Hemorrhoids are actually quite common, although no one wants to admit that they have them. If you're a woman and have ever been pregnant, you have probably dealt with hemorrhoids before, because the majority of pregnant women develop them at least once throughout their pregnancies.

Hemorrhoids are defined as being itchy, painful, or bleeding masses of swollen tissue and veins located in or near the anus and rectum. They can be incredibly painful and uncomfortable.

Not all hemorrhoids are the same; there are both external hemorrhoids and internal hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids are those that occur higher up in the anal canal and which are generally out of sight. The other type, external hemorrhoids, are apparent to the eye and appear outside the anus.

If you're looking for hemorrhoid pain relief, you might consider going to a hemorrhoid relief center, which you'll probably need to do if your hemorrhoids are severe. However, there are gentler options for that you'll want to be aware of, a few of which will be discussed here in more detail.

Preparation H cream is the most commonly used means of relieving the pain of hemorrhoids. Just about everyone is aware of this product, and it's certainly one of the most common treatment methods for the problem of hemorrhoids. This cream provides fast relief from your discomfort, as it both shrinks the hemorrhoids and soothes the pain.

Another option for hemorrhoid pain relief that you may want to try is cold therapy. It might be as easy as using an ice pack on the affected area to experience relief from the pain and swelling. You might also consider some of the various specialty products on the market, including Anuice, which is a cold applicator made from hospital grade plastic that utilizes an internal cooling agent. This gadget is placed in a special container in the freezer; when it's sufficiently cold, it can be applied to the area where the hemorrhoids are swelling.

The good news is that there are some very effective methods of treating hemorrhoids and getting relief from your discomfort. But be certain that once you have treated your hemorrhoids that you take preventative steps to keep them from recurring.