On the occasion of World Pregnancy Day, celebrated on 9 September, specialists warn of the need to demystify Haemorrhoidal Disease during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The goal is to inform women that this condition should not be accepted as an inevitable consequence of gestation.
It is estimated that 30% to 40% of pregnant women in Portugal are affected by haemorrhoids, although the actual numbers may be even higher. This underestimation is mainly due to the embarrassment many women feel in speaking about the subject, which hinders diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Symptoms include pain, itching, discomfort and anal bleeding, and may appear especially from the second trimester of pregnancy. These signs are frequently associated with the pressure exerted by the growing uterus and the hormonal changes characteristic of this phase.
