Proctologist in Latvia
when to go, how to prepare, what treatments exist
- Certification check: State register of medical practitioners (opens in a new window)
- Professional body: Latvian Society of Coloproctologists
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A proctologist deals with haemorrhoids, pain and bleeding from the back passage. The conversation is discreet, and the doctor will tell you when an in-person examination is needed.
The consultation happens over video, so it works the same in Riga, Daugavpils, Liepāja, Jelgava, Jūrmala, Ventspils and Rēzekne.
No verified doctor in this specialty yet
We check every certificate by hand, so the list grows step by step. Choose another specialty or start with a family doctor.
What this specialist is called in Latvia
The doctor list we currently have contains no entries under a proctology specialty, and there is a reason. A proctologist, or colorectal surgeon, in Latvia is normally a surgeon who has specialised in colon and rectal disease, so the register shows the base surgical specialty.
Any individual doctor's certificate can be checked in the state register (opens in a new window) by searching for "Ķirurgs".
When to call 113 instead of booking
- Heavy rectal bleeding that will not stop.
- Severe abdominal pain with vomiting and inability to pass gas or stool.
- High fever with pain and swelling around the anus.
- Fainting, pallor and cold sweat together with bleeding.
- Prolapsed and trapped haemorrhoids with severe pain.
- Rapidly spreading redness and swelling of the perineum together with fever.
What a proctologist treats
A proctologist, or colorectal surgery specialist, diagnoses and treats disease of the colon, rectum and perineum.
- Haemorrhoids
- Anal fissures
- Fistulas
- Polyps
- Rectal prolapse
- Diverticulitis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Colorectal cancer
Veselības centrs 4 states that around 50 per cent of the population experiences haemorrhoids at some point, and that roughly one third of patients attending a proctologist are diagnosed with haemorrhoidal disease.
For women, the number of births matters. Veselības centrs 4 states that women who have had three children face up to an 80 per cent probability of developing functional perineal conditions.
When to go immediately
The ARS medical centre states that bleeding, pain and other symptoms may indicate either benign bowel disease or colorectal cancer, and that if these symptoms are accompanied by persistent fatigue or weight loss, you should see a doctor without delay.
For prevention, a proctology visit is worth considering after age 45, particularly for people with a family history of colorectal cancer.
Separately, the state bowel cancer screening programme with a faecal occult blood test covers ages 50 to 74.
How to prepare for the visit
GASTRO centrs gives specific preparation instructions:
- Intimate hygiene before the visit is advisable.
- One hour before the appointment, prepare using a single Microlax enema.
Veselības centrs 4 adds:
- Before going, think about whether the sensations appeared in recent months.
- Write your questions down beforehand, since a proctology visit makes some people tense and they forget much of what they meant to ask.
Delay is this field's biggest problem. Because these conditions affect the most intimate part of the body, appointments are often postponed until the condition has worsened.
Treatment methods
Veselības centrs 4 states that first and second stage haemorrhoids are treated conservatively, while surgical methods are used from the third stage onwards.
| Method | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Conservative treatment | Adequate fluid intake, 35 ml per kilogram of body weight per day for adults, and more dietary fibre |
| Sclerotherapy | Injecting medication into the haemorrhoid |
| Ligation | Tying off the haemorrhoid with a rubber band |
| Laser therapy | Removing the haemorrhoid with laser energy |
| THD method | A gentler haemorrhoid operation that shortens recovery and allows a return to normal activity within days |
| RAFAELO procedure | Juglas klīnika states it removes third and fourth degree haemorrhoids under local anaesthesia without wounds, and that Veselības centrs 4 has used the technology since 2018, the first in Latvia |
| Surgery | Operations for fistulas, fissures, polyps and haemorrhoids |
How to verify this doctor's certificate
- 1Open Health Inspectorate - register of medical practitioners (registri.vi.gov.lv) (opens in a new window).
- 2Enter the surname or practitioner identifier in the search box.
- 3Look for the specialty "Ķirurgs". There is no "proctologist" specialty in the register.
- 4Check the certificate validity date.
- 5If a specific procedure such as RAFAELO or THD is planned, ask how often the doctor performs it.
Where proctologists practise
Rīga
- Veselības centrs 4 (opens in a new window)
and its group companies, including Juglas klīnika (opens in a new window) and Baltijas Vēnu klīnika (opens in a new window), offering surgery under local, spinal or general anaesthesia.
- ARS medical centre (opens in a new window)
performing proctological surgery in its day hospital including the THD method, with rectoscopy and fibrocolonoscopy available, also under anaesthesia.
- GASTRO centrs (opens in a new window)
- MB Clinic (opens in a new window)
Veselības centrs 4 states that proctology services are available both in Rīga and in the regions.
How to choose
- Tests on site. If colonoscopy is likely, choose a provider that performs it, including under anaesthesia.
- Method. Modern methods such as THD and RAFAELO allow a faster return to normal life but are usually private.
- Stage. Early stages may need only conservative treatment, so an early visit can avoid surgery.
- Multiple visits. Reaching a full diagnosis can take two or three visits, so choose somewhere convenient.
- Insurance. Some providers accept insurance-funded services.
What a visit looks like
- The doctor takes a history covering symptoms, bowel habits, diet and lifestyle, and for women also pregnancies and births.
- An examination follows, with anoscopy, rectoscopy or colonoscopy as needed.
- If that does not reveal the problem, further tests may follow, including barium enema, fibrocolonoscopy, colonic transit time assessment, defecography and ultrasound of the rectum and perineum, plus a consultation with another specialist such as a gastroenterologist.
- Veselības centrs 4 states that reaching a full diagnosis will require at least two or three proctology visits.
- Follow-up and repeat visits are arranged after procedures.
Cost
In the public system, with a referral, a specialist visit costs 4.00 EUR, an endoscopy 7.00 EUR, and an operation in a day hospital 4.00 EUR. Several modern haemorrhoid treatments are private.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Patient co-payment for a specialist visit | 4.00 EUR (National Health Service of Latvia (opens in a new window), price list checked 8 August 2026) |
| Patient co-payment for an endoscopic examination | 7.00 EUR (NVD, price list checked 8 August 2026) |
| Operation as outpatient or in day hospital | 4.00 EUR (NVD, price list checked 8 August 2026) |
| Bowel cancer screening by faecal occult blood test, ages 50 to 74 | 0.00 EUR (GASTRO centrs (opens in a new window), price list checked 8 August 2026) |
| RAFAELO, THD and other modern methods | per clinic price list EUR (Juglas klīnika (opens in a new window), ARS medical clinic (opens in a new window), price list checked 8 August 2026) |
Professional association and oversight
The specialty body is the association "Latvijas koloproktologu biedrība" (Latvian Society of Coloproctologists), registration number 40008235290, registered address Marijas iela 23-6, Rīga, LV-1011, contact Ints Bruņenieks, email koloproktologubiedriba@gmail.com.
Certificates are issued by the Certification Council of the Latvian Medical Association (opens in a new window). The sector regulator is the Health Inspectorate.
Patient rights and complaints
If you have doubts about the quality of care, raise them first with the provider's management. If that does not resolve it, a written submission goes to the Health Inspectorate no later than two years after the alleged infringement, and is reviewed within 30 days, extendable to four months in complex cases. The procedure is set out on the Health Inspectorate site (opens in a new window).
FAQ
How do I prepare for the visit?
GASTRO centrs states that intimate hygiene beforehand is advisable and that you should prepare with a single Microlax enema one hour before the appointment.
How common are haemorrhoids?
Veselības centrs 4 states that around 50 per cent of the population experiences them at some point.
Is surgery always needed?
No. First and second stage disease is treated conservatively; surgical methods are used from the third stage.
From what age should I consider a preventive visit?
After 45, particularly with a family history of colorectal cancer.
How many visits will I need?
Veselības centrs 4 states that reaching a full diagnosis will require at least two or three visits.
This page was reviewed by Sergejs Ponomarjovs, from the E-Medicīna team. More about us.
Sources, last-reviewed footer and fact-check
Last reviewed: 8 August 2026
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