Seeing blood in the toilet bowl, in your stool, or on toilet paper can be quite startling. Bleeding in the colon (the large intestine) is not a symptom that should be ignored because it is never considered “normal.“Bright red blood suggests that it’s from the lower part of the digestive tract. Darker blood suggests that there may be bleeding in the upper digestive tract.After the initial shock of havingblood in your stoolwears off, it’s important to determine what is causing the bleeding. If you have other symptoms in conjunction with the rectal bleeding, the cause might seem obvious, but that doesn’t mean you should go it alone.Blood in the stool should always be discussed with a physician, even if it has happened before or you were previously diagnosed with any of the conditions listed below. While you’re waiting for that doctor’s appointment, find out more about some of the common conditions that could cause visible bleeding from the rectum.
Seeing blood in the toilet bowl, in your stool, or on toilet paper can be quite startling. Bleeding in the colon (the large intestine) is not a symptom that should be ignored because it is never considered “normal.”
Bright red blood suggests that it’s from the lower part of the digestive tract. Darker blood suggests that there may be bleeding in the upper digestive tract.
After the initial shock of havingblood in your stoolwears off, it’s important to determine what is causing the bleeding. If you have other symptoms in conjunction with the rectal bleeding, the cause might seem obvious, but that doesn’t mean you should go it alone.
Blood in the stool should always be discussed with a physician, even if it has happened before or you were previously diagnosed with any of the conditions listed below. While you’re waiting for that doctor’s appointment, find out more about some of the common conditions that could cause visible bleeding from the rectum.
Hemorrhoids
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One very common cause of bleeding from the rectum ishemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are actually veins in the rectum that have become swollen. They may cause pain, itching, and bright red blood on the stool or on the toilet paper, although many do not cause any symptoms at all.
When to See the Doctor
Hemorrhoids: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications
Diverticular DiseaseStocktrek Images/Getty ImagesDiverticular diseaseis quite common; as many as half of all people over age 60 have signs of diverticular disease. Diverticulosis is the presence of weak spots on the wall of the large intestine that develop into pockets or outpouchings.These outpouchings are called diverticula (a singular outpouch is called a diverticulum), and they generally don’t produce any symptoms at all. People with diverticular disease might not know diverticula are there unless one or more of them get infected, which is then a condition called diverticulitis.Diverticulitis might make a person seriously sick and could also cause abdominal pain.In some cases, the diverticula mightbleedeven if there isn’t an infection. The blood could be found in or on the stool, or bleeding could happen even without a bowel movement.Diverticular disease could cause quite a bit of bleeding and might or might not need treatment, but people with this condition should always see a physician if there is bleeding, even if it has happened before.Diverticulitis Symptoms
Diverticular Disease
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Diverticular diseaseis quite common; as many as half of all people over age 60 have signs of diverticular disease. Diverticulosis is the presence of weak spots on the wall of the large intestine that develop into pockets or outpouchings.
These outpouchings are called diverticula (a singular outpouch is called a diverticulum), and they generally don’t produce any symptoms at all. People with diverticular disease might not know diverticula are there unless one or more of them get infected, which is then a condition called diverticulitis.
Diverticulitis might make a person seriously sick and could also cause abdominal pain.
In some cases, the diverticula mightbleedeven if there isn’t an infection. The blood could be found in or on the stool, or bleeding could happen even without a bowel movement.
Diverticular disease could cause quite a bit of bleeding and might or might not need treatment, but people with this condition should always see a physician if there is bleeding, even if it has happened before.
Diverticulitis Symptoms
Anal Fissures
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An anal fissure is a tear in the anal canal and could cause bright red blood in the stool or on the toilet paper. Fissures also may cause pain during bowel movements, which sometimes is severe.
Most fissures are classified as acute and will respond to non-invasive therapies that can be done at home. In many cases, the fissure won’t come back, especially when care is taken to ensure that stools are kept soft and easy to pass (in other words, not too hard or too loose).
A fissure that becomes chronic and is resistant to heal is not common but may need more intensive treatment, such as surgery.
IBS and Anal Fissures
Polyps and Colon CancerSEBASTIAN KAULITZKI/Getty ImagesA polyp is a growth in the wall of the large intestine (colon). They grow slowly and may become cancerous.Polyps could be growing in the colon without causing any signs or symptoms.Bleeding is a sign of colon cancer, but it might not appear until the cancer is in a moreadvanced stage.When polyps are removedduring a colonoscopy, there is no chance of them developing into cancer. Screening for colon cancer with a colonoscopy, especially for those age 45 and older, is an important tool to remove polyps and prevent colon cancer.
Polyps and Colon Cancer
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A polyp is a growth in the wall of the large intestine (colon). They grow slowly and may become cancerous.
Polyps could be growing in the colon without causing any signs or symptoms.Bleeding is a sign of colon cancer, but it might not appear until the cancer is in a moreadvanced stage.
When polyps are removedduring a colonoscopy, there is no chance of them developing into cancer. Screening for colon cancer with a colonoscopy, especially for those age 45 and older, is an important tool to remove polyps and prevent colon cancer.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
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Rectal bleeding due to IBDis more common withulcerative colitisthan it is withCrohn’s disease. Bleeding tends to be a hallmark sign of ulcerative colitis because, in this form of IBD, the inflammation begins at the end of the colon in the rectum.
In the case of ulcerative colitis, there might be bowel movements that are mainly just blood. Blood from higher up in the digestive tract tends to be darker in color and might not be as visible in the stool.
What You Need to Know About Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms and Treatment Options
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Black or tarry stools.Sandler RS, Peery AF.Rethinking what we know about hemorrhoids.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol.2019;17(1):8-15. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2018.03.020Rezapour M, Ali S, Stollman N.Diverticular disease: An update on pathogenesis and management.Gut Liver. 2018;12(2):125-132. doi:10.5009/gnl16552National Health Service.Anal fissure.Duineveld LA, Van asselt KM, Bemelman WA, et al.Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Colon Cancer Recurrence: A Multicenter Cohort Study.Ann Fam Med.2016;14(3):215-20. doi:10.1370/afm.1919Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Colorectal (colon) cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Inflammatory bowel disease.Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.Blood in Stool.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Black or tarry stools.Sandler RS, Peery AF.Rethinking what we know about hemorrhoids.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol.2019;17(1):8-15. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2018.03.020Rezapour M, Ali S, Stollman N.Diverticular disease: An update on pathogenesis and management.Gut Liver. 2018;12(2):125-132. doi:10.5009/gnl16552National Health Service.Anal fissure.Duineveld LA, Van asselt KM, Bemelman WA, et al.Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Colon Cancer Recurrence: A Multicenter Cohort Study.Ann Fam Med.2016;14(3):215-20. doi:10.1370/afm.1919Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Colorectal (colon) cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Inflammatory bowel disease.Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.Blood in Stool.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Black or tarry stools.Sandler RS, Peery AF.Rethinking what we know about hemorrhoids.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol.2019;17(1):8-15. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2018.03.020Rezapour M, Ali S, Stollman N.Diverticular disease: An update on pathogenesis and management.Gut Liver. 2018;12(2):125-132. doi:10.5009/gnl16552National Health Service.Anal fissure.Duineveld LA, Van asselt KM, Bemelman WA, et al.Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Colon Cancer Recurrence: A Multicenter Cohort Study.Ann Fam Med.2016;14(3):215-20. doi:10.1370/afm.1919Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Colorectal (colon) cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Inflammatory bowel disease.
MedlinePlus.Black or tarry stools.
Sandler RS, Peery AF.Rethinking what we know about hemorrhoids.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol.2019;17(1):8-15. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2018.03.020
Rezapour M, Ali S, Stollman N.Diverticular disease: An update on pathogenesis and management.Gut Liver. 2018;12(2):125-132. doi:10.5009/gnl16552
National Health Service.Anal fissure.
Duineveld LA, Van asselt KM, Bemelman WA, et al.Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Colon Cancer Recurrence: A Multicenter Cohort Study.Ann Fam Med.2016;14(3):215-20. doi:10.1370/afm.1919
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Colorectal (colon) cancer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Inflammatory bowel disease.
American Cancer Society.Blood in Stool.
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