Blood in the stool - causes, diagnosis and treatment of occult blood in men and women

What diseases can cause blood in the stool and what does it look like?

Blood in the stool is one of the main symptoms of colon cancer, which does not exclude hemorrhoids. Self-diagnosis and, especially, self-medication in this case are not only inappropriate, but also pose a direct threat to the patient’s life. Common diseases with these symptoms include:

Anal fissure (there is little blood, it is scarlet in color and is often separated from the stool);
Hemorrhoids (dark blood, appears on the surface of the stool and does not mix with the masses, pain, itching and burning in the anus are added to the symptoms);
Proctitis (light blood, mixed with mucus, there is cramping pain in the abdomen with the urge to defecate - tenesmus and imperative urge to defecate);
Polyps of the rectum and colon rarely have clinical manifestations (if they are large in size and located close to the anus);
Cancer of the rectum, colon (scarlet or dark blood, with or without clots, often with mucus, pain in the depths of the intestine, abnormal bowel movements for no apparent reason);
Cancer of other parts of the intestine (scarlet or dark blood, with or without clots, often with mucus, pain in the depths of the intestine, bowel dysfunction for no apparent reason, anemia (low hemoglobin level), fever for no reason);
Intestinal diverticula (dark blood mixed with stool, there may be pain and fever when the diverticulum is inflamed);
Stomach or duodenal ulcer (vomiting blood, black, foul-smelling stools);
Nonspecific ulcerative colitis (dark blood, with clots and streaks in the stool, mucus, pus, diarrhea, hyperemia, general intoxication);
Crohn's disease (blood mixed with stool, pus, mucus, diarrhea, joint and abdominal pain);
Varicose veins of the esophagus (dark scarlet blood);
Trauma to the anus (scarlet blood without stool).

When anxiety is not appropriate

The condition of the female reproductive system mainly depends on the hormonal background of the body. Any disturbances immediately affect the menstrual rhythm and the appearance of blood in the vaginal discharge.

Of course, the lady understands that by the appearance of vaginal secretions you can determine the functioning of your reproductive organs. In normal condition, it should be in small quantities and transparent in appearance. Whitish impurities and streaks of blood are acceptable in the middle of the cycle if they appear once.

The main reasons for this phenomenon are considered to be special processes in the reproductive system:

ovulation;
establishment of menstruation;
attachment of the embryo to the uterine wall;
postpartum period;
consequences of medical abortion;
menopause.

The appearance of discharge streaked with blood, regardless of menstruation, at the time of ovulation or attachment of the embryo to the uterus is considered normal. In addition, after childbirth or a medical abortion, the remains of the child's place come out in the form of blood secretions.

When the rhythm of menstruation occurs in adolescents, such a secret appears in the intervals between them. A similar thing is observed during menopause in adult women. As you can see, the appearance of vaginal secretion with blood streaks in these situations corresponds to natural processes.

To help a woman sleep peacefully, it is important to know the distinguishing characteristics of normal vaginal discharge. These include the following indicators:

viscous transparent discharge resembling egg white;
the amount of secretion increases during ovulation;
decrease in mucus volume in the second half of the cycle;
the appearance of a creamy secretion immediately before menstruation;
scarlet liquid at the beginning of menstruation;
discharge with blood streaks in the middle of the menstrual rhythm.

If your vaginal fluid meets these parameters, then there is no need to worry too much. The appearance of any deviations indicates the presence of pathology.

Is occult blood in stool dangerous?

Hidden blood is difficult to detect visually, but it can signal bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, duodenal ulcer, or stomach ulcer. If you suspect occult blood, you need to take an immunochemical stool test. With preliminary preparation: do not eat foods with barium, bromine, iodine, iron, or ascorbic acid. Avoid fibrous and hard foods that can injure the mucous membranes of the mouth and stomach. Change your toothbrush to a soft one three days in advance, and do not use rectal suppositories or do enemas the day before.

Infectious diseases

Large-scale internal bleeding is caused by damage to the body by parasitic protozoa (dysenteric amoeba) and pathogenic bacteria (typhoid fever). The cause of the symptom may be rotavirus, which irritates the intestines and causes erosive damage to its mucosa. Infections are highly lethal and therefore require urgent medical intervention in a hospital setting.

Bleeding of damaged surfaces, as well as anemia, are accompanied by helminthic infestations that violate the integrity of the mucous membrane of the digestive canal. In addition, with helminthiasis, the functions of internal organs weaken, immunity decreases, allergies appear, and an abundance of diseases of a bacterial and viral nature develop, which require specific treatment. Exacerbation of parasitosis is accompanied by bleeding from the anus.

Who should I contact? How to prepare for examination and tests?

If blood is detected in the stool, you need to go to a coloproctologist. If this is the only symptom that bothers you, there is no need to do a thorough bowel preparation. It is advisable to administer a small cleansing enema (“pear”) only 1-2 hours before the initial examination. There are no restrictions on food intake. If you have an appointment after work in the evening, and there is no opportunity to prepare, then a cleansing enema can be given after the morning bowel movement.

If sigmoidoscopy is planned during the initial examination, you need to prepare more carefully. A couple of days before the procedure, clear the intestines of feces and gases and do not consume foods that provoke flatulence (peas, cabbage, soda, alcohol, rye bread, etc.). The day before the procedure, you can eat slag-free diet products: lean turkey and chicken meat, fermented milk products, eggs. You should not eat food 12 hours before the examination. Immediately before the procedure, it is necessary to give an enema (“pear”) or cleanse the intestines with a laxative.

Preparation for tests: 3 days before the test, do not eat foods containing iron - tomatoes, meat, buckwheat, pomegranate, fish, apples.

Infections and bacteria

Yellow or white discharge interspersed with blood, blood curds, accompanied by pain, burning, itching and other discomfort indicate inflammation or infection of the genital organs.

If vaginal discharge with red streaks lasts for more than 2-3 days, is accompanied by painful sensations, its intensity increases and it transforms into heavy bleeding with clots, then we are talking about diseases of the uterus or ovaries (cervical erosion, endometriosis, polyps and neoplasms various etymologies, including cancer).

Preparing for an appointment with a proctologist at the Altermed clinic

Preparation for examination by a proctologist and sigmoidoscopy can be carried out directly in the proctology departments of the Altermed clinic network. If independent bowel preparation is difficult for you or you can only come to see a doctor in the evening after work, we have the opportunity to carry out the preparation in a specially equipped room. Such preparation will lengthen the reception by about 20 minutes, but this will save you from fasting and other problems associated with self-preparation.

IMPORTANT:

Normally, blood cannot be released from the rectum. Bloody feces are always a sign of disease. Therefore, your visit to the doctor should be urgent!

Reception OK and menopause

Mucous discharge with blood can be a reaction of the body to taking hormonal contraceptives. An imbalance of progesterone and estrogen leads to disruption of the female cycle, increased sensitivity of the vaginal mucosa, which makes itself known by a reddish secretion.

Hormonal imbalance also occurs as a result of stress, poor lifestyle and menopause. The release of mucus mixed with blood during menopause quite often indicates gynecological pathologies.

Basic principles of treating diseases with blood in the stool

stopping bleeding;
correction of anemia (anemia);
eliminating the causes of pathology;
preventing relapses.

The impact on bleeding areas is carried out with drugs that increase coagulation (not suitable for people with thrombosis), coagulation with an endoscope, and gastric lavage with cold water. If non-invasive methods do not work, or the disease cannot be cured except by invasive means (for example, polyps, diverticula, intussusception), then surgery is involved.

Injuries

A similar symptom is observed as a result of rough or intense sexual contact. Discharge like egg white with blood streaks or a similar kind of leucorrhoea indicates damage to the small blood vessels of the vaginal walls during increased mechanical stress during sexual intercourse. Sometimes such a phenomenon after intimacy can indicate the presence of cervical erosion, and can also be a symptom of a number of diseases.

Quite rarely, such a symptom manifests itself as discharge after examination by a gynecologist, if the manipulations performed by the doctor injured the walls of the vagina. The phenomenon does not require treatment, since the problem will disappear naturally after a day or two.

Prevention of diseases with blood in the stool

Change power mode:

in small portions on average 5 times a day. Have dinner 3 hours before bedtime. Exclude fast food, fatty foods, baked goods, sweets, canned foods, smoked foods, pickles, hot seasonings. Drink up to 2 liters of liquid per day: clean water, compotes, juices, fruit drinks, herbal or regular weak tea. Include foods containing fiber in your diet (fruits, peeled vegetables).

Create the right microclimate:

use air purifiers and humidifiers, regularly ventilate, wipe off dust and do wet cleaning.

Lead a healthy lifestyle:

give up smoking, alcohol, coffee and other bad habits. Maintain physical activity of the body, avoid stress. Empty the intestines in a timely manner to avoid chronic overstretching and unnecessary trauma to the wall. Protect the body from hypothermia. Be regularly examined by a proctologist for preventive purposes, especially in the presence of such hereditary diseases.

In the proctology department of the Altermed clinic network, diagnostics are carried out using the most modern equipment. The best doctors in St. Petersburg, both men and women, and a delicate approach are at your service.

Discharge with blood streaks

A year before the onset of the first menstruation and before menopause, girls and women observe mucous secretion from the vagina. The quality of vaginal mucus changes depending on the course of the menstrual cycle.

To establish the cause of mucous discharge streaked with blood, you need to pay attention to the abundance of secretion, duration and connection with the menstrual cycle. In many cases, the symptom is a consequence of natural processes and is normal, but sometimes it can also indicate pathology.

During pregnancy and after childbirth

The presence of mucous discharge in women, such as snot with blood, is possible in the first days of conception. Blood appears as a result of implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterus, and a thick, stretchy secretion is a consequence of a sharp jump in estrogen due to pregnancy. If a delay in menstruation is detected, and this kind of mucus appears instead, then they speak of conception having taken place. These days you need to be especially attentive to your health, as the threat of miscarriage is high.

In the later stages of the gestation period (up to 37 weeks), the described nature of the mucus is an alarming sign. In the second and third trimester, it may mean the onset of premature labor or miscarriage. Therefore, if a symptom appears, you must seek medical help from a gynecologist.

In the ninth month of pregnancy (38–41 weeks), a similar symptom indicates the release of the mucus plug and the imminent onset of labor.

Discharge of mucus plug Discharge pink mucus

After a caesarean section, the presence of blood streaks in the discharge may be observed for a long time until the suture of the uterine wall completely scars.

A symptom that appears during lactation indicates the resumption of menstruation.

Briefly about the main thing

Mucous discharge with blood appears quite often in women. This is mainly a physiological process associated with the course of the menstrual cycle. Such a phenomenon is acceptable if you are not bothered by accompanying symptoms in the form of an unpleasant odor, strange consistency of secretion, or discomfort.

At the slightest suspicious sign, you need to contact a specialist to establish a diagnosis, prevent or stop gynecological diseases in time. Blood streaks in the discharge are the main sign of cervical erosion, endometriosis, the presence of polyps and neoplasms.