Hemorrhoids can be classified as stage I, II, III and IV depending on the severity of their symptoms. Stage I hemorrhoids may have only a small amount of blood in the stool and no protruding nucleus, while stage II hemorrhoids have blood in the stool with protrusion of the nucleus during stool and will retract on their own after stool. Stage III hemorrhoids have blood in the stool, with the nucleus protruding during the stool, and need to be retracted by hand after the stool, after which they no longer protrude. Stage IV hemorrhoids have blood in the stool and a prolonged prolapse of the hemorrhoid nucleus outside of the anus, which can fall back out soon after being dragged in by hand. Stage I and II hemorrhoids are early stage hemorrhoids, while stage III and IV hemorrhoids are late stage hemorrhoids.