Rectal Bleeding in Houston, TX

Bleeding of the anus and rectum is a fairly common symptom shared between numerous colon, rectal, and anal medical conditions. While rectal or anal bleeding may start off minor, the issue can rapidly escalate. Rectal bleeding is characterized by blood being present in the stool. The blood can range in color from bright red to maroon or even black, at times appearing tar-like. The shade of blood can indicate where the bleeding originates, which could occur anywhere along the large intestine. Patients may notice rectal or anal bleeding by observing blood on toilet paper following a bowel movement or in the toilet bowl, turning the water red. When you arrive at Houston Colon and Rectal Surgery with questions or concerns about rectal bleeding, our skilled and compassionate team of board-certified surgeons will work to determine the cause of your bleeding and restore your colorectal health. Contact one of our North Houston or West Houston, TX specialist offices to learn more about the significance of rectal bleeding, anal bleeding, and other signs.

While rectal bleeding can be a one-off at times, there are several disorders and diseases that could cause this phenomenon to occur, including:

• Hemorrhoids
• Anal fissures
• Polyps
• Colorectal cancer
• Anal cancer
• Crohn's disease
• Diverticulitis
• Ulcerative colitis
• Rectal prolapse

To determine the cause of your specific case of rectal bleeding, one of our colorectal specialists will ask about your symptoms, perform a physical evaluation, and run some tests to rule out cancer and other concerns. Rectal bleeding can often be accompanied by other unwanted symptoms, such as rectal pain, confusion, dizziness, abdominal pain or cramping, and fainting.

More intense instances of anorectal bleeding could signal that something is very wrong, especially when accompanied by other symptoms, like clammy skin, fainting, confusion, persistent bleeding, intense abdominal cramps or pains, rapid breathing, and nausea. Ideally, patients would seek medical guidance as soon as they notice something abnormal with their body function rather than waiting until the issue becomes severe. Men and women experiencing any degree of rectal bleeding could benefit from contacting Houston Colon and Rectal Surgery for information or to receive a colon cancer screening.

To assess your condition, one of our colorectal specialists will ask about your symptoms, the color of the blood, and when you first began to notice the bleeding. We will then perform a physical examination with a glove and lubrication to evaluate your anorectal area. If your rectal bleeding is being caused by an anal fissure or abscess, it can be detected by physical means. You may then receive an endoscopy examination, such as a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, so we can look for polyps, tumors, or other abnormalities. The treatment you receive for rectal or anal bleeding will depend on its root cause. Typically, issues like fissures will need to heal over time while diseases, such as colon cancer, will require immediate treatment.

At Houston Colon and Rectal Surgery, we take every abnormality you may be experiencing seriously. When you arrive at one of our North Houston or West Houston, TX offices with questions or concerns about certain symptoms, we work closely with you to understand your situation and assess your health with advanced diagnostics, like colonoscopies, anoscopies, and colorectal cancer screenings. If you feel worried or troubled by anal or rectal bleeding, we implore you to get in touch with our office and schedule a consultation with a compassionate member of our team.