Blood after a bowel movement: when to worry
Bright red blood on the paper or in the bowl is frightening, and usually it comes from something treatable: hemorrhoids cause about 75% of all bleeding from the large bowel, and an anal fissure is the next common cause. But bleeding can also be a sign of something more serious, so it should always be examined.
Go to the emergency room now if
- the bleeding is heavy or will not stop
- you feel dizzy, weak or faint
- your stool is black and tarry
- you are vomiting blood
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
What bright red blood usually means
Bleeding from hemorrhoids is bright red, and how much depends on how severe they are. Internal hemorrhoids often bleed without any pain.
A fissure bleeds bright red too, but with a sharp, burning pain during and after the bowel movement.
When it may be something else
Anal and genital warts (condyloma acuminatum) can bleed and itch just like hemorrhoids. Anal cancer most often shows up as bleeding, sometimes with itching, which is why it is easy to mistake for hemorrhoids and why early examination matters.
Bleeding can also come from conditions higher in the bowel, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or colorectal cancer.
Call the same-day line if
- the bleeding is new, or has changed
- it comes with pain, a lump or swelling
- it keeps coming back
- you have been “treating hemorrhoids” at home for a long time
Common questions
Is bright red blood after a bowel movement serious?
Usually it comes from hemorrhoids or a fissure, which are treatable. But it can also be a sign of other conditions, including cancer, so it should always be examined.
What color is hemorrhoid bleeding?
Bright red. Black, tarry stool is different: it usually means bleeding higher up in the digestive tract and needs same-day medical care.
Can I be seen the same day?
Yes. Same-day appointments are available: call 503.702.4200.
General information from NIDDK: Symptoms & Causes of Hemorrhoids, MedlinePlus: Stools, black or tarry and Mayo Clinic: Gastrointestinal bleeding. It is not a diagnosis; call the clinic about your own symptoms.
