A small amount of bleeding from the bottom that happens once is not usually a serious problem. But it's a good idea to check with your GP.
Check if you're bleeding from the bottom You may be bleeding from the bottom if you have:
blood on your toilet paper red streaks on the outside of your poo pink water in the toilet bowl blood in your poo or bloody diarrhoea very dark, smelly poo (this can be blood mixed in poo) A small amount of bleeding that happens once can often go away on its own without treatment.
Bleeding from the bottom is sometimes a sign of bowel cancer. It's important to contact a GP if you have any symptoms of bowel cancer . Finding cancer early may mean it's easier to treat.
Bowel cancer screening if you are age 57 to 71
You can get bowel cancer screening if you are age 57 to 71. Bowel screening aims to detect signs of bowel cancer where there are no symptoms.
It's important to:
do a bowel screening test when it's offered to you have the screening test every 2 years But do not wait for your next screening test if you have any symptoms of bowel cancer.
About bowel screening
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if:
your child has blood in their poo you have blood in your poo for 3 weeks your poo is softer, thinner or longer than normal for 3 weeks you have a lot of pain around the bottom you have a pain or lump in your tummy you are more tired than usual you lost weight for no reason your poo is black or dark red you have bloody diarrhoea
Urgent advice: Call 112 or 999 or go to your nearest emergency department if:
you're bleeding non-stop there's a lot of blood - for example, you see large blood clots in the toilet
What happens at your GP appointment Your GP will check what's causing your symptoms.
They may:
check your bottom (rectum) with a gloved finger ask for a sample of poo for testing refer you to a specialist for tests Causes of bleeding from the bottom If you have other symptoms, this may help you find the cause of your bleeding.
Do not diagnose yourself. Contact your GP if you're worried.
Bright red blood on toilet paper, streaks on poo, pink toilet water
Causes of bright red blood from your bottom can include:
piles (haemorrhoids) - if you have pain when pooing, an itchy bottom or lumpsa small tear in your anus (anal fissure) - if you have pain when pooing, often after constipation a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as genital warts - if you have pain or itching with or without lumps a side effect of blood-thinning medicine such as warfarin or aspirin broken blood vessels in the gut (angiodysplasia) rubbing too hard with toilet paper Anal sex can cause bleeding from the bottom. If you have painful bleeding after anal sex or symptoms of an STI, contact your GP.
Blood in your poo or blood with slime
Poo can look like it's mixed with blood if you've eaten a lot of red or purple foods. For example, tomatoes or beetroot.
Sometimes it is a sign of something else. Your GP can check if you're worried.
Causes of blood in poo or blood with slime can include:
bleeding in the anus, bowel or lower gut - this can be from an injury or another problem an anal fistula - if you have yellow slime when you poo, an irritated anus and constant bottom pain a tummy bug (gastroenteritis) - if you have diarrhoea with clear slime, nausea and vomiting an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn's disease - if you have diarrhoea, tummy cramps, pain and bloating bowel polyps - if you have slime with your poo and a change in your pooing habits, such as looser poo, diarrhoea or constipationbowel cancer - if changes in your pooing habits do not go away or you have anaemia (low red cells in your blood)
Very dark or black blood or poo
Poo can look very dark or black if you:
take iron tablets eat a lot of dark foods such as liquorice and blueberries But it's sometimes a sign of something else. Your GP can do a test if you're worried.
Causes of dark blood or black poo can include:
bleeding in the stomach or gut from an injury stomach ulcer, diverticular disease and diverticulitis - you may also have tummy pain or cramps blood-thinning medicines such as aspirin or warfarin broken blood vessels in the gut (angiodysplasia)
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
This project has received funding from the Government of Ireland’s Sláintecare Integration Fund 2019 under Grant Agreement Number 123.
