Stress must be a major factor. I cannot correlate hemmorhoids to constipation. my bathroom habits haven't changed in 35 yrs. Lucky me.Looking forward to tracking microbes.Though i think they are everywhere, and it is our weakened responses that let them win, generally speaking.Like my hepatitis c people: 90% of them with low chol. # (read weak liver),no needle drug use or surgeries or blood transfusions,a germ that can live on the sidewalk for 3 days,and they got it(or had it) and i don't.....not just a matter of microbes....and the only time my girlfriend gets sick is when her mom is coming for a visit.like clockwork.