Digestive & stomach
Hemorrhoids
Most people put off asking about hemorrhoids far longer than they should. At Murray Shore Pharmacy in North York, the conversation happens in a private consultation room with a pharmacist who assesses this condition routinely, and the assessment is covered by OHIP.
Common signs
- Itching or irritation around the anus
- Small amounts of bright red blood on the toilet paper or in the bowl
- A tender lump you can feel near the opening
- Aching or pressure that worsens with sitting or straining
- Symptoms that flare during constipation or after pregnancy
See a doctor instead if
- Blood that is dark, mixed through the stool, or heavier than streaks on paper
- A recent change in bowel habits that has lasted weeks
- Severe pain, or a hard, intensely painful lump, which may need urgent care
- You are over 50 and have never had colorectal screening
- Ongoing fatigue or lightheadedness, which can signal blood loss
Any of these sound like you? Call 416-789-1800 and we will point you the right way — or reach Health811 (opens in a new tab) by calling 811.
How the assessment works
The assessment is conversation-based: the pharmacist asks about the bleeding pattern, pain, bowel habits, diet, and pregnancy history, because those answers separate straightforward hemorrhoids from things that must not be treated over the counter. Where the picture is clearly hemorrhoidal, a topical preparation may be prescribed where appropriate, alongside the fibre, fluid, and toilet-habit changes that actually prevent the next flare. Any bleeding pattern that does not fit goes to a physician, without exception.
Sources 1, 2Three ways to get started. Do it all from home, or come in.
Start online from your phone, call us, or walk in and ask for the pharmacist. No appointment is needed. When you start online, a pharmacist calls or messages you back to finish the assessment. Prefer email? Write to us.
Frequently asked questions
Plain answers from the pharmacy team. Tap a question to open it.
Is a little blood on the toilet paper ever normal?
Bright red streaks on paper are common with hemorrhoids, but 'common' is not the same as 'safe to ignore.' The assessment asks precise questions about colour, amount, and pattern, because those details decide whether pharmacy care is enough or a physician needs to look further.
Will I have to be examined?
No. The pharmacist's assessment is done entirely by history, in a closed consultation room. If your answers suggest an examination is genuinely needed, that is a referral to your physician, and we will say so directly rather than guess.
I am embarrassed to bring this up at the counter. How does the visit work?
You do not have to explain anything at the counter. Ask for a minor ailment assessment, or call 416-789-1800 ahead, and the rest of the conversation happens privately. Our pharmacists have this conversation regularly; nothing about it will surprise them.
I am 55 and have never had a colonoscopy. Does that change what you will do?
Yes, and it is one of the first things we ask. Rectal bleeding in someone overdue for colorectal screening needs a physician's involvement even when hemorrhoids seem obvious, because the two can coexist. We will still help with comfort measures while that referral happens.
The flare-ups keep returning every few months. Can anything break the cycle?
Usually the cycle is driven by constipation and straining, so the durable fix is fibre, fluids, and not postponing the urge, and the assessment goes through your actual routine to find what to change. Recurring flares despite those changes are a reason to involve your doctor.
Is the hemorrhoid assessment covered by OHIP?
Yes, the assessment is billed to OHIP with a valid Ontario health card. Any prescribed treatment is charged to your drug plan or paid out of pocket, and the whole conversation happens in the private consultation room.
Can the pharmacist prescribe treatment, or only point at the shelf?
Both are possible. After the assessment, treatment may be prescribed where clinically appropriate, as set out in the Government of Ontario's minor ailment program; otherwise the pharmacist recommends suitable non-prescription care and explains what would change that answer.
I am pregnant and dealing with hemorrhoids. Can you help?
Come in. Hemorrhoids are very common in pregnancy, and the assessment takes that into account; some options change and some cases are referred to your physician or midwife. Either way you leave with a plan rather than a shrug.
How is a hemorrhoid different from an anal fissure?
A fissure is a small tear, and its signature is sharp pain during and right after a bowel movement, often with a streak of bright blood. The assessment asks the questions that distinguish the two, since the care differs.
How soon should I feel better, and what if I do not?
Most flare-ups settle within about a week of consistent care. If symptoms persist beyond that, worsen, or the bleeding changes in colour or amount, call 416-789-1800 and we will reassess or refer you.
What should I bring to the assessment?
Your Ontario health card, a list of medications, and any products you have already tried. A rough sense of your bathroom pattern over the past couple of weeks makes the assessment noticeably sharper.
Sources & further reading
Numbered references, linked from the sections above.
Your pharmacist is one call away.
416-789-1800 Call nowPrefer not to call? Email info@murrayshore.com or visit us at Bathurst & Baycrest.