Polyps may need treatment if they’re large, if there are many of them, or if cells changes suggest they could become cancerous.Colon cancer will require long-term treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, to remove the cancer and reduce the risk of recurrence.Anal fissures may resolve on their own, but a doctor may prescribe antibiotics if an infection develops.These include rubber band ligation, laser treatments, and surgical removal. Hemorrhoids may need more invasive treatment if the pain is severe or the hemorrhoids are large.If home constipation remedies don’t work, ask your doctor about medical and prescription options. exercising regularly to prevent constipation.ask a doctor or pharmacist about stool softeners.eating high-fiber foods (unless otherwise directed by your doctor).If anal fissures result from constipation, treating the constipation may allow the fissures to heal.Īt-home treatments to prevent constipation can reduce the risk of rectal bleeding. Applying over-the-counter or prescription creams can also reduce irritation. Home remediesĪt home, one way to relieve the pain and discomfort of hemorrhoids may be by taking warm baths. Rectal bleeding treatments depend on the cause and severity. This could be a scan or an X-ray, possibly with a contrasting agent, such as barium. If the doctor suspects the problem may lie in the stomach, they may pass a tube through the nose into the stomach to remove the contents and try to locate the site of any bleeding. These can show if there’s bleeding that isn’t visible. A complete blood count (CBC) can help assess the extent of the bleeding and show if anemia is present.
Examples include a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy. The doctor inserts a thin, flexible lighted scope with a camera into the anus. This can include inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the anus to check for abnormalities, such as hemorrhoids. The doctor will look or feel to check the affected area. Questions may include when you first noticed the bleeding, related symptoms you’re experiencing, and what color the blood is. Your doctor will start by asking you about your symptoms. Less common rectal bleeding causes include allergic reactions to certain food types. Bleeding from the upper GI tract is more likely to appear as black, tarry stools. Tears or other problems in the stomach or even the esophagus can cause bleeding from the rectum. Damage to the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract.They include vitamin K deficiency, hemophilia, and a low platelet count, also called thrombocytopenia. Some conditions can contribute to bleeding because they affect the blood’s ability to coagulate. Intestinal infection, or infections caused by bacteria, such as salmonella, can cause bleeding. Together, they’re called diverticular disease. When there are no symptoms, it’s called diverticulosis, but if inflammation occurs, this is diverticulitis. Diverticula are small pouches or bulges in the colon where, over time, blood vessels can erode, rupture, and bleed. Bleeding may occur alongside rectal pain and diarrhea. This includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease. Only 3.4 percent of cases of rectal bleeding are due to colon cancer. The blood vessels in the colon are fragile and can tear, causing bleeding. As tumors form, they need blood vessels to grow. However, this isn’t always the case, and your doctor will need to investigate. Black, tarry stools may occur if an ulcer is bleeding higher in the gut, but an ulcer further down may produce bright red blood. An ulcer can form when an erosion worsens in the digestive track. Polyps aren’t cancerous, but some can become malignant in time. If polyps develop in the intestine, they can bleed. Polyps are growths that can appear in many places throughout the body. Hard stool and straining to relieve constipation can lead to anal fissures and hemorrhoids, both of which can result in bleeding. In some cases, they can pass through the anus. Internal hemorrhoids are inside the body. Also called piles, these are masses of tissue made up of blood vessels and muscle fibers. They can become fragile, break, and bleed. Enlarged blood vessels develop in the intestine. Tears can occur because of constipation or during childbirth. Small tears in the lining of the anus can lead to bleeding and pain when passing stools. Conditions associated with rectal bleeding include: Causes of rectal bleeding can range from mild to serious.