A article published in the journal BMC Gastroenterology in July 2025 analyzes 7 studies involving 760 patients. The aim of this research is to answer the question: is a gentle treatment (local medication, lifestyle change, fiber intake) or an operation better for curing hemorrhoids?
Please note that the information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you suffer from hemorrhoids, it is important to consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice and recommendations.
Methodology :
The researchers filtered through a list of 1,373 published studies, selecting only 7 as the most relevant and rigorous in terms of methodology. These studies covered a total of 760 patients.
Hemorrhoidectomy (surgical removal of hemorrhoids) is the technique most commonly used for the surgical procedures analyzed, but other procedures such asligature removal are also considered to be surgical in the study.
Non-surgical methods include lifestyle changes, increased fiber intake and the application of topical creams.
Impact on pain :
The study shows that over the long term (more than 10 days), the surgical approach and the gentle approach deliver similar benefits in terms of pain relief.
Surgery, however, brings faster relief: in the case of surgical procedures, this occurs in less than 4 days.
Risk of complications :
No significant differences in terms of complications were reported in the article. The incidence of long-term bleeding was similar between patients who opted for surgical treatment and those who opted for a gentle method.
The study does, however, point to rare complications of surgery, such asincontinence (3%), post-operative pain (5%) and liquid discharge (6%). These incidences are rare, but can be taken into account with your doctor before deciding on an operation.
Risk of recurrence :
According to this study, two of the articles show a much lower risk of recurrence with surgery (81% lower).
Gentle approaches are therefore as effective as surgery for short-term relief, but pose a problem in terms of recurrence.
Hemorrhoid stage:
Researchers indicate that an important aspect of remission is the stage of the hemorrhoids:
- In the case ofstage I or II hemorrhoids, thegentle approach is effective and can bring lasting relief.
- In the case ofstage III or IV hemorrhoids, surgical intervention generally leads to better results.
In a nutshell?
- Gentle and surgical approaches can be equally effective in relieving pain
- Surgery provides faster relief
- Surgical complications are rare (~5% incidence)
- Surgery significantly reduces recurrence (81%)
- The gentle approach is most effective for stage I or II hemorrhoids.
It is therefore important to treat the problem quickly and at source, to avoid an operation.
Keep in mind that although this article comes from a serious, peer-reviewed journal, its content is not a substitute for medical advice. If you suffer from hemorrhoids, consult your doctor. We hope this will help you have a more informed discussion with your healthcare professional.