Health Advice
Bleeding from the bottom (rectal bleeding)
A small amount of one-off bleeding from the bottom is not usually a serious problem. But a GP can check.
Check if you're bleeding from the bottom
You might 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 poo (this can be blood mixed in poo)
A small amount of one-off bleeding can often go away on its own without needing treatment.
See a GP if:
- your child has blood in their poo
- you've had blood in your poo for 3 weeks
- your poo has been softer, thinner or longer than normal for 3 weeks
- you're in a lot of pain around the bottom
- you have a pain or lump in your tummy
- you've been more tired than usual
- you've lost weight for no reason
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
- your poo is black or dark red
- you have bloody diarrhoea
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
Go to A&E or call 999 if:
- you're bleeding non-stop
- there's a lot of blood - for example, the toilet water turns red or you see large blood clots
What happens at the GP appointment
If you have bleeding from your bottom, a GP will check what's causing it.
They might:
- check your bottom (rectum) with a gloved finger (rectal examination)
- ask for a sample of poo for testing
- refer you to a specialist for tests
Bowel cancer risk
Bleeding from the bottom is sometimes a sign of bowel cancer.
This is easier to treat if it's found early, so it's important to get it checked.
Common causes of bleeding from the bottom
If you have other symptoms, this might give you an idea of the cause.
Do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you're worried.