2025 Guide: Why Is There Blood in My Stool? Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Costs

Blood appearing in your stool indicates bleeding somewhere along your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which includes the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine (colon). Noticing blood in your stool can be alarming, but it often results from treatable conditions rather than cancer.

Various issues can cause bleeding, such as severe diarrhea or constipation.

Emergency Symptoms: Seek immediate medical attention if you experience heavy bleeding, dizziness, weakness, or confusion along with bleeding.

Common Causes of Blood in Stool

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in or around the anus and are the most frequent cause of anal bleeding. About 5% of Americans have hemorrhoids, with prevalence increasing with age. Blood from hemorrhoids is typically bright red and may be accompanied by itching or pain. Sometimes, a blood clot inside a hemorrhoid causes significant discomfort, known as a thrombosed hemorrhoid.

Anal Fissures

Anal fissures are small tears in the anal lining caused by straining during bowel movements, diarrhea, large stools, anal sex, or childbirth. Common in infants, fissures cause pain during and after bowel movements, anal spasms, itching, and sometimes lumps or skin tags.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

IBD, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, involves autoimmune inflammation of the digestive tract. Symptoms include bloody stools, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, urgency, weight loss, and anemia.

Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer arises from polyps in the colon or rectum. Besides bleeding, symptoms may include changes in bowel habits, narrow stools, abdominal discomfort, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue.

Infections

Infections causing bloody diarrhea, known as dysentery, can be bacterial (Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, enterohemorrhagic E. coli) or parasitic (Entamoeba histolytica). Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Other Causes

Other potential causes include colitis, constipation, diverticulitis, gastritis, proctitis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, esophageal varices, and Mallory-Weiss tears. Ulcers often result from NSAIDs, Helicobacter pylori infection, or alcohol misuse and can cause black or bright red stools. Esophageal varices, linked to severe liver disease, may cause life-threatening bleeding requiring urgent care.

Blood When Wiping (Not in Stool)

Bright red blood on toilet paper usually originates from the lower GI tract, commonly due to hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Darker or black blood mixed in stool may indicate bleeding higher in the GI tract.

Bright Red Blood in Stool: What It Means

Bright red blood usually signals bleeding in the lower colon and can range from mild to serious causes like colorectal cancer, which accounts for about 3.4% of rectal bleeding cases.

How Blood in Stool Is Diagnosed

Doctors assess symptoms and history to determine necessary tests such as rectal exams, fecal occult blood tests, blood counts for anemia or infection, stool cultures, imaging (CT scans), and endoscopic procedures like colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, EGD, or enteroscopy. Radionuclide bleeding scans may also be used.

Treatment Options in 2024

Hemorrhoids

Lifestyle changes like increased hydration, fiber intake, gentle cleaning, avoiding straining, and OTC ointments can help. Persistent cases may require surgical intervention.

Anal Fissures

Home treatments include hydration, fiber, sitz baths, topical pain relievers, and laxatives. Medical evaluation is advised if symptoms persist beyond two weeks.

IBD

While incurable, IBD is managed with anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and biologic drugs, nutritional optimization, and sometimes surgery.

Colorectal Cancer

Early diagnosis via biopsy and imaging guides treatment plans including surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Early treatment improves outcomes.

Infections

Management involves rehydration, antibiotics for bacterial infections, and antiparasitic medications as needed.

When to Consult a Doctor

Seek medical advice if you experience worsening or persistent pain, dark or thick blood, black sticky stools, or symptoms lasting more than two weeks. Emergency care is crucial for heavy bleeding, dizziness, weakness, or confusion.

Explore useful articles in Sexual Wellness as of 28-01-2022. The article titled " 2025 Guide: Why Is There Blood in My Stool? Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Costs " offers in-depth analysis and practical advice in the Sexual Wellness field. Each article is carefully crafted by experts to provide maximum value to readers.

The " 2025 Guide: Why Is There Blood in My Stool? Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Costs " article expands your knowledge in Sexual Wellness, keeps you informed about the latest developments, and helps you make well-informed decisions. Each article is based on unique content, ensuring originality and quality.