Hemorrhoids treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $79.99/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX cards, as well as Google and Apple Pay.

At Maple, we proudly prioritize privacy as a cornerstone of our virtual care services. We strictly adhere to privacy and healthcare legislation in Canada, such as PIPEDA and PHIPA regulations, to ensure patients' personal and health information remains completely private and safeguarded.

Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

All providers delivering healthcare through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their licensing regulatory colleges, and in all instances, must act in accordance with the governing principles set out in the telemedicine policies of each medical regulator in the applicable province.

Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.

Yes, you can. A doctor from Maple will want to discuss your medical history, as well as any symptoms or signs of hemorrhoids that you’re currently experiencing.
If your symptoms are persistent or severe, the doctor may suggest a physical examination before offering a hemorrhoids diagnosis.
Less commonly, the doctor may suggest additional testing to further examine your digestive system before providing hemorrhoid treatment options.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe hemorrhoids medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription for hemorrhoids, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or to have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

Hemorrhoids, also known as “piles”, are clusters of veins that form beneath the mucous membranes in the lower rectum and anus. These appear when your veins become distended and swollen, similar to the way varicose veins occur in the legs.

This condition is extremely common. Nearly three out of four adults will experience hemorrhoids from time to time.

There are two types of hemorrhoids:

• External – under the skin around the anus
• Internal – inside the rectum

Internal hemorrhoids rarely cause discomfort, and can’t be seen or felt. Therefore, there aren’t many signs of internal hemorrhoids. However, irritation or straining during a bowel movement can result in:

• Pain and irritation (due to protruding or prolapsed hemorrhoids pushing through the anal opening)
• Bleeding from the rectum while passing stool with minimal or no pain

External hemorrhoids have signs that are far more noticeable and more commonly recognized. External hemorrhoid symptoms include:

• Bleeding from around the anus
• Pain or discomfort (particularly while having a bowel movement or due to wiping)
• Swelling around the anus
  Irritation or itching around the anus

As we age, our risk of hemorrhoids increases. Some people even believe that hemorrhoids are a natural result of blood vessels fighting gravity, because human beings stand upright.

The most direct cause of hemorrhoids is bulging or swelling veins. These tend to stretch under pressure, which means that hemorrhoids can develop due to increased pressure in the lower rectum. This can be the result of a number of different catalysts, such as:

• Low-fibre diets
• Dehydration
• Pregnancy (sometimes caused by the uterus pressing on veins)
• Chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Frequent heavy lifting
• Straining during bowel movements
• Sitting for long periods of time (especially on the toilet)
• Obesity
• Anal intercourse

It’s also believed that genetics could be a cause of hemorrhoids in some people, especially if there is a family history of the condition.

Due to the wide range of hemorrhoid causes, the doctor will want to evaluate your current condition, and your personal and family medical histories. This is important to help identify the need to screen for certain types of rectal and colon cancers.

They’ll also want to talk to you about your current symptoms and signs of hemorrhoids, before providing a hemorrhoid diagnosis. Depending on the severity of your condition, the doctor may also suggest a visual inspection or digital examination at a medical facility.

Less commonly, if the doctor believes your hemorrhoids or rectal bleeding could be signs of another condition, they may suggest a colonoscopy. They could also suggest a sigmoidoscopy or a barium X-ray, in order to do a more detailed examination of your colon.

Most of the time, if you’ve only just started experiencing signs of hemorrhoids, the doctor will suggest trying over-the-counter hemorrhoid medications.

There are a number of home-remedies that are also good for soothing signs of hemorrhoids, such as:

• Cold compress on the affected area
• Ointments for soothing symptoms
• Warm bath or sitz bath
• Witch hazel on the affected area
• Wearing loose clothing
• Eating high-fibre foods
• Soothing wipes
• Stool softeners
• Staying hydrated

If your hemorrhoid symptoms are chronic or severe, the doctor may suggest hemorrhoid treatments involving prescription hemorrhoid medications or additional procedures.

If you’ve tried over-the-counter hemorrhoid medications, home-remedies and your hemorrhoid symptoms are still severe or chronic, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor.

The doctor will be able to do a thorough evaluation of your condition and offer a clear hemorrhoid diagnosis. If they believe you could have an underlying condition causing your hemorrhoids, they can arrange for additional testing to provide a clear hemorrhoid diagnosis.

If you have chronic or severe hemorrhoid symptoms, Maple can help you find hemorrhoid treatments that will work for you.