If you have blood in your stools and you feel faint, dizzy or light-headed, this may be an emergency. Go to the nearest emergency department as soon as possible or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
Key facts
After using the toilet, you may see blood in your poo (stool) or spotting on the toilet paper.
Blood in your stool can be bright red, dark red or black — depending on where the blood is coming from.
Blood in your stool can be caused by a range of problems, some of which are very serious.
Your treatment will depend on what is causing your problem.
What is blood in stool (poo)?
You might see blood in your stool (poo), after using the toilet. You may also see spots of blood on the toilet paper or drops of blood in the toilet bowl.
A small amount of bleeding one time is usually not serious. But blood in your stool can indicate a range of problems, some of which are very serious. So, it's best to get a doctor to check.
What symptoms are related to blood in stools?
Blood in your stool can be bright red, dark red or black. The colour of the blood depends on where the blood is coming from.
Spots of red blood indicate the bleeding is coming from your large intestine or rectum.
If the blood is dark red and mixed in with your poo it may be from higher up in your bowel, such as your colon or small intestine.
Sometimes poo can look like it's mixed with blood after you've eaten a lot of red or purple foods. Foods like tomatoes and beetroot can cause this to happen.
sigmoidoscopy — a flexible tube with a camera on the end is used to check inside your rectum and your lower large intestine ('sigmoid colon')
colonoscopy — a flexible tube with a camera on the end is used to examine your entire colon
gastroscopy — an endoscope (flexible tube with a camera on the end) is used to look at your oesophagus (food pipe), stomach and first part of your small intestine
Some of these tests are done under sedation. You may need to go to hospital. Ask your doctor for more information.
When should I see a doctor?
Ask for an urgent doctor's appointment if:
your poo is dark red or black
you have bloody diarrhoea
If you have blood in your poo for 3 weeks, make sure you get it checked out by a doctor.
You should also see your doctor if you:
have a change in how often you poo or the texture of your poo
Blood in your stool is sometimes a sign of bowel cancer. This is easier to treat if it's found early.
Always see your doctor if you have blood in your stools, even if you've had a known cause in the past.
If you have blood in your stool and you feel faint, dizzy or light-headed, this may be an emergency. Go to the nearest emergency department as soon as possible or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
When to seek urgent care
Go to the emergency department if you are:
bleeding non-stop
there's a lot of blood — the toilet water is red and there are large blood clots
You can call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Often, bleeding during a bowel movement is a clue to benign conditions like hemorrhoids, constipation, or polyps. However, bright red blood in your stool can also be caused by infections, intestinal diseases, and colorectal cancer. Blood in the stool should always be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
Takeaways. Blood in your stool could mean you have hemorrhoids, constipation, or something more serious like inflammatory bowel disease or cancer. The blood might clear up on its own, but if it lasts over 3 weeks or the bleeding is heavy, you should see your doctor to get some answers.
Tests for fecal occult blood detect blood in the stool that is not visible on gross inspection, usually less than 50 mg of hemoglobin per gram of stool. Normal adults usually show less than 2 to 3 mg/gm.
Fortunately, most of the causes of rectal bleeding are not life-threatening; common causes include hemorrhoids and anal fissures, which are discussed below. However, the only way to be certain of the cause is to be evaluated by a health care provider.
If the staining only happens occasionally and after you use dry tissue to clean yourself after a bowel movement, this may be due to inadequate cleaning. When you have a bowel movement, there will be faeces that stains the inner lining of the anus. We need to clean the anus of this faeces to prevent skidmarks.
Common benign (non-serious) causes — If you see a small amount of bright red blood on the toilet paper after wiping, on the outside of your stool, or in the toilet, this may be caused by hemorrhoids or an anal fissure. Both of these conditions are benign, and there are treatments that can help.
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.
Occasional minor to mild rectal bleeding is common and may not require medical attention. This may include streaks or drips of blood in the stool, the toilet bowl, or when wiping. Some people may also find blood in their underwear, or the toilet water may appear reddish-pink after they go to the bathroom.
How much haemorrhoid bleeding is normal? If you have haemorrhoids, it is normal to notice a few drops of blood in the toilet when you open your bowels. This blood should be bright red. If you notice more blood than this or the blood is dark, you should see your GP as you may have another problem that needs treatment.
Rectal bleeding is a symptom of many different conditions, including hemorrhoids, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer. You may notice rectal bleeding on your toilet paper when you wipe or when you see blood in your stool.
You may not see blood in the toilet or on the toilet paper if you have rectal bleeding. That's because blood from rectal bleeding can mix into your poop. Blood in poop has spent longer in your digestive system, meaning that the bleeding is likely from your stomach, small intestine or higher up in your large intestines.
While stress can be a contributing factor in some cases of bloody stool, it's not necessarily the main cause. Bloody stool can have various underlying causes, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or peptic ulcer disease, among others.
Mushy stool with fluffy pieces that have a pudding-shaped consistency is an early stage of diarrhea. This form of stool has passed through the colon quickly due to stress or a dramatic change in diet or activity level.
These poos leave skid marks down your toilet. This is because they have too much sticky mucous in them. This may mean you need more fibre in your diet. Stools that leave skid marks are quite common.
Diet plays a significant role in the need for endless wiping after a bowel movement. Insufficient fiber intake, leading to loose stools, can contribute to this issue. Conditions like IBS, Crohn's Disease, or Ulcerative Colitis can also result in diarrhea, making wiping more challenging.
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.
Always see your doctor if you have blood in your stools, even if you've had a known cause in the past. If you have blood in your stool and you feel faint, dizzy or light-headed, this may be an emergency.
Seek urgent medical attention if: the bleeding is very heavy. you have signs of shock — this can be rapid, shallow breathing or dizziness, nausea or confusion. you have black or dark red poo.
If you have haemorrhoids, it is normal to notice a few drops of blood in the toilet when you open your bowels. This blood should be bright red. If you notice more blood than this or the blood is dark, you should see your GP as you may have another problem that needs treatment.
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