Lower Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeding (Stable)

You have signs of blood in your stool. This is called rectal bleeding. The bleeding may have begun in another part of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. If the blood is bright red, it's likely coming from the lower part of the GI tract. If the blood is black or dark, it might be coming from higher up in the GI tract. Very small amounts of GI bleeding may not be visible and can only be discovered during a test on your stool. Possible causes of lower GI bleeding include:

• Swollen inflamed veins in the rectum (hemorrhoids)

• Tear in the lining of the anus (anal fissures)

• Bleeding from a blood vessel in a small pouch in the large intestine (diverticular bleeding)

• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)

• Polyps (growths) in the intestine

• Swelling and irritation of the colon (infectious colitis or other types of colitis)

• Colon cancer

Note: Iron supplements and medicines for diarrhea or upset stomach can cause black stools. Foods, such as licorice and red beets, can also discolor the stool and be mistaken for bleeding. These are not bleeding and are not a cause for alarm.