At 26, Jennifer Dwork was fit, healthy and running three times a week.
But while studying at Columbia business school in 2012, she was suddenly wracked by a sharp pain in her rectum when she went to the bathroom.
There were specks of bright red blood on her toilet paper, and she said it felt as though she was ‘pushing out glass’.
Initially, she tried to ignore the symptoms, using an organic balm to soothe the pain and avoiding public restrooms.
But when the pain still hadn’t eased weeks later, she began searching online for answers — and was shocked by the results.
‘Your mind goes to the worst places,’ Dwork said. ‘I was reading how, if I’m bleeding down there, it could be colon cancer. It could be something really serious. I was so nervous I didn’t talk to my then-partner about it.’
After visiting her primary care doctor she was referred to a colorectal surgeon who finally delivered the diagnosis: hemorrhoids.
Jennifer Dwork, now 40 years old, said she has kept her hemorrhoids at bay for 14 years using nothing a 20-cent-a-day fiber supplement
Hemorrhoids is a common condition, affecting one in 20 Americans, and occurs when the veins in the anus become swollen and inflamed. Some people also suffer from anal fissures, which are tiny tears in the lower rectum.
Dwork’s doctor first prescribed a compounded cream to immediately ease the pain when using the bathroom.
She was also told about a fiber supplement that can help with symptoms in the long-term. And it was this 20 cent over-the-counter pill that ended up keeping the problem at bay for 14 years and counting.
Dwork, now 40 and living in New York, said: ‘I do remember being comforted that hemorrhoids are really common at the time, but also being given this advice to get much more fiber.
‘I always ate a lot of fruit and vegetables before, but it was really hard to track whether I was getting the recommended amount each day.
‘So, I started to take a fiber supplement at night, and that has really helped. I would say that this was the number one thing that has eased my hemorrhoids.’
The FDA recommends that Americans get 25 to 35 grams of fiber per day, equivalent to seven cups of oatmeal, six apples or two-and-a-half avocados a day. However, an estimated 95 percent of Americans do not reach this target.
Hemorrhoids and anal fissures are caused by increased pressure and trauma in the anal area, often stemming from constipation and straining during bowel movements.
Eating more fiber eases hemorrhoids by softening stool and boosting its bulk, which doctors say reduces the need to strain.
Dwork said that she was also given immediate relief by prescription creams. She has now founded a startup to help people get easier access to medication. She is shown above with her cofounder Rebecca Monahan
Dwork took Citrucel fiber supplements, which are sold at CVS and other pharmacies for about $20 for 100 caplets.
Citrucels are made from methylcellulose, derived from plant powder, and are marketed as a potential constipation reliever.
As well as increasing her intake of fiber, Dwork also tried a few other strategies to ease her hemorrhoids, including drinking lots of water and walking more.
Doctors say more water can help by softening stools, while walking can help substances to move through the digestive system.
Dwork drinks eight to 12 glasses of water per day and takes her water bottle wherever she goes. The FDA recommends about 12 cups of water a day for women.
Dwork also often stands at her desk job, in marketing and then as an entrepreneur, and aims to hit 10,000 steps a day.
Dwork said her hemorrhoids have only returned twice since her 20s. Once when she was dehydrated and again when she was pregnant
After taking the fiber supplements and making those lifestyle tweaks, Dwork said she suffered from no hemorrhoids or anal problems for 12 years.
But in 2024, the hemorrhoids returned for a few weeks. Dwork put the flare up down to having thyroid issues and drinking less water at the time.
Dwork has an underactive thyroid, which can slow the metabolism and lead to chronic constipation.
In late 2025, the hemorrhoids returned again during the third trimester of her first pregnancy.
But this is a common issue in pregnancy, with about 30 to 50 percent of women suffering from hemorrhoids linked to increased abdominal pressure, constipation and hormonal changes.
It was this experience that led Dwork to cofound a telehealth company called Bummed, which aims to make it easier for people suffering from hemorrhoids to get prescription medications.
Dwork said her experience has made her determined to help others who may be too embarrassed to seek care
During her treatment, Dwork said she often found she needed to see two doctors and was left waiting in pain for weeks between appointments.
When using her service she said patients can pay $49 for an initial consultation and then $65 for a three-month supply of a prescription cream to ease the pain.
She said she is currently increased interest from people taking weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, which are known to cause constipation.
‘At the time [I was diagnosed], I was embarrassed, didn’t fully understand what was happening and had a lot of fear around it,’ Dwork told Daily Mail.
‘For me, the biggest lesson was that these conditions are incredibly common, but people are often too embarrassed to talk about them or seek care — which is exactly why I wanted to help make treatment easier and more accessible.’
