How Do I Know If I Have Piles? Identifying the Symptoms

Published On - 20/01/2026

Dr Parameshwara CM Hemorrhoids
preventing piles

Piles is one of the most common complaints amongst other colorectal conditions. Lifestyle habits such as poor hydration, reduced fibre intake, and sedentary activities are linked to almost 70% of the piles cases.

Almost 5 in 10 adults face piles symptoms at some point in their lives, with numbers increasing in urban areas. Despitebeing so prevalent, it is natural to feel significant hesitation or uncomfortable to speak about it, even with close family or friends. But worry not, you are not alone. Here is a doctor approved, and concise article so you can take the first step to regain your confidence from the privacy of your home.

How do you check for piles?

Piles are swollen vein in the rectal or anal areas. Here are some clear pointers to understand how to check if the pain and discomfort you are feeling is because you have piles.

There are two types of piles—internal, where you cannot see the swollen part, and external, you can feel and see the swelling as small bulges in the anal hole. Here are some ways you can check for both types of piles.
Check for bleeding: internal piles can never be seen or felt physically. The only way you will know of them is by:
1. Checking for bright visible bleeding—on the toilet paper or as streaks on the poo. This is often an indication of bleeding from the swollen portion of the veins.
2. Keeping aware of the signs—discomfort while you pass bowels, feeling of incompletely passing them, mild pain in the abdomen. All these may point to presence of internal piles.
External piles are easier to notice from when they are at an early stage.
1. Gently check for visible swellings or lumps: you can gently touch the area to feel for any small lumps or bulges. Soft or firm lumps around the anus can indicate external piles.
2. Use a clean mirror: you can also inspect the area visually. You would be able to see the lumps in the anus. Swellings that appear after a bowel movement and reduce later is also common in external piles.
3. Bleeding: bleeding is also common in external piles. You can see it more brightly after a bowel movement.
Be mindful of signs you can feel: even if you cannot feel or see the lumps, many times you will feel

1. Itching or irritation around the anus.

2. Feeling of fullness in the rectal area.

3. Pain while sitting or passing bowels.

There is another type known as the thrombosed haemorrhoid. This type occurs when there is a blood clot formed in the bulge. You can identify this type by:
  1. When you try to see the bulge with the help of a mirror, you would see it as a bluish-purple or dark-coloured swelling, mainly caused because of the blood clot.
  2. If you notice sudden, and severe pain around the anus—even while sitting or walking.
  3. Tenderness of the swollen lump while you touch it, which may make your daily activities also uncomfortable.

It is also very natural to not be able to identify these signs or identify the piles if present. It is also best to not insert any objects or fingers into the anus to feel for internal or starting stage piles. If you have symptoms of pain, bleeding, and itching, it is best to get checked by a good piles doctor in Bangalore.

Do piles go away on their own?

The good news is, yes—piles can go away on their own. Piles begins when unhealthy lifestyle habits are adopted daily.

Unrefined foods, and low hydration can quickly cause hard stools. Having constipation over a week, can easily irritate the skin and veins, causing them to swell. Overtime, when remedial steps are not taken, the swell increases and hangs out as bulges. The bulges can quickly progress to permanently prolapsed haemorrhoids, which can only be treated with medical interventions like non-invasive or laser surgical options.

(It will be helpful if you could insert images of different piles stage here. The above and below paragraphs will be clearer to the reader if images are inserted).

As can be understood from above, piles can go away on their own—when they are treated at the early stages which consists of 4 stages

• Stage 1 and 2 are considered mild stage piles. In these stages, the swelling would have just begun. Simple lifestyle changes such as increasing fibre intake, drinking adequate water, and avoiding straining during bowel movements often help the piles to go away on their ownwithin a week or so.
• Stage 3 and 4 piles have progressed to prolapsed haemorrhoids. In these stages, the vein hangs out of the anus as a lump. Often, lifestyle remedies and stool softeners can only help in relieving the symptoms like pain, itching, and burning. The hanging bulge has to be removed through medical interventions like laser haemorrhoid removal, stapler surgery, or other simple minimally invasive procedures.  Permanent relief from piles in these stages happens only after the procedure is done.

Treat your symptoms according to the stages. If you have just started to experience it, ensure to take remedial measures at home. Use over-the-counter stool softener syrups which can help add bulk to the stools and keep them soft. However, if symptoms continue or return repeatedly, medical treatment from a trusted colorectal doctor may be required for complete and lasting relief.

What can be mistaken for piles?

As explained above, piles often present as bleeding, pain in the anal area, and a noticeable lump in the anal hole. Several other anal and rectal conditions also have similar symptoms, making it completely natural for other conditions to be mistaken for piles. This also means that self-diagnosis can often be misleading.

Below are few conditions which are relatively common, but can be mistaken for piles because of overlapping symptoms. In table, the overlapping symptoms are highlighted in bold, and can be easily understood why it is natural for mistaken for piles.

Overlapping symptom

Name of the condition

Explanation

Involves protrusion or lump

Skin tags

Skin tags are benign growths of skin. They look like a prolapsed haemorrhoid, but are painless and do not throb/pain like a pile.

Rectal prolapse

Here, the lining of the rectum slips out of the anal hole. It looks very much like a large haemorrhoid, but it is the entire rectal lining/wall, and not just the portion of a vein.

Anal warts

These are small bumps, mostly pinkish coloured. They are caused by a virus (HPV). Unlike piles, anal warts spread easily.

Anal polyps

These are benign growths, generally in the intestinal walls. They can sometimes protrude out of the anus and can even bleed.

Involves pain and bleeding

Anal fissures

This is a small tear in the anal lining. The pain is sharp and intense, and can be confused as piles.

Inflammatory bowel disease

A few conditions where the intestines are chronically inflamed—like Chron’s disease or Ulcerative Colitis cause bleeding and discomfort. But unlike piles, they also cause abdominal cramping and diarrhoea.

Anal fistulas

When a pocket of pus (abscess) does not drain out, a small tunnel or fistula is formed by the body to drain it out.  This causes throbbing pain, and swelling.

Colorectal Cancer

Can cause bleeding, change in bowel consistency and habits. Bleeding maybe confused as piles.

As can be easily seen above, many other colorectal conditions can seem like it is piles. if you have persistent pain, swelling, or bleeding, the safest way out is to get a proper medical examination from a certified colorectal expert.

What are the warning signs of piles?

A high-fibre diet, and adequate water intake can help cure piles completely in the starting stage. But what if it reoccurs? There are many warning signs of piles to know when it is time to visit your doctor.

• Persistent bright red blood: any rectal bleeding must be checked by a doctor promptly, especially if you notice it for more than week.
• Excessive itching and irritation: can happen when there is difficult to touch the area, and hence, it has not been cleaned well. It could also lead to infections due to stool particles accumulating.
• Sudden pain which increases with time: this can indicate a thrombosed pile, where a blood clot is stuck in the lump.
• Dark or Tarry Stool: Blood from piles is bright red. Dark, sticky, or black stool  suggests bleeding higher up in the digestive tract.
• Change in bowel habits: if you notice a sudden change in bowel shape or how often you go to poo, always consult a doctor.
• Fever or Pus: This could indicate an infection or an anal abscess rather than a simple haemorrhoid.

Always remember, piles are more common than you think. It is completely natural to feel hesitation in speaking about it, or admitting that you are facing symptoms of piles. What matters is knowing that experienced doctors ensure complete privacy and a non-judgmental approach throughout your treatment. This is exactly what the colorectal consultants at Smiles Gastroenterology Centres in Bangalore aim for every day. They ensure to be patient centric and treat each case differently. They also ensure complete privacy with each treatment. With timely care and advanced techniques here, piles can be managed effectively and treated for lasting relief.

Author Profile
best-doctor-for-fistula-surgery-in-bangalore
Senior Colorectal Surgeon

Dr. Parameshwara CM is a global authority in Coloproctology and the visionary founder of SMILES Hospitals, with an extraordinary track record of over 50,000 successful surgeries. A true pioneer in the field, he was the first to introduce Advanced Laser Piles Treatment and sophisticated procedures like LIFT, VAAFT, and STARR to Karnataka, revolutionizing the way digestive disorders are treated. He combines surgical precision with state-of-the-art laser technology to offer bloodless, minimally invasive solutions. Call us: +9108099008800 for further help.

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