Frequently Asked Questions

FAST

The  eXroid® haemorrhoid treatment takes 30 minutes or less.  Effects can be felt immediately with continued shrinkage over the next 4-6 weeks

SPECIALIST

The procedure is supported and carried out by leading specialist consultants and fully trained in the eXroid® haemorrhoid treatment

SAFE

The  eXroid® haemorrhoid procedure is low risk, as it requires not anaesthetic, cutting or stitching

CONVENIENT

Get back to your life straighaway with no time off work needed after the  eXroid® haemorrhoid procedure

APPROVED

 eXroid® electrotherapy is listed with the Australian Theraputic Association (TGA), CE marked, NICE guidance (IPG525 & MIB201), MDSAP and ISO accreditation

Contact us for a location closest to you across Australia and New Zealand

There may be occasions where the patient has been, or is experiencing pain on the day of the appointment. If a digital or proctoscopic examination proves too painful, it will not be possible for a full and proper assessment to be carried out. In this instance, undergoing an eXroid treatment will not be possible. The pain may be due to other conditions which can have similar symptoms to internal haemorrhoids, such as an anal fissure or a perianal haematoma, which can cause pain when the anal canal is opened during the examination stage.

If your haemorrhoids are thrombosed and/or you are experiencing a flare up of your symptoms on the day of your appointment, you may also find it too uncomfortable to have the treatment or be able to start, but not complete the treatment. Please note, if treatment commences but is not completed, the treatment cost is non-refundable.

We would also advise against having the treatment if you have any of the below conditions:

Pregnancy
Pacemaker and / or defibrillator implant
Bleeding disorder
Anticoagulant therapy with Warfarin where the INR is greater than 3.0
Active anorectal infection
Inflammatory bowel disease (incl. Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis)
Lower abdominal / lower quadrant transplant patients
Purely external haemorrhoids
Megacolon

The eXroid treatment itself is not usually associated with significant pain relating to the current delivered, however, some patients have described pain associated with aspects of the treatment, which we have described further below. All information has been gathered from the thousands of treatments we have carried out, from our patient feedback surveys.

Pain relating to the insertion of the proctoscope: Some patients do find the process painful relating to the insertion of the anoscope/proctoscope (a hollow plastic tube), which allows access to the base of the internal haemorrhoid, where the eXroid treatment site is located. Topical numbing cream can be administered to help with this discomfort, as well as guided breathing techniques, to help relax the muscles, to allow for an easier insertion. Occasionally, during the treatment, the muscular anal canal can go into spasm (a bit like a cramp pain) as the body tries to push out the anoscope. Using relaxation techniques, guided by the treating doctor, can help patients to relax during the treatment which, in turn, can help to ease this discomfort.

Pain related to other conditions present: Patients who have other conditions present (more specifically fissures) can find the examination and proctoscope insertion more painful, due to the fissure being present. A few patients do present with both haemorrhoids and fissures at the same time and the doctor would advise as to whether it is appropriate to proceed with an examination and onto treatment if a fissure is present. This will depend on the relative tolerability of the initial digital examination and proctoscopy, prior to proceeding with an eXroid treatment, if appropriate.

Pain relating to the electrical current: There are usually very few nerves at the eXroid treatment site (situated well above the dentate line), so sharp pain is not usually experienced, rather it has been expressed by some as a dull ache. The intensity of this ache can be managed by the treating doctor by adjusting the current to a tolerable level for the duration of the treatment. The doctor will talk to you during the treatment to manage this to suit you, as well as to get the best possible treatment outcome.

For most patients the treatment is not painful, but for a small number of patients (based on patient feedback data) it can be more unpleasant and/or painful. However, our eXroid Practitioners can help find a solution to manage any pain or discomfort by using various techniques during the treatment process and will tailor the treatment to the individual’s needs. Patients can also choose to take a dose of paracetamol 1-2 hours before the treatment (typically 2 x 500mg tablets), to help minimise the discomfort during the procedure.

Compared to more invasive surgical techniques, the eXroid electrotherapy treatment is the least painful procedure by far, and any discomfort felt during the procedure, typically resolves immediately or by the next day, compared to surgical techniques that often result in prolonged down-time and pain for some weeks following the procedure.d an answer to this item.

 This is usually possible for most. For some patients, a short recovery time may be required and, for a small percentage (actually 11%) one or more days is sometimes required. 

 Yes, it is possible that you will need more than one treatment. From the data we have received from our patients who have previously had eXroid treatment, about half require one treatment to get symptomatic relief and the other half will need further treatment(s). There is a tendency for those with higher grade haemorrhoids and for those having had them for a longer duration, to need more treatment sessions to achieve symptomatic relief. 

 No, it is not possible to predict with any certainty that you will need one or more treatments following an initial examination. There is a tendency for those with narrow-based haemorrhoids (irrespective of grade) to need fewer treatments and for those with broader-based haemorrhoids to need multiple. However, the number of treatments cannot be guaranteed or predicted, as we cannot predict how a patient will heal, nor what factors might affect if haemorrhoids might increase in size again or for new ones to appear elsewhere following a treatment and what timeframe over which this might occur. It is important that any factors that might be contributing to having haemorrhoids are addressed, such as prolonged sitting, constipation, heavy lifting etc. If these factors are not addressed, there is an increased risk of additional treatments being needed and of new haemorrhoids developing. This is true with all treatments used for haemorrhoids, including banding, radiofrequency, THD, stapling and haemorrhoidectomy etc 

From the data we have collected from our patients, symptoms improve from immediately post treatment up to 4 weeks later, with very few getting improvements beyond 4 weeks. This is the reason we call and send a post-treatment assessment to our patients at the 4 week time point, as this allows us to review progress and consider if a further treatment might be needed if symptoms are still present. We typically recommend that this is planned within 6-8 weeks of the initial treatment, as there is the suggestion that leaving it for longer periods, may allow any remaining haemorrhoids to start to increase in size again.

There are different reasons why that might be the case. For example, if the haemorrhoids have only partially responded to a given treatment, by treating these again sooner rather than later, it will shut down the feeding blood vessels more effectively, allowing the haemorrhoid to reduce further and then hopefully to disappear. The longer the gap between treatments, the more chance that by having to strain to pass a stool, this will increase the blood flow, opening up the blood vessels and increasing their size once again. This can lead to recurrent or worsening symptoms. The goal is to shrink the haemorrhoids as efficiently as possible, so that there is no haemorrhoid obstructing the passing of a stool, meaning that you do not need to overstrain for appropriate evacuation. In other words, the longer you leave it between treatments (if you have remaining symptoms) the greater the chance you will lose the progress made.

There are a number of treatment options for sufferers to consider, whether that be to help relieve mild to moderate symptoms during a flare-up, or to have a medical treatment to remove or reduce the haemorrhoids themselves, thus improving the impact and severity of the associated symptoms.

Historically these medical treatments have been segmented by the progressive grade of haemorrhoid disease (1-4), as traditionally there has not been a viable single option that has treated all grades of haemorrhoids prior to the eXroid® treatment launching in the UK in 2013. 

 These can be at-home or complimentary methods like a sitz bath, an over-the-counter cream, ointment or suppository or a prescribed ointment, cream or suppository following a visit to the GP or specialist. These also include pain and inflammation control using oral medication. 

 Haemorrhoids, or piles, are a common and often uncomfortable condition that affects nearly 50% of the adult population in Australia throughout their lifetime.  Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments available to help relieve the symptoms of haemorrhoids and provide relief from the discomfort they can cause. 

The first line of treatment for haemorrhoids is often home care. This includes taking a warm bath several times a day, avoiding straining during bowel movements, and applying a cold compress to the affected area. Increasing dietary fibre, drinking plenty of fluids and exercising regularly can also help to reduce symptoms.

Medications are also available to help with symptom relief. Topical creams, ointments and suppositories can be used to reduce inflammation and itching, and oral medications can be used to reduce pain (read more about the options available to you to help relieve symptoms during a flare-up).