Initially, the treatment for hemorrhoids generally involves various treatments for the symptoms themselves. However, as time goes by if the hemorrhoids persist then more drastic measures need to be taken in order to tackle them. Very often, this means that the only conventional treatments left are those of the surgical variety.

Don't be alarmed - although these options are 'surgical' in nature, they generally aren't too intrusive. In other words, you're not going to be left with a huge scar or anything like that. Instead, these surgical options mostly are various methods of removing hemorrhoids physically through a number of different techniques.

One of the most common is rubber band litigation. Basically, it is very simple in theory - an elastic band is put around the hemorrhoid itself and then left there. Due to the band (which will be fairly tight) blood supply to the hemorrhoid is going to be cut off, and as time passes it will shrivel up and simply 'die'. Once that has happened, the hemorrhoid will wither off and be washed out with your bowel movement.

This is fairly similar to yet another surgical option known as stapled hemorrhoidectomy - which also involves cutting off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid. There are other options that work along similar lines too, and all of them have been known to be fairly effective.

Other than that however, there are options to remove the hemorrhoids more directly, including hemorrhoidolysis (where the hemorrhoid is 'zapped' using an electrical current), sclerotherapy (where it is hardened until it shrivels up), and hemorrhoidectomy (where it is literally 'cut off'). All of these options are more intrusive than the others that we just discussed, and so they aren't recommended initially.

Although it may seem to be the best option available (after all, you're going to be getting rid of your hemorrhoids directly, right?), many people find that surgical options to remove hemorrhoids leave a lot to be desired. While they can deal with any lumps that have formed, and even stop bleeding, many find that the pain can persist even after the hemorrhoid has been 'removed'.

Furthermore, there is nothing to prevent the hemorrhoid itself from re-forming, and thus you could find yourself back at square one fairly quickly.

All of these drawbacks mean that it might not be worth it to pursue a surgical option, which can be costly. Considering the fact that the effects may be limited, you really may not want to fork out for something that could prove to just be a solid waste of time and money.