Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Blood In Stool?
Question: blood in stool
does blood in stool show up black, or can it be red, too?
does blood in stool show up black, or can it be red, too?
Brief Answer:
Detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Blood in stool can be black as well as bright red. It all depends where is the source of bleeding.
If the blood comes from the stomach or duodenum, it gets digested and appears as a black (tar like) stool. If the bleeding is somewhere in the small intestine, blood will be dark, but not as black as a tar.
If the bleeding reason is colon cancer, the blood will be red and MIXED with the stool.
If the bleeding source are hemorrhoids, blood will be bright red, not mixed with the stool, on the surface of the stool or on the toilet paper.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Blood in stool can be black as well as bright red. It all depends where is the source of bleeding.
If the blood comes from the stomach or duodenum, it gets digested and appears as a black (tar like) stool. If the bleeding is somewhere in the small intestine, blood will be dark, but not as black as a tar.
If the bleeding reason is colon cancer, the blood will be red and MIXED with the stool.
If the bleeding source are hemorrhoids, blood will be bright red, not mixed with the stool, on the surface of the stool or on the toilet paper.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr. Stanko,
thank you for the informative answer.
In my case the red was fairly bright (between strawberry color and cherry tomatoes color), and one dime sized spot primarily on the surface of the stool. Cannot even tell if it was blood.
I have had several bowel movements since then, but no more red on my stool.
Does that sound like hemorrhoids?
Thank you
XXXXXXX
thank you for the informative answer.
In my case the red was fairly bright (between strawberry color and cherry tomatoes color), and one dime sized spot primarily on the surface of the stool. Cannot even tell if it was blood.
I have had several bowel movements since then, but no more red on my stool.
Does that sound like hemorrhoids?
Thank you
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, this sounds like a hemorrhoids. They can bleed only from time to time, depending of the stool hardness (hard stool can irritate a hemorrhoid and cause temporal bleeding). So if this was only one time, you may wait and see. If this situation will happen again, consult your doctor and consider colonoscopy.
Regards.
.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, this sounds like a hemorrhoids. They can bleed only from time to time, depending of the stool hardness (hard stool can irritate a hemorrhoid and cause temporal bleeding). So if this was only one time, you may wait and see. If this situation will happen again, consult your doctor and consider colonoscopy.
Regards.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
