What does having a bloody stool mean?

See a doctor!: Blood in stool has many causes, some benign, some worrisome, some bad. Only a doctor trained in evaluation of the GI tract can differentiate between these, but blood always needs an explanation.

Variable causes: Possible causes of blood in stool include: fissures, fistulas, hemorrhoids, cancer, ulcers, infections, inflammation, Diverticular disease & Angiodysplasia . Get evaluated if more than a one time occurrence.

Nothing that should : Be ignored, but rather needs immediate attention. Can be infectious, inflammatory such as ulcerative colitis or crohn's disease, tumor, hemorrhoids. Or even from an upper intestinal problem such as ulcer or meckels diverticulum. You need to be evaluated promptly.