Does putting ice on hemorrhoids help?
In adults with symptomatic internal or external hemorrhoids, does topical application of ice or cold packs to the anorectal area reduce pain, swelling, or time to symptom resolution compared with no ice or other conservative measures?
Compiled 2026-10-05 · checked 2026-10-05 · next 2026-11-05 · automated review, how it works
What the evidence says
Bottom line
Icing hemorrhoids doesn't appear to ease pain more than not icing them, in the trials that tested it.
Three randomised trials applied a cooling device or cold water to the anal area in people with hemorrhoids, after a banding procedure, or after childbirth, and compared this with standard care or warm water. None found a meaningful difference in pain relief. These trials did not test whether ice reduces swelling, speeds healing, or prevents the need for further treatment — those questions remain unanswered for ice applied to the skin.
How certain
Moderate
One well-conducted randomised trial addresses this question directly.
What it shows
No meaningful benefit
Most of the evidence found no meaningful difference.
- studies found
- 15studies found
- randomised trials
- 4randomised trials
- people studied
- 3,186people studied
- years covered
- 1978–2014years covered
What the research shows
No improvement shown
Time to symptom resolution
One trial tracking overall symptom relief after childbirth found no difference in pain resolution between a cooling device and standard care without it.[1]
No improvement shown
Reduction in hemorrhoid size or swelling
None of the trials testing simple ice or cooling devices measured hemorrhoid size or swelling directly.
Not studied
Need for further intervention (e.g., surgery)
No trial of ice packs or cooling devices tracked whether people later needed surgery or another procedure.
Not studied
Recurrence of symptoms
No trial of simple ice or cooling devices followed people long enough to report whether symptoms came back.
Not studied
Skin irritation or cold injury from ice application
No trial specifically measured skin irritation or cold injury. One device trial noted some people had trouble inserting the cooling device, but this was a practical complaint, not a measured injury.[1]
Not studied
Important limitations
- The trials tested manufactured cooling devices, like the Anurex, or cold-water sitz baths, not a plain ice cube or ice pack wrapped in a cloth. A simple home ice pack might feel different even though this is the closest evidence available.[1,2,3]
- The populations tested were narrow: women right after childbirth, patients right after a rubber band procedure, and people with acute anal pain in an emergency setting. These groups may not represent everyone who tries icing at home.[1,2,3]
- Most of the other research turned up by this search is about cryosurgery, a surgical freezing procedure done by a clinician using special equipment. That is very different from holding an ice pack against the skin, so it cannot be used to answer this question.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
- The trials were small, ranging from 24 to 129 people, which limits how confident anyone can be in the finding of no benefit.[1,2,3]
Why people try it
- Ice is a cheap, easy home remedy that many people already use for swelling and bruises elsewhere on the body.
- Cold can feel numbing and soothing on sore skin, which may bring short-term comfort even if it doesn't change the underlying problem.
- Ice packs are commonly listed in general home-care advice for hemorrhoids, so people assume the practice is proven.
What the studies found
- Found a benefit4 · 27%
- Found no clear effect4 · 27%
- Mixed or unclear7 · 47%
What kind of studies
- Case series7 · 47%
- Narrative review4 · 27%
- Randomised trial4 · 27%
The studies that decided it
Lam et al. 2012
A novel device reduces anal pain after rubber band ligation: a randomized controlled trial
No clear pain relief from cooling.Randomised trialLow qualityRelated question
100 people3-6 weeks
no significant difference in need for painkillers between groups; among those who used the cooler, 25% noticed improvement, while those who did not use it had lower pain scores than those who did
- Who was studied
- patients who had rubber band ligation for hemorrhoids
- What they received
- a frozen plastic anal cooling device used for pain
- Compared with
- no anal cooler (control group)
- Main outcome
- anal pain after the procedure, measured with a pain diary
- Quality
- small trial with inconsistent results and no clear reduction in overall pain or need for medication.
- Limitations
- Comparison of pain scores between users and non-users of the cooler was not randomized (self-selected use), and most pain after banding was described as mild overall.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n
100 patients who underwent RBL were prospectively randomized into an anal cooler group (n = 50) or a control group (n = 50)
- population
100 patients who underwent RBL
- intervention
a plastic device, the anal cooler which can be frozen in a freezer
- comparator
control group
- primaryOutcome
All patients were asked to keep a pain diary (0 = no pain; 10 = extreme pain)
- result
24/50 patients (48 %) in the anal cooler group and 31/50 (62 %) in the control group needed oral analgesics (NS)
- result
Of these, 9/36 patients (25 %) noticed improvement
- result
The 14/50 patients (28 %), who did not use the cooler, had a lower post-banding pain score compared with patients who used the cooler (1.4 vs 6.4; P < 0.001)
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 22527920 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Maestre et al. 2010
[Cold or hot sitz baths in the emergency treatment of acute anal pain due to anorectal disease? Results of a randomised clinical trial]
No difference found.Randomised trialLow quality
24 people7 days
no significant difference in pain control between cold and hot sitz baths
- Who was studied
- patients with acute anal pain from hemorrhoids or anal fissures
- What they received
- sitz baths with cold water (below 15°C)
- Compared with
- sitz baths with hot water (above 30°C)
- Main outcome
- pain level and quality of life at 7 days
- Quality
- very small number of patients (only 24) makes it hard to detect a true difference
- Limitations
- small sample size of only 24 randomised patients
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n
24 were randomised (Group 1: n=12 y Group 2: n=12)
- population
patients with acute anal pain due to haemorrhoids or anal fissures
- intervention
Sitz baths with water at a temperature of less than 15 degrees C
- comparator
Baths with a water temperature above 30 degrees C
- primaryOutcome
An analysis was made of the pain at 7 days (visual analogue scale), quality of life (SF-36)
- result
There were no statistical differences in pain
Cir Esp · PMID 20580349 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Thomas et al. 1993
Postpartum haemorrhoids--evaluation of a cooling device (Anurex) for relief of symptoms
No benefit over standard care.Randomised trialModerate qualityRelated question
129 people1993
No difference in pain resolution between groups; other symptoms like bleeding and itching also not significantly improved
- Who was studied
- women with hemorrhoids after childbirth
- What they received
- Anurex cooling device applied to the anal area
- Compared with
- standard care without the cooling device
- Main outcome
- relief of hemorrhoid pain
- Quality
- It was a randomized trial but modest in size and only in postpartum women, not people with hemorrhoids generally.
- Limitations
- Small sample size; some participants had difficulty inserting the device; population limited to postpartum women.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n
129 women randomly allocated to treatment and control groups
- population
Postpartum haemorrhoids are a common problem
- intervention
the recently marketed cooling device, Anurex
- comparator
treatment and control groups
- primaryOutcome
There was no difference in the rate of resolution of pain between the groups.
- result
There was no difference in the rate of resolution of pain between the groups. The test group estimated a greater duration of pain relief, but this was not statistically significant. Anal bleeding and itching were not significantly reduced in the test group.
Med J Aust · PMID 8412917 · Read it on PubMed ↗
What actually helps, on this site
More about the condition:
All 15 studiesEvery study that answered the question, with its design, size and result.
The other 12 studiesEverything else the search returned, including anything retracted.
Fox et al. 2014
Anorectal conditions: hemorrhoids
Ice suggested, but not tested alone.Narrative reviewVery low qualityRelated question
size not given2014
abstract states this combination is the best management until recovery, with no comparative data given
- Who was studied
- people with prolapsed and strangulated hemorrhoids
- What they received
- stool softeners, analgesics, rest, warm soaks, and ice packs
- Main outcome
- recovery from prolapsed and strangulated hemorrhoids
- Quality
- this is a narrative review statement of expert-recommended management, not a study with data comparing ice to no ice
- Limitations
- no study design, data, or comparison is given for this recommendation; ice is only one part of a combined treatment approach
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population
Prolapsed and strangulated hemorrhoids
- intervention
stool softeners, analgesics, rest, warm soaks, and ice packs until recovery
- primaryOutcome
are best managed with stool softeners, analgesics, rest, warm soaks, and ice packs until recovery
- result
Prolapsed and strangulated hemorrhoids are best managed with stool softeners, analgesics, rest, warm soaks, and ice packs until recovery; residual hemorrhoids are banded or excised later.
FP Essent · PMID 24742083 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Serventi et al. 2011
[Haemorrhoidal disease: role of conservative outpatient treatments]
No specific result reported for ice.Narrative reviewLow qualityRelated question
size not given2011
abstract does not give a specific outcome or result for cryotherapy; it only lists it among reviewed techniques and states opinions are discordant across studies
- Who was studied
- people with haemorrhoidal disease treated as outpatients
- What they received
- cryotherapy (ice-based treatment) among other office treatments like rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, infrared photocoagulation, bipolar diathermy and direct current therapy
- Compared with
- other conservative outpatient techniques
- Main outcome
- procedure, indications, contraindications, results and limits of each outpatient technique
- Quality
- This is a narrative review without pooled data or a randomized comparison of all techniques, and it admits that opinions are discordant even among randomized studies.
- Limitations
- The abstract states there is no randomized trial comparing all these treatments, and many techniques are based on small or anecdotal series.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population
conservative office treatments of haemorrhoidal disease
- intervention
rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, cryotherapy, infrared photocoagulation, bipolar diathermy and direct current therapy
- comparator
Many are outpatient techniques proposed in current literature
- primaryOutcome
we describe procedure, indications, contraindications, results and limits
- result
Each method has its supporters, indications and limits; therefore in literature there are discordant opinions even when randomized studies are compared.
Ann Ital Chir · PMID 21988040 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Coulom 2009
[Nonsurgical therapy of hemorrhoids]
No controlled studies done.Narrative reviewVery low quality
size not given2009
Cryotherapy has not been studied in controlled studies.
- Who was studied
- people with hemorrhoids
- What they received
- cryotherapy (ice treatment)
- Quality
- This is a narrative review and it states plainly that cryotherapy has never been tested in a controlled study, so there is no real evidence to judge it by.
- Limitations
- The abstract does not describe any study design, sample size, or outcome measures for cryotherapy specifically, only noting its absence from controlled research.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- intervention
Cryotherapy has not been studied in controlled studies.
- result
Cryotherapy has not been studied in controlled studies.
- population
Hemorrhoids are a clinical and anatomical subject that has not been completely investigated.
Gastroenterol Clin Biol · PMID 19762183 · Read it on PubMed ↗
MacKay 2001
Hemorrhoids and varicose veins: a review of treatment options
No outcome data reported for ice.Narrative reviewVery low qualityRelated question
size not given2001
not stated - cryotherapy is only mentioned as one treatment option among several, with no outcome data given
- Who was studied
- people with hemorrhoids
- What they received
- cryotherapy (one of several non-surgical treatments listed)
- Compared with
- other non-surgical treatments for hemorrhoids
- Quality
- This is a general review listing treatment options without reporting any study results or data for cryotherapy specifically.
- Limitations
- Abstract does not report any specific study, trial design, participant numbers, or outcome data for cryotherapy; it only lists it among several treatment modalities.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- intervention
cryotherapy
- population
Hemorrhoids and varicose veins are common conditions seen by general practitioners.
- comparator
injection sclerotherapy, cryotherapy, manual dilation of the anus, infrared photocoagulation, bipolar diathermy, direct current electrocoagulation, or rubber band ligation
- result
When conservative hemorrhoid therapy is ineffective, many physicians may choose other non-surgical modalities: injection sclerotherapy, cryotherapy, manual dilation of the anus, infrared photocoagulation, bipolar diathermy, direct current electrocoagulation, or rubber band ligation.
Altern Med Rev · PMID 11302778 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Singh 1998
Cryohaemorrhoidectomy for primary haemorrhoids: an evaluation of the procedure in the Indian population
Well tolerated, but effectiveness unclear.Case seriesVery low qualityRelated question
174 people1998
procedure was well accepted, cost effective, and had a low complication rate
- Who was studied
- people with primary hemorrhoids in India
- What they received
- cryotherapy (freezing) procedure for hemorrhoids
- Compared with
- no comparison group reported
- Main outcome
- how well patients accepted the procedure, cost, and complication rate
- Quality
- this was a small case series with no comparison group, so it can't show whether the treatment actually worked better than nothing.
- Limitations
- No control group; abstract does not report symptom or efficacy outcomes, only acceptability and complications.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n
The study of 174 patients
- population
evaluated for its efficacy and acceptability in the Indian population
- intervention
Cryotherapy is one of the available modalities for the management of primary haemorrhoids
- comparator
The study of 174 patients revealed the procedure to be well accepted, extremely cost effective and with a low complication rate in the Indian population, in contrast to the western experience.
- primaryOutcome
evaluated for its efficacy and acceptability in the Indian population
- result
revealed the procedure to be well accepted, extremely cost effective and with a low complication rate in the Indian population
J Indian Med Assoc · PMID 9601185 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Madron et al. 1990
[Cryotherapy of benign and malignant processes]
Hemorrhoid symptoms improved quicklyCase seriesVery low qualityRelated question
35 people1990
symptoms went away quickly after treatment
- Who was studied
- patients with inflamed hemorrhoid nodes
- What they received
- cryosurgery (deep freezing) of hemorrhoid tissue
- Compared with
- none reported
- Main outcome
- resolution of hemorrhoid symptoms
- Quality
- This is a small, uncontrolled case series with no comparison group, so it can't show whether the treatment itself caused the improvement.
- Limitations
- No control group, no randomization, no blinding, and this is surgical freezing rather than simple ice application; outcomes described only as 'favourable' without data.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population
35 patients with inflammations of haemorrhoidal nodes
- intervention
Cryosurgery is a method using brisk cooling of the tissue well beneath the freezing point
- comparator
the authors used between April 1986 and July 1987 this method in 35 patients with inflammations of haemorrhoidal nodes, 10 patients with haemangiomas and warts, the results being favourable
- primaryOutcome
The authors recommend acute treatment of haemorrhoids, as complaints recede rapidly.
- result
the results being favourable
- n
35 patients with inflammations of haemorrhoidal nodes
Rozhl Chir · PMID 2336600 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Mashiah et al. 1984
Cryosurgery for life-threatening bleeding hemorrhoids in the elderly
Freezing surgery stopped bleeding hemorrhoids.Case seriesVery low qualityRelated question
43 peopletwo to five years
results were excellent in all but one patient, who needed a repeat treatment after bleeding recurred, with no complications or deaths
- Who was studied
- elderly patients with severe, massive bleeding hemorrhoids
- What they received
- cryosurgery (freezing treatment using nitrous oxide gas) in an outpatient session
- Compared with
- none; no control group
- Main outcome
- resolution of bleeding and symptoms after treatment
- Quality
- This is a small, uncontrolled case series from 1984 with no comparison group, so it can't reliably show whether cryosurgery works better than doing nothing.
- Limitations
- No control group, no randomization, small sample, single-session case series design, old study.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n
Forty-three elderly patients with massive bleeding of hemorrhoidal varices were treated by cryosurgery
- population
Forty-three elderly patients with massive bleeding of hemorrhoidal varices
- intervention
treated by cryosurgery at a single outpatient session, using nitrous oxide gas, without premedication or anesthesia
- comparator
treated by cryosurgery at a single outpatient session
- primaryOutcome
The results were excellent in all but one patient
- result
The results were excellent in all but one patient, who had ulcerative colitis and required another session of cryotherapy following a recurrence of bleeding. There was no morbidity and no mortality.
- followUp
follow-up periods ranging from two to five years
J Am Geriatr Soc · PMID 6606660 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Southam 1983
Haemorrhoids treated by cryotherapy: a critical analysis
Good results with careful patient choice.Case seriesVery low quality
104 people1983
careful patient selection gave good results and low recurrence; limiting the ice-ball to the mucosal part reduced pain and bleeding
- Who was studied
- patients with second, third degree or thrombosed prolapsed hemorrhoids
- What they received
- cryotherapy (freezing treatment) of hemorrhoids
- Compared with
- none
- Main outcome
- treatment results, complications and recurrence rate
- Quality
- this is an uncontrolled case series with no comparison group, so it cannot show whether cryotherapy actually works better than no treatment.
- Limitations
- no control group, no randomization, and outcomes described only in general terms without detailed statistics
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n
One hundred and four patients with second, third degree or thrombosed prolapsed piles, treated by cryotherapy, were studied pre- and postoperatively.
- population
patients with second, third degree or thrombosed prolapsed piles
- intervention
treated by cryotherapy
- comparator
treated by cryotherapy, were studied pre- and postoperatively
- primaryOutcome
results of treatment
- result
Careful selection of patients will produce good results and a low recurrent rate.
Ann R Coll Surg Engl · PMID 6870130 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Lewis et al. 1983
Trial of maximal anal dilatation, cryotherapy and elastic band ligation as alternatives to haemorrhoidectomy in the treatment of large prolapsing haemorroids
Less effective, more recurrence.Randomised trialModerate quality
112 peoplebetween 6 months and 5 years
cryotherapy was less effective than surgery or anal dilation, and more patients needed surgery later due to recurrent symptoms
- Who was studied
- patients with large prolapsing hemorrhoids that didn't respond to standard phenol injection treatment
- What they received
- cryotherapy (freezing treatment) for hemorrhoids
- Compared with
- surgical removal (haemorrhoidectomy), anal stretching, and rubber band ligation
- Main outcome
- reduction in hemorrhoid symptoms and signs
- Quality
- it was a randomized trial but with a small number of patients per treatment group and uneven follow-up times
- Limitations
- follow-up time varied widely between patients (6 months to 5 years), and the number of patients per treatment arm is not given, only the total.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n
A selected group of 112 patients with prolapsing haemorrhoids
- population
A selected group of 112 patients with prolapsing haemorrhoids which had failed to respond to injections of phenol in oil or which required manual replacement after defecation
- intervention
cryotherapy
- comparator
haemorrhoidectomy, maximal anal dilation, elastic band ligation
- primaryOutcome
reducing symptoms
- result
cryotherapy and elastic band ligation were less effective in both respects
- result
Patients in the other three groups developed recurrent symptoms requiring haemorrhoidectomy.
- followUp
followed up between 6 months and 5 years
Br J Surg · PMID 6337671 · Read it on PubMed ↗
MacLeod 1982
In defense of cryotherapy for hemorrhoids. A modified method
No clear result reported.Case seriesVery low quality
528 people1982
abstract states cryotherapy is most effective and has fewest side effects when directed at internal hemorrhoids only, but gives no specific outcome data
- Who was studied
- people with hemorrhoids at various stages
- What they received
- cryotherapy (freezing) applied to internal hemorrhoids
- Main outcome
- correction of prolapse and bleeding from hemorrhoids
- Quality
- This is a descriptive report of procedures with no comparison group and no numeric outcome data, so it can't show whether the treatment actually worked.
- Limitations
- No control group, no specific outcome measurements reported, and it describes the author's own modified technique rather than a formal study.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n
The results of 528 treatment procedures are reported.
- intervention
Cryotherapy of hemorrhoids is most effective and has the least side effects when directed at the internal hemorrhoids only, at a high level, and in stages, each application being for a period of one minute only.
- population
A plan of treatment selection is presented, based on the stage of the hemorrhoids.
- primaryOutcome
correction of prolapse and bleeding by the creation of submucosal fibrosis
- result
Cryotherapy of hemorrhoids is most effective and has the least side effects when directed at the internal hemorrhoids only
Dis Colon Rectum · PMID 6979469 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Lurz et al. 1978
[Combined rubber band ligation and cryosurgery of hemorrhoids (author's transl)]
Combined freezing and banding seemed to help.Case seriesVery low qualityRelated question
200 people1978
good results with less postoperative discomfort than freezing alone
- Who was studied
- patients with hemorrhoids, including large prolapsing (third degree) hemorrhoids
- What they received
- combined rubber band ligation and cryosurgery (freezing) of hemorrhoids
- Compared with
- cryotherapy (freezing) alone without banding
- Main outcome
- treatment success and postoperative discomfort
- Quality
- This is just a report on a series of patients with no control group and no statistics, so it can't really prove the treatment works.
- Limitations
- No control group, no statistical comparison, vague patient numbers, and this combines freezing with a separate banding procedure rather than ice alone.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n
more than 200 patients
- population
In third degree hemorrhoids, particularly in large prolapsing hemorrhoids
- intervention
combined rubber band ligation and cryosurgery of hemorrhoids
- comparator
postoperative complaints are less than by using the cryosond only
- primaryOutcome
a good therapy result was achieved on more than 200 patients
- result
it is an effective therapy in any kind of hemorrhoid ailments
Med Klin · PMID 703664 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Wienert 1978
[Cryotherapy for haemorrhoids (author's transl)]
Mostly satisfactory, but caused pain.Case seriesVery low qualityRelated question
1,737 people1978
90% had a satisfactory result; 14% had severe pain immediately after treatment
- Who was studied
- patients with hemorrhoids
- What they received
- cryotherapy (cryosurgery) treatment of hemorrhoids
- Compared with
- none reported
- Main outcome
- satisfactory treatment result and pain after therapy
- Quality
- This is just a case review of patients who all got the treatment, with no comparison group and no long-term follow-up, so it can't really prove the treatment works.
- Limitations
- No follow-up results are reported, and there is no control/comparison group described.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n
Case reports of 1737 patients who were treated by cryotherapy have been analysed.
- population
Case reports of 1737 patients who were treated by cryotherapy have been analysed.
- intervention
treated by cryotherapy
- comparator
There are no follow-up results, because the treatment of haemorrhoids by cryosurgery is fairly new.
- primaryOutcome
This method gave a satisfactory result in 90% of the patients and 14% of the patients had severe pain immediately after the therapy.
- result
This method gave a satisfactory result in 90% of the patients and 14% of the patients had severe pain immediately after the therapy.
Med Klin · PMID 305516 · Read it on PubMed ↗
How we searchedThe exact query, the date it ran, and what came back — so you can run it yourself.
- Searched
- PubMed · ClinicalTrials.gov · Crossref on 2026-10-05
- The exact search — paste this into PubMed to repeat it
"Hemorrhoids"[Mesh] AND ("Cryotherapy"[Mesh] OR ice[tiab] OR "ice pack"[tiab] OR "cold application"[tiab] OR "cold pack"[tiab] OR cryotherapy[tiab])- PubMed expanded that to:
"Hemorrhoids"[MeSH Terms] AND ("Cryotherapy"[MeSH Terms] OR "ice"[Title/Abstract] OR "ice pack"[Title/Abstract] OR "cold application"[Title/Abstract] OR "cold pack"[Title/Abstract] OR "Cryotherapy"[Title/Abstract]) - What came back
- 63 records found · 63 read · 15 answered the question
- Included
- Human, animal or laboratory studies reporting an outcome relevant to the question
- Excluded
- Records about a different condition or intervention
- Records reporting no outcome
- Retracted publications, which are listed but excluded from every count
- Limits
- Details were read from abstracts, not full papers, so anything reported only in a paper's methods section is not captured here.
- Fields were read from abstracts, not full text, so detail reported only in a paper's methods section is not captured.
- Evidence strength is adapted from the GRADE framework. It is not a GRADE assessment and was not produced by a GRADE panel.
Automated evidence review — PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Crossref. Search strategy, grading rules and the checks that must pass before anything publishes were written by Allen Kamrava, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS, colon & rectal surgery, Beverly Hills. The pages themselves are compiled by software running that method and are not read one by one before publication — saying otherwise would be the one claim here that could not be checked.
- 63records came back from the search
- 63were read
- 15actually answered the question
Common questionsShort answers, drawn from the same studies.
- Should I stop using ice on my hemorrhoids?
- You don't have to. The trials found it didn't help more than not using it, but they also didn't find it caused harm. If it feels soothing to you, there's no evidence here that continuing is a problem.
- Is ice the same as cryotherapy for hemorrhoids?
- No. Cryotherapy, also called cryosurgery, is a medical procedure that freezes hemorrhoid tissue using special equipment. Putting an ice pack on the skin at home is much milder, and most of the research found in this search was actually about the surgical procedure, not home ice packs.
- What did the strongest trial actually test?
- A moderate-quality randomised trial gave women with hemorrhoids after childbirth a cooling device called Anurex, compared with standard care without it. It found no difference in pain relief between the two groups.
- Does cold work better than warm sitz baths?
- One small trial compared cold sitz baths with hot sitz baths in people with acute anal pain and found no difference in pain control between the two temperatures.
- What should I do instead for hemorrhoid pain?
- These studies didn't test other treatments like fiber, stool softeners, or topical medications, so this review can't say how well those work. If pain or bleeding continues, it's worth talking to a doctor.
This is information, not advice
This page summarises published research. It cannot tell you what is happening in your own body, and evidence changes. If something is bleeding, painful, or new, it is worth being looked at — that is a different question from the one on this page, and a better one to bring to a consultation.
Contact the officeAutomated evidence review — PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Crossref. Search strategy, grading rules and the checks that must pass before anything publishes were written by Allen Kamrava, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS, colon & rectal surgery, Beverly Hills. The pages themselves are compiled by software running that method and are not read one by one before publication — saying otherwise would be the one claim here that could not be checked.