Safety
When to seek medical help
When to call 999 or go to A&E, when to get an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111, and when to see a GP.
Do not let embarrassment set the timeline
Haemorrhoids are common, but symptoms around the bottom can overlap with other conditions. The safer approach is to get help when symptoms are persistent, worsening, painful, or involve bleeding.
Call 999 or go to A&E now if
You have piles or bleeding from your bottom and:
- you are bleeding non-stop;
- there is a lot of blood, for example the toilet water turns red, or you see large blood clots;
- you are in severe pain.
Do not drive yourself to A&E. Ask someone to drive you, or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Get an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 if
- your temperature is very high, or you feel hot, cold or shivery and generally unwell;
- you have painless bleeding from your bottom;
- pus is leaking from your piles;
- your poo is black or dark red;
- you have bloody diarrhoea.
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
See a GP if
- your symptoms are getting worse, or there is no improvement after trying self-care at home;
- you keep getting piles;
- you notice a change around your bottom that is not normal for you;
- you have pain, swelling or a lump that worries you.
A pharmacist can also advise on creams, constipation support and cold packs. Many pharmacies have a private area if you do not want to be overheard.
Outside the UK: call your local emergency number for the symptoms in the first section, and contact your local doctor or urgent care service for the others.
How tracking can help
If you do speak with a healthcare professional, it can help to know when symptoms started, what changed, whether bleeding happened, what pain feels like, and what you have already tried. Uranus lets you record check-ins privately and review your history.