After each session of hemorrhoidal ligation patients receive a chart containing a modified level of pain scale (Wong & Baker) and are asked to indicate pain level (from 0 to 5: 0 = no pain, 5 = unbearable pain) at fixed intervals (immediate post-ligation, 12 h post-ligation, 24 h post-ligation and each other day until 7 days post-ligation). Investigators gather this information about pain, and patient well-being post-ligations, from 8 programmed telephone calls to the patients after each session of hemorrhoidal (or sham) ligation.