Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Rectal bleeding may occur for many reasons. Common causes of rectal bleeding include:

  1. Anal fissure (a small tear in the lining of the anal canal)
  2. Constipation — which can be chronic and last for weeks or longer.
  3. Hard stools
  4. Hemorrhoids (swollen and inflamed veins in your anus or rectum)

Less common causes of rectal bleeding include:

  1. Anal cancer
  2. Angiodysplasia (abnormalities in the blood vessels near the intestines)
  3. Colon cancer — cancer that starts in the part of the large intestine called the colon.
  4. Colon polyps
  5. Crohn's disease — which causes tissues in the digestive tract to become inflamed.
  6. Diarrhea
  7. Diverticulosis (a bulging pouch that forms on the wall of the intestine)
  8. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  9. Ischemic colitis (colon inflammation caused by reduced blood flow)
  10. Proctitis (inflammation of the lining of the rectum)
  11. Pseudomembranous colitis (colon inflammation caused by an infection)
  12. Radiation therapy
  13. Rectal cancer
  14. Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (ulcer of the rectum)
  15. Ulcerative colitis — a disease that causes ulcers and swelling called inflammation in the lining of the large intestine.

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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Dec. 07, 2023

See also

  1. Carcinoid tumors
  2. Colon cancer
  3. Colon Cancer Family Registry
  4. Colon cancer screening: At what age can you stop?
  5. Colon cancer screening
  6. Colon polyps
  7. Colorectal Cancer
  8. Diverticulitis
  9. GI Stents
  10. Hemorrhoids
  11. Mayo Clinic Minute: What you need to know about polyps in your colon
  12. What is ulcerative colitis? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  13. Living with an ostomy
  14. Plague
  15. Proctitis
  16. Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome
  17. Symptom Checker
  18. Ulcerative colitis
  19. Ulcerative colitis flare-ups: 5 tips to manage them