Blood in stool
Question: This question is regarding my wife. She keeps on complaining about blood coming with her stool. She is in her 20's, and she has lost her periods since Dec 1996. I am wondering if she is pregnant, or is there something else wrong with her?

Answer: Continued blood from the stool needs to be investigated. There is no possibility pregnancy would produce this condition. Repeated rectal bleeding may be as simple as a hemorrhoid or as serious as colitis or cancer. I would strongly recommend that she consult her physician.

Blood in stool
Question: I am a 23 year old female. Every once in a while, when I have a bowel movement I notice that there is blood in my feces. It doesn't hurt and isn't very often that this happens. I was just wondering what could cause this and why it happens? Should I go to a doctor and have it checked out or is it nothing to really worry about?

Answer: The most common cause of blood in the feces is hemorrhoids. However, persistent blood needs to be checked to rule out tumors or colitis. If you are young and have no family history of colon cancer, this probably is nothing to be concerned about. You can check the interior of the feces for occult blood by getting a hemocult or equivalent (sometimes available in stores). However, this probably needs a rectal examination and may need further tests depending on your family history.

Blood in stool
Question: This morning I noticed blood in my excrement. This is the first time I have noticed this. What might be some of the known causes of this. I am a 31 year old male with no known health problems.

Answer: For young people, blood in the stool usually indicates hemorrhoids only. However, repeat tests should be done to ensure that blood does not persist in the stool. A physician�s visit for a manual rectal is also a good idea. If you have no family history or colon cancer there is a low (not zero) risk of cancer. Other causes are bowel infections and inflammatory conditions of the bowel. These would necessitate further evaluation.

Rectal Bleeding
Question: I am a 36 year old male. The only medications I am taking is methadone. I have been taking it for seven years. I have had bleeding from my rectum sometimes and the doctors can not find anything wrong with me.

Answer: What have the doctors done? Persistent rectal bleeding usually requires a colonoscopy. However, sometimes in spite of this, no source is found. Occasionally, tagged red blood cells will find the spot of the bleeding.

Rectal Bleeding
Question: I recently saw a great amount of blood accompany my last bowel movement. There was no pain involved and no chapping of the sphincter to cause this, but it was obviously internal. I have also had slight discomfort on the my lower right abdomen. I took a Doxycyline pill in hopes that if it is some sort of "bug" than that would take care of it. Is Doxycyline is a possible solution? could this be some sign of an ulcer? I am a 23 year old male in good health.

Answer: At your age cancer is remote to non-existent. Bleeding from the rectum (with no family history of colon cancer) before the age of 40 is either 1) hemorrhoids 2) Inflammatory Bowel Disease 3) Colonic infection. Infection is usually accompanied by diarrhea. 4) Congenital defect. Of these, hemorrhoids is by far the most common. I'd get some stool blood strips at a local drug store. If the blood persists you'll need to see a physician. If it doesn't you probably have little to be concerned about.

Rectal bleeding
Question: My husband experiences rectal bleeding after a bowel movement, although there is no blood present in his stool. Is this something to be concerned about?

Answer: Rectal bleeding can be a sign of a serious problem or merely bleeding hemorrhoids. This type of bleeding is statistically bleeding hemorrhoids. However, if the bleeding persists he needs to see his physician for a rectal examination and possibly an anoscopy. If he has a family history of colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or is over 50, the odds of a serious problem increase.
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