Rectal Bleeding – A discussion about possible causes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credit:  http://www.naturalhealingsolutionsllc.com/learn-about-colon-hydrotherapy.html

Photo credit:  http://www.thenurseslockerroom.com/2013/03/sigmoidoscopy-screening-test-for.html

One of the more common problems that bring patients into the doctor believe it or not is seeing blood in the toilet, on the stool or on the toilet paper after having a bowl movement.  Since I’ve had a few patients recently who have come in because of this problem, I thought I’d discuss some possible causes.

Healthcare providers take this issue seriously because sometimes blood noticed after having a bowl movement can be a sign of colon or rectal cancer.  Fortunately, most of the time the causes of rectal bleeding is not cancer however.

Causes of rectal bleeding:

1)  Hemorrhoids:  Swollen blood vessels can occur in the rectum or anus and cause itching and/or pain and can sometimes bleed.  Usually hemorrhoids produce a blood that is described by patients as being a…