Relationship between haemorrhoids and prostatism: results of a prospective study

Haemorrhoids are less prevalent in Africans than their European counterparts due to consumption of high-residue diet and bulky stools resulting in less straining at stooling. Bowesman felt that most cases of haemorrhoids in the African were due to lower urinary obstruction. This study was carried out to find any cause and effect relationship between benign prostatic hypertrophy and haemorrhoids. Sixty-two elderly patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy were screened for haemorrhoids before and after prostatectomy. Twenty-five patients had haemorrhoids before operation. In 20 patients (80%) the haemorrhoids had regressed spontaneously 3 months after surgery. It is therefore important to recognise that the presence of haemorrhoids in elderly males may be due to prostatism.