Advice About Bright Red Blood in Stool

Blood is supposed to stay in your body. So seeing blood in your bowel movement can be frightening.

Bloody stool is an indication that something is not working right, but it is not always a sign of colon cancer. Like the lining of your mouth or nose, the lining of the colon has lots of blood vessels, so any injury can lead to bright red rectal bleeding.

This article explains the causes of bloody stool, when to call your healthcare provider, and what to expect at your healthcare visit.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels that can be inside or outside of the anus. They are a common, mostly harmless problem. However, they are fragile and can bleed, so they're the number one cause of bright red blood smears on the toilet paper.

You may or may not feel any discomfort with a hemorrhoid. Pregnancy and straining during a bowel movement are two common causes of hemorrhoids. They are easily treatable and may even resolve on their own.

Inflammatory Conditions

Certain inflammatory diseases in the colon can cause bright red or dark red blood in the stools. These include:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Diverticular disease

Colon Polyps

Colon polyps are growths on the inside wall of the colon. Most polyps are benign (non-cancerous) and do not cause any symptoms.

Polyps can and do bleed, though, particularly larger ones. If your healthcare provider suspects a polyp, they will want to order a colonoscopy to investigate and remove the polyp. Untreated polyps can lead to colon cancer.

Constipation

Constipation and straining to pass a large bowel movement can lead to smears of bright red blood on the toilet paper. Causes of constipation include:

• Not drinking enough water
• Low-fiber diets
• Lack of exercise
• Changes in routine
• Eating too much dairy
• Stress
• Holding your bowel movements
• Certain medications
• Certain health conditions
• Pregnancy

Let your healthcare provider know if you are straining to pass bowel movements. This straining can lead to tiny, uncomfortable tears in your anal tissues, called fissures. Anal sex can also sometimes cause these tiny fissures and rectal bleeding.

Bowel Infections

Untreated bowel infections, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), can cause bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain. E. coli can stem from consuming undercooked meats or unpasteurized juice and dairy products. The infection requires antibiotic therapy.

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer can cause blood in the stool. However, in the early stages, most colon cancers do not generate any symptoms.

If the visible blood in your stool is from colon cancer, it is most often from the left side of the colon (including the descending colon, sigmoid colon, or rectum). Cancer in the right side of the colon usually does not present with noticeable bleeding.

What to Do About Blood in the Stool

The best action you can take now is to pay attention to this symptom. If you're not positive about the cause, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. Prepare for your visit by asking yourself these questions:

• Was the blood in the stool, toilet bowl, or on the toilet paper?
• Was the blood bright red or dark red?
• Approximately how much blood did you see? (Keep in mind, a drop of blood in a toilet bowl will turn all of the water red.)
• Did you have to strain to pass the bowel movement?
• How frequently do you have bowel movements?
• Do you have other symptoms?
• When was your last colon cancer screening or colonoscopy?
• Do you have a history of polyps or a family history of polyps?

Diagnosis

Your healthcare provider will complete a physical exam to look for any visible causes of rectal bleeding, like hemorrhoids or anal abrasion. They will also take your medical history. Then, they may order tests to investigate the cause further, even if it is obvious.

Your healthcare provider might order:

• Complete blood count (CBC): This blood test can show how much blood you may have lost.
• Clotting time: If you take anticoagulants (blood thinners), your healthcare provider may want to check if your blood is too thin.
• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT): These stool tests check for the presence of blood.
• Colonoscopy: In this procedure, a healthcare provider uses a scope to look inside the entire colon. This test allows the healthcare provider to see and remove any polyps in the colon lining.
• Sigmoidoscopy: This test is similar to a colonoscopy, but looks only at the lower part of the colon, including the sigmoid colon and the rectum.
• X-rays: Images of the lower intestinal tract may show any large abnormalities in the colon.

Following the test(s), your healthcare provider will discuss the findings with you. They may potentially order further testing if imaging found abnormalities. Based on the results, they can develop a treatment plan, as needed.

Summary

Bloody stools can have many causes. Often, bleeding during a bowel movement is a clue to benign conditions, like hemorrhoids, constipation, or polyps. But sometimes, it can indicate something more serious such as an infection, intestinal disease, or cancer.

A Word From Verywell

Rectal bleeding is unsettling. If you notice bleeding when you have a bowel movement, rest assured that it is most likely due to something minor. Even so, it's essential to pay attention to the bleeding that occurs during a bowel movement. If your bowel habits change or you notice new bleeding, it's always best to get it checked out.