risque?

RÉPONSE On traite surtout les symptômes chez la plupart des patientes. La majorité des formes du problème peuvent être traitées en augmentant la teneur en fibres alimentaires, en administrant un laxatif émollient, en faisant boire plus de liquides et en modifiant les habitudes d’aller aux toilettes. Même si l’innocuité des agents topiques contre les hémorroïdes communément utilisés n’a pas été évaluée durant la grossesse, il est improbable que leurs composantes (anesthésique, corticostéroïdes et agents anti-inflammatoires) nuisent à un fœtus à son troisième trimestre. Chez la plupart des femmes, la majorité des symptômes du problème se règlent d’euxmêmes peu après l’accouchement.

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