These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.
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.
