A 45-year-old member asked:
could you tell me what happens if you find blood in your stool?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Heidi Fowler answered
Psychiatry 25 years experience
Med eval: You get it checked if happens more than once. Possible causes include: fissures, fistulas, hemorrhoids, cancer, infections or inflammation.
5170 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Similar questions
CA
A 27-year-old member asked:
Does the test that checks for blood in your stool need to be done by a gastroenterologist, or can any doctor do it?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Martin Tyson answered
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Yes: Easy test performed by any practitioner- simply smear stool on paper slide, apply reagent, and there will be a color change if blood is detected.
6372 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
CA
A 34-year-old member asked:
Should I be concerned about blood in my stool?
2 doctor answers • 12 doctors weighed in

Dr. Maritza Baez answered
Family Medicine 17 years experience
Yes: Blood in your stool can come from inflammation in your intestines or stomach, hemorrhoids, or even cancer. I recommend you see your doctor for an exam & possible testing. In the meantime, make sure you are drinking at least 5 cups of water a day and have at least 30 grams of fiber daily. You can get this with a fiber supplement or from fruits, vegetables, legumes and fiber enriched foods.
6352 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
I went to the restroom and much to my surprise I found blood in my stool. What does that mean?
2 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in

Dr. Gary Gottlieb answered
Internal Medicine 48 years experience
Usually hemorrhoids: Blood in the stool is often caused by hemorrhoids or anal fissures, but can also come from colon polyps or tumors, proctitis, colitis, vascular malformations, or diverticulosis. It is important to have the ano-rectal area examined by a physician instead of making one's own diagnosis. You can try otc-hemorrhoid preparations while waiting for your doctor appointment.
6184 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
What doea it mean when you find blood in your stool?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Ankush Bansal answered
Internal Medicine 17 years experience
See your doctor: This can be the result of many things including hemorrhoids, a fissure, a tear, recent constipation, or colon cancer. Other diseases can also cause blood in the stool. Regardless, if this is new and continues for more than 1 or 2 bowel movements, see a doctor soon to get evaluated.
6104 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TX
A 22-year-old member asked:
What could be the cause of blood in the stool? And can it be serious?
2 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in

Dr. Barbara A Majeroni answered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Could be serious: Sometimes blood in the stool is caaused by hemorhoids or polyps, but it is important to be evaluated for colo-rectal cancer, which can be very serious.
6092 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Eric Kaplan commented
Colon and Rectal Surgery 42 years experience
No amount of bleeding from the rectum should be ignored. See a colorectal surgeon or GI doctor and get it promptly evaluated.
Jan 16, 2012
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Last updated Mar 28, 2017
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