Treating hemorrhoids with cryotherapy

Cryotherapy treats hemorrhoids by freezing: its purpose is to “dry out” the hemorrhoidal formations by obliterating (closing) the hemorrhoidal veins that feed them. It is used for both internal and external hemorrhoids, takes place on an outpatient basis, under local anaesthesia, and daily activities are resumed immediately after the intervention.

Cryotherapy for hemorrhoids at a glance

• Type of procedure: obliteration of the hemorrhoidal veins by cold, minimally invasive
• Working temperature: metal probe cooled to about −90 °C
• Anaesthesia: local
• Hospitalisation: not needed — outpatient
• Sessions: usually 2–3, one month apart; two hemorrhoidal clusters per session
• Indications: internal and external hemorrhoidal formations

What is cryotherapy for hemorrhoids?

Cryotherapy aims to dry out the hemorrhoids through obliteration — closing the hemorrhoidal veins that feed them. The extreme cold applied locally closes the small-calibre veins; deprived of its blood supply, the hemorrhoidal tissue dries out and retracts gradually. In short: the hemorrhoids are eliminated by freezing, without a scalpel and without hospitalisation.

How does the procedure work, step by step?

1. Local anaesthesia — the area is numbed; the procedure takes place on an outpatient basis.
2. Preparing the probe — a metal tube is used, supplied from a cryogenic gas cylinder; the gas circulating inside the tube cools the metal to about −90 °C.
3. The application — under visual control of maximum accuracy, the probe is applied directly to the surface of the hemorrhoid and cooled gradually. The extremely low temperature obliterates the small-calibre veins feeding the formation.
4. The treatment rhythm — as a rule, two hemorrhoidal clusters are obliterated in each session; a complete treatment requires about 2–3 sessions, one month apart.

What do you feel during and right after the procedure?

During the application, the cold has a numbing effect, so discomfort is low. After the procedure it is normal to feel, for a few minutes, a sensation similar to the need to defecate — a false sensation — sometimes accompanied by mild intestinal spasms. These reactions usually subside quickly, subsequent stools are no longer painful, and normal life resumes immediately after the intervention.

What are the advantages of cryotherapy?

• minimally invasive method, with a very short intervention
• much less discomfort and pain than traditional surgical techniques
• the directly applied cold soothes the pain, the inflammation and the unpleasant itching sensation
• the risk of complications is nearly non-existent
• does not affect the sphincter’s functionality
• no hospitalisation — you go home immediately

What is the recovery like?

You need no hospitalisation and resume your daily activities immediately after the intervention. To fight any discomfort, the doctor may prescribe medicines combined with a venotonic treatment and one for lowering local pressure. Chamomile sitz baths, the suppositories, anti-inflammatories or creams indicated, a balanced diet and fighting constipation through natural means — avoiding laxatives — are recommended.

Between the sessions (scheduled one month apart), following the diet and local hygiene supports the progressive retraction of the treated formations.

Risks and limitations

The risk of complications is nearly non-existent; the normal reactions — the false urge to defecate, mild spasms, a transient local discomfort — subside quickly. The method’s practical limit is its rhythm: a complete treatment requires 2–3 sessions one month apart, unlike the steam method, which solves everything in a single intervention. For very large formations, the doctor may recommend steam directly.

Cryotherapy compared with the other methods

• vs sclerotherapy — both are outpatient and fast; sclerotherapy is preferred at grades 1–2, cryotherapy also covers external and larger formations — see sclerotherapy
• vs the steam method — steam treats large hemorrhoids in a single intervention (with one hospital night); cryotherapy solves medium cases in 2–3 sessions with no hospitalisation at all — see the steam method
• vs classic surgery — no scalpel, no hospitalisation, the sphincter intact and an immediate soothing effect on pain and itching

Frequently asked questions

Does cryotherapy for hemorrhoids hurt?

No — the procedure is done with local anaesthesia, and the cold itself has a soothing effect on pain, inflammation and itching. The sensations after the procedure (the false urge to defecate, mild spasms) subside within minutes.

How many sessions are needed?

Usually 2–3 sessions, one month apart, with two hemorrhoidal clusters treated per session. The exact number depends on how many formations exist.

Can I go to work after a session?

Yes — daily activities, including work, are resumed immediately after the intervention. No rest day is needed.

Cryotherapy or other methods?

For small hemorrhoids, sclerotherapy may be sufficient; for large ones, the steam method is often more suitable. See all hemorrhoid treatment methods — the final decision belongs to the doctor, after the consultation.