Common causes include: hard stools (poo) haemorrhoids (also known as piles), which are often associated with constipation. anal fissure (a small tear in the opening of the anus) or fistula (a small channel that develops between the anus and skin)
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.
Over-wiping with rough and dry toilet paper can lead to itching, pain, and bleeding. In fact, improper wiping is the leading cause of America's most common bum-related injury – anal fissures (aka anal tears). Other common problems include UTI's and hemorrhoids.
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.
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. Not all patients with symptomatic internal hemorrhoids will have significant bleeding.
The blood is usually bright red and the bleeding soon stops. You may feel like you need to keep passing stools, even when your bowel is empty. It often heals on its own within a few weeks.
In many cases, hemorrhoids will go away on their own within a few days, including prolapsed hemorrhoids.
Most mild internal hemorrhoids resolve on their own within a few days but may take up to a week. On the other hand, larger hemorrhoids will last up to 2-3 weeks, and since they're more prone to complications, they might not resolve on their own, and you'll need to visit a doctor.
Bleeding is common with hemorrhoids. It usually occurs after a bowel movement. It's not unusual to see streaks of blood or traces of blood on toilet tissue after wiping. You may even see blood in the toilet or in the stool you just passed.
Passing a small amount of bright red blood with stool is often the only sign that a person has hemorrhoids. Straining during a bowel movement is the main reason for bleeding hemorrhoids. Other triggers include diarrhea or constipation and sitting or standing for a long time.
Bleeding from hemorrhoids is not usually serious, but rarely—if the bleeding is severe or long term—it may cause anemia (low red blood cell count). 1 If you are experiencing even mild rectal bleeding and have not received a hemorrhoid diagnosis, do not assume it is hemorrhoids. See a healthcare provider to be sure.
“Bright red blood might be something low in the colon or rectum like diverticular bleeding or hemorrhoids, darker blood may be from higher up in the colon,” says Richards. “If the blood is more black or tar-like, that might signal an issue in the small intestine or stomach.”
However, the majority of patients with rectal bleeding in primary care do not have serious disease, with estimates of the risk of colorectal cancer varying between 2.4 and 11.0% (Douek et al, 1999; du Toit et al, 2006).
No amount of blood in the stool is normal, but some causes may be more dangerous than others. Sometimes there is blood in such small amounts that it can't be seen with the eye. In these cases, it must be identified with a test called a fecal occult test.
What triggers rectal bleeding? There are several likely causes of mild rectal bleeding that does not require treatment, such as temporary constipation or hemorrhoids, as well as dehydration, which can result in hard stools that injure the anus or rectum while passing.
Certain foods may cause your stools to look red. These include cranberries, tomatoes, beets, or food that is dyed red. Other foods may cause your stools to look black. These include blueberries, dark leafy vegetables, or black licorice.
The most common symptom of a mild condition is seeing a few drops of bright red blood after a bowel movement. The blood may be visible in the toilet, streaked on the stool itself, or simply apparent on the toilet paper.
Hemorrhoids can be uncomfortable and painful, but they don't tend to cause serious problems. Rarely, people with hemorrhoids develop: Anemia. Blood clots in external hemorrhoids.