Bowel Movement Bleeding - Six Causes In The Rectum

Bloody (adjective, not expletive) aptly depicts bowel movement bleeding. Bright red spots of blood drip into the toilet bowl or down the legs. The surface of stools is coated with red blood. Toilet tissue may be stained by scarlet red blood. Heartbeats may skip in alarm. What is happening?

There is no need to be unduly alarmed yet as the hemorrhaging (technical jargon for bleeding) may be the result of any one of 6 likely reasons. Troublesome to our daily routine but most of the 6 are minor in severity and treatable with the right approach. Nevertheless, complacency is ill-advised. Closely monitor. If bleeding persists more than a week, accompanied by pain, see a medical doctor right away.

Correct treatment after accurate diagnosis can resolve the problem expeditiously. More gravely, bowel movement bleeding may be a symptom of some type of cancer.

Melena or Hematochezia

Rectal bleeding is classified medically as melena (tarry or sticky black colored stools) or hematochezia (maroon colored or bright red blood). The 6 causes of the bleeding, referred to as rectal as the rectum is the exit, are proctitis, anorectal fistulae, anal fissures, rectal prolapse, internal hemorrhoids and external hemorrhoids.

Proctitis

Proctitis falls within the medical group of diseases known as IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) which counts among them organs like the colon (large intestines) and the small intestines. Inflammation is a healthy reaction of the body when its tissues are damaged. Inflammation triggers regenerating of harmed tissue but if left unchecked, it proceeds to cause tissue harm. Rectal proctitis is caused by ulcers which are erosion of the mucous membrane lining.

Among other symptoms, bowel movement bleeding is a common encounter. Eliminating proctitis as the reason behind rectal bleeding is very important as they can become very serious when the rectum, respectively, is perforated.

Anorectal Fistulae

An anorectal fistula is a passageway that cuts through two or more internal organs that are not usually connected. All too often, it tunnels all the way to break out of nearby skin surface. An anorectal fistula is one that opens out at the anal surface. Frequently, urine and stools are expelled via this fistula.

Uclerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative proctitis are among the inflammatory bowel diseases that can lead to anorectal fistulae. Quite apart from infection pus, bowel movement bleeding is also one of the symptoms.

Proper diagnosis of fistulae is critical as it can be due to peritonitis (abdominal lining inflammation) which can be life-threatening. After the path of the fistula is traced, surgery with antibiotic therapy usually ensues.

Anal Fissures

A fissure is a tear, plain and simple. Constipation is often accompanied by extreme physical strain which can cause an anal fissure, or a tear around the anal opening. Bowel motion, whilst a normal part of life, requires a complex interaction of the external and internal sphincter muscles that govern the operation of the anal opening. Painful fissures can cause the internal sphincter muscle to go into spasms that greatly increase pressure in the region, further worsening the fissure. A vicious cycle occurs with the consequence of added pain and bowel movement bleeding.

Together with medication (steroids like hydrocortisone and local anaesthetics like lidocaine), a change in diet may relieve the inflammation and painful spasms.

Rectal Prolapse

Interestingly, the first recorded incidence of rectal prolapse was in 1500 B.C.! Affecting elderly females chiefly, the situation results in the rectum protruding out the body via the anus. Weakened muscles, including external and internal sphincter muscles, and ligaments fail to hold the rectum in its place.

Coupled with that, other symptoms range from pelvic floor descent to bowel movement complications caused by either incessant constipation or long standing diarrhea. Surgery is often the only treatment that works.

Hemorrhoids - External & Internal

Regardless of the above grim narration, it may be ironic relief that the most common cause of bowel movement bleeding is hemorrhoids, both internal and external. These are dealt with extensively at our site The Treatment Of Hemorrhoid.

Various alternatives are present there to effectively deal with hemorrhoids. Specifically, have a look at the H Miracle, an alternative solution presented by an ex-sufferer that promises natural solutions that not only work but have lasting effect.

Further Reading

If you are interested in finding more about this topic, we have a related post on Blood In Stool - 7 Possible Causes In The Colon at our site. Do check this out.