If you only have blood on the tissue when you wipe but not in your stool, this is more likely to be hemorrhoids or anal fissures, which should be confirmed by your doctor. Blood from polyps or colorectal cancer can show up in various ways.
It can be scary to see blood in the toilet or when you wipe after a bowel movement. Fortunately, most of the causes of rectal bleeding are not life-threatening; common causes include hemorrhoids and anal fissures, which are discussed below.
Sometimes people see blood on the paper after wiping. Hemorrhoids are the most common reason, but rectal bleeding can also indicate a serious gastrointestinal condition that needs medical attention. A few occasional drops or streaks of blood in the toilet when wiping or in the stool are usually not a worry.
A small amount of one-off bleeding from the bottom is not usually a serious problem. But a GP can check.
It is common to see blood on the toilet paper, around the stool (poo), or in the toilet after a bowel motion. This is known as rectal bleeding and it can occur for many reasons. Most of the time rectal bleeding is not a sign of a serious illness, but it is important to see your doctor.
Blood from higher up in the bowel doesn't look bright red. It goes dark red or black and can make your poo look like tar. This type of bleeding can be a sign of cancer higher up the bowel.
In general, bright-red blood means the bleeding has come from somewhere near your anus. This is a typical sign of piles (haemorrhoids) or a small tear (anal fissure) in the skin of your anus. Although these are common problems, don't let embarrassment stop you seeing your GP.
If you see blood in stool or on toilet paper after a bowel movement, take note of how much blood there is. If there is a significant amount or continuous bleeding, see your doctor as soon as possible. You should also seek help if your stool appears black, tarry or maroon in color.
While in severe cases of IBS, there may be blood, it is not a commonly experienced symptom. IBS may be causes by infections in the digestive tract or as the consequence of viral of bacterial gastroenteritis. In the acute period of these infections, bloody diarrhoea is not uncommon.
Smaller hemorrhoids can be cured in a few days (less than 3 days). During this time, you should not be carrying any intense laborious activities such as exercising, lifting heavy objects, and straining the lower half of the body. For hemorrhoids that don't stop bleeding within 3 days need medical guidance.
The medical name for blood in the urine is haematuria. Common causes of blood in urine include: a bladder infection (such as cystitis) – which typically also causes a burning pain when you urinate. a kidney infection – which may also cause a high temperature and pain in the side of your tummy.
Bloody urine may be due to a problem in your kidneys or other parts of the urinary tract, such as: Cancer of the bladder or kidney. Infection of the bladder, kidney, prostate, or urethra. Inflammation of the bladder, urethra, prostate, or kidney (glomerulonephritis)
Lastly, “constipation or hemorrhoids, which are engorged blood vessels at the opening of the anus, can spot or bleed, causing pink discharge when wiping,” says Dr. Flanagan. It's totally normal to be worried if you notice pink discharge or spotting from either your vagina or anus.
Bleeding attributed to internal hemorrhoids is usually bright red and can be quite brisk. It may be found on the toilet paper, dripping into the toilet bowl, or streaked on the stool itself.
Diverticular bleeding occurs when pouches (diverticula) that have developed in the wall of the large intestine (colon) bleed. If you have these pouches, you have a condition called diverticulosis. Diverticular bleeding causes a large amount of blood to appear in your stool.
See a doctor if you notice dark blood
Darker, almost black, blood in your stool is likely coming from higher up in your gastrointestinal tract. Inflammation of your stomach lining, ulcers, gastritis, esophageal trauma, or inflammation of your intestines could be to blame.
Bleeding from the rectum and large intestine from IBD is typically red or bright red. Blood coming from higher up in the digestive tract could appear as darker or black stools. In most cases, this bleeding is slow and steady.
“Sometimes blood in the stool can be caused by benign conditions such as hemorrhoids, a small fissure after constipation or an infection and can resolve on its own,” he says. “However, bleeding from cancer or inflammatory bowel disease can also be intermittent, and so any bleeding needs to be investigated.”
Spotting is light bleeding that can occur between periods. It usually appears as a small amount of blood when wiping or on underwear. Possible causes include birth control, pregnancy, menopause, and more.
Similar Symptoms, Different Diagnosis
Hemorrhoids tend to flare and then go away, but if the bleeding is constant and progressive or a combination of both pain and bleeding, it could be something more.
Narrow or pellet-like stools: if you have advanced or severe diverticulitis, your large intestine may narrow, causing stool to become thin, narrow, or pellet-shaped.