Blood in Stool? Here’s What It Could Mean

Blood in your poop (rectal bleeding) means noticing blood on the toilet tissue when you wipe or seeing bloody stools in the toilet bowl after a bowel movement. The medical term for it is hematochezia.

GI bleeding can be a symptom of many different conditions, some of which are serious. If you are pooping blood, you should make an appointment to see your healthcare provider. In the meantime, keep reading to find out some of the possible causes of blood in your stool.

Is Blood in Your Stool Serious?

Most of the time, bloody stools are not serious or life-threatening, for example, minor rectal bleeding due to hemorrhoids or anal fissures. However, gastrointestinal bleeding can be a sign of a more serious condition such as colorectal cancer.

The only way to know is to see your healthcare provider. They will obtain a history, take into account your other symptoms (for example, severe abdominal pain or bloody diarrhea), perform a physical examination, and order tests such as fecal occult blood and complete blood count. This will help them make a diagnosis and offer the appropriate treatment for your bloody bowel movements.

Blood in Stool: What Color and Types Indicate

If you are experiencing bloody stools or GI bleeding, the appearance of the blood in your poop can provide a clue about the bleeding site in your digestive tract.

Bright Red Blood in Stool

Bright red blood in stool or fresh blood on toilet paper usually indicates active bleeding in the lower GI tract (large intestine, rectum, or anus). Possible causes include hemorrhoids, anal fissures, colon polyps, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and tumors.

Dark Red Blood in Stool

Maroon or darker blood in stool typically originates higher up in the GI tract (intestinal bleeding in the small intestine or colon). Possible causes of dark red blood in the stool include ulcers, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and diverticular disease.

Black or Tarry Stool

Black or tarry poop (medical term: melena) is indicative of acute bleeding in the upper GI tract, for example, from esophagitis or peptic ulcers in the stomach.

Sometimes, the bloody poop is not visible to the naked eye. This is called occult bleeding and is only identifiable by a stool test called the fecal occult blood test.

Certain foods like beets, tomatoes, and cranberries, as well as red food coloring, can make your stools look red.

Common Causes of Blood in Poop

Blood in your bowel movement can indicate many different conditions of the digestive system, some of which are listed below:

Hemorrhoids

Also called piles, hemorrhoids are one of the most common causes of rectal bleeding. They are uncomfortable but benign. Hemorrhoids are essentially swollen veins in the rectum or anus that are present close to the surface of the skin. These swollen blood vessels are prone to breaking and bleeding when you strain during a bowel movement, lift heavy objects, or during pregnancy.

Minor hemorrhoids do not usually require any treatment other than lifestyle modifications. However, in severe cases, abnormal blood vessels can be treated with procedures such as rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, photocoagulation, electrocoagulation, hemorrhoidectomy, or hemorrhoid stapling.

Find out the best prescription and over-the-counter hemorrhoid treatment.

Anal fissure

An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the anus or lower rectum. It can cause bleeding and pain when you strain or pass a hard stool. Some anal fissures heal on their own, while others require medical intervention.

Bacterial infection

Food poisoning or bacterial infections such as E. coli or C. difficile can lead to bloody poop from hemorrhagic colitis (bleeding in the colon). Similarly, H. pylori infection can also cause rectal bleeding. Bacterial infections may resolve on their own or require antibiotics.

Inflammatory bowel disease

This is a condition in which there is chronic inflammation in the small intestine (ulcerative colitis) or large intestine (Crohn’s disease). Symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease include abdominal pain and diarrhea. Intestinal bleeding can be present in severe cases.

Diverticulitis

Diverticular disease is when small pouches called diverticula develop in the lining of the lower end of the colon near the rectum. Infection and inflammation of the diverticula can lead to a break in a blood vessel and acute bleeding.

Peptic ulcer disease

Peptic ulcers are sores in the stomach or duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) that form when stomach acid wears away the protective lining. Stomach ulcers can cause gnawing stomach pain and bleeding. They can be diagnosed with an imaging study called gastrointestinal endoscopy. The blood in your poop tends to be dark red in this case because of the action of digestive chemicals on the blood as it passes through the digestive tract. Black stools usually indicate a problem in the upper GI tract.

Colon polyps and colorectal cancer

Colon polyps are mushroom-like growths that can be benign or malignant. Malignant or cancerous polyps are more likely to bleed. If you have bloody stools, depending on your medical history and family history, your doctor may order a colonoscopy to rule out colon cancer.

Sexually transmitted infections

Certain sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis can cause anal inflammation and bleeding. Herpes can cause sores, and human papillomavirus can cause anal warts that bleed. There are specific treatments for these infections, so it’s important to see your healthcare provider and obtain a proper diagnosis.

Home Remedies for Blood in Stool

Rectal bleeding can be due to a minor cause, but it can also be a sign of something more serious. Before resorting to home remedies, it’s a good idea to have blood in the stool checked out by your healthcare provider. However, if you have a known cause for rectal bleeding, such as hemorrhoids, you could try home remedies like increased fiber intake, hydration, and Sitz baths to see if they provide relief. (Learn about Preparation H for Hemorrhoids: Side Effects & Interactions)

When To Seek Medical Help: Should I Be Worried About Blood in my Poop (Rectal Bleeding)?

It is important to see your doctor for any rectal bleeding, especially if:

You don’t have any known gastrointestinal problem
The rectal bleeding is accompanied by other symptoms, such as stomach pain or unexplained weight loss
It has been going on for more than a week
The bleeding is heavy or frequent
If you have not been eating foods that can make your stool appear red, such as beets, red frosting, red licorice, and tomatoes

You should go to the emergency room if you have sudden severe bleeding (gastrointestinal hemorrhage) because this can lead to significant blood loss. Seek emergency care to control bleeding if your rectal bleeding is accompanied by symptoms such as:

Low blood pressure,
Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting,
Tiredness, pale skin,
Chest pain, shortness of breath.

When To Schedule Routine Checks

For healthy adults who don’t have a family history or other risk factors for gastrointestinal conditions, the recommendations are to repeat a stool screening every year and a colonoscopy every 10 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much blood is abnormal in stool?

Any blood in your stool is abnormal. See your healthcare provider if you are experiencing rectal bleeding. Seek urgent medical care if you have bloody diarrhea, heavy bleeding, or large blood clots in your stool.

What kind of blood in stool is concerning?

Bright red blood, dark red or maroon blood, black tarry stool, heavy bleeding, large clots, and bloody diarrhea are all concerning. Reach out to your health care professional immediately if you have these signs and symptoms.

Prevention and Management

Most rectal bleeding is due to common conditions such as hemorrhoids. If you have seen your healthcare provider and know this is the underlying cause of blood in the stool, you can practice self-care.