What it Means When There’s Blood in the Toilet

When it comes to your health, seeing blood in the toilet after passing a bowel movement can be very concerning. In some cases, this could be a symptom of internal hemorrhoids, also known as piles. But in other cases, rectal bleeding could be a sign of cancer. As such, determining the cause of blood in the toilet could be critical to your long-term health. This post will help you determine whether your rectal bleeding is caused by hemorrhoids or cancer.

Blood in Toilet: Color Matters

When you notice blood in the toilet when wiping or after passing a bowel movement, taking careful note of the coloring could help determine the cause of this symptom. As this viral TikTok video recently helped clarify, the color of the blood could help you determine the cause of the bleeding.

If your rectal bleeding is the result of hemorrhoids symptoms, the blood will be bright red in color, much like pizza sauce fresh out of the jar. In contrast, blood related to colorectal cancer may be darker in color.

In addition to rectal bleeding, both hemorrhoids and anal or colorectal cancer can cause protrusions in the anus, as well as changes to your bowel habits. While closely monitoring the color of the blood you see in the toilet, the best way to get an accurate diagnosis is to see a trusted healthcare provider. After, you can begin seeking appropriate treatment.

Hemorrhoid Relief in Houston and Dallas

If internal hemorrhoids are determined to be the cause of blood in the toilet, topical products may help temporarily. However, once you have bleeding, your hemorrhoids are likely severe enough that only a medical procedure will provide lasting relief. In such cases, we encourage you to visit us at the Texas Hemorrhoid Institute by requesting a consultation [/tx-appt-link.] In one of our Houston or Dallas area offices, we can review minimally-invasive treatment options such as HAE (hemorrhoid artery embolization) to help you find symptom relief without undergoing invasive surgery.