What is Rectal Bleeding?
Rectal bleeding is characterized by blood in the stool and can be a symptom of many different conditions, such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer. Often, patients find bleeding on the toilet paper when wiping or directly see blood in the stool. Always contact a healthcare provider regarding rectal bleeding. Not all causes are serious, but many are, which is why it’s important to figure out the cause.
Causes of Rectal Bleeding:
Rectal bleeding can be caused in a variety of ways but most commonly is observed in patients with hemorrhoids, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diverticulitis, infectious colitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), peptic ulcer disease, colon polyps and colorectal cancer.
Constipation and straining to produce a bowel movement can also cause rectal bleeding. Stools that are hard may also tear the skin inside your anus causing bleeding, too. As a result, treating constipation can help prevent rectal bleeding.
In rare cases, endometriosis may cause rectal bleeding if spread to the lower bowel or rectum, causing the tissue to become inflamed and bleed during a woman’s menstrual cycle.
It’s important to note that certain foods can change the color of your stools, so if you suspect rectal bleeding, recall what you ate. If your lunch or breakfast included beets, tomatoes, blackberries or red food coloring, your stools may appear red. Iron supplements can also make stools look dark or black.
Symptoms of Rectal Bleeding:
Signs of rectal bleeding can include:
- Blood on the toilet paper
- Red streaks on the outer portion of a stool
- Pink-tinged water in the toilet
- Blood in stool or bloody diarrhea
- Dark stools, which can indicate blood, too
Diagnosing Rectal Bleeding:
In diagnosing your rectal bleeding, your doctor will likely examine the blood in your stool to find the cause. Questions regarding your symptoms and health history may be the first step, however, in concluding and narrow down the possibilities. Be prepared to speak to your doctor about any pain, when the bleeding started, and the nature of the bleeding, along with the appearance of your stools, frequency of bowel movements, diet, etc.!
Following a slew of questions to better direct further tests, your doctor will likely suggest one of the following to better find the root cause of the rectal bleeding:
- Digital rectal exam
- Anoscopy
- Proctoscopy
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Rectal culture swab
- Tool test or sample
- Colonoscopy
- Upper endoscopy
Treating Rectal Bleeding:
Common treatment for rectal bleeding means treating the cause of the bleeding. As a result, the treatment will depend heavily on what your doctor finds during testing. If the bleeding is the result of a hemorrhoid or anal fissure, it may be able to be treated at home with topical ointments. Other rectal bleeding may require more in-depth treatment options depending on the severity of the cause.
Depending on the cause of rectal bleeding, it will not always stop on its own. Always be observant of the nature of rectal bleeding occurring to you and any accompanying symptoms.
It’s a good rule of thumb to contact your doctor anytime you experience rectal bleeding so they can work to determine the cause and provide the best treatment route for you.