Bright red blood in my stool: when should I worry?

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Short answer: Bright red blood on the toilet paper or in the bowl is often from hemorrhoids or a small tear (fissure), but it can also come from polyps or colorectal cancer. Rectal bleeding should be checked by a doctor rather than assumed to be hemorrhoids.

Common causes

Hemorrhoids: painless bright red blood, often after a bowel movement, sometimes with itching or a lump
Anal fissure: a small tear that causes sharp pain with bowel movements and a little bleeding
Polyps or colorectal cancer: may cause bleeding, a change in bowel habits or anemia, or no symptoms at all
Diverticular bleeding or inflammation of the colon

How it is evaluated

Dr. Tufts starts with your history and an exam. Depending on your age, symptoms and when you were last screened, a colonoscopy may be recommended to look at the whole colon and remove any polyps during the same exam.

If it is hemorrhoids

Many hemorrhoids improve with more fiber and water and not straining. When they keep bleeding or bothering you, options include banding, HemWell™, a non-thermal office treatment with minimal pain, and, for larger hemorrhoids, surgical removal.

When to see a surgeon

Any new rectal bleeding, especially if you are 45 or older or due for screening
Bleeding with a change in bowel habits, weight loss, fatigue or anemia
A family history of colon cancer or polyps
Hemorrhoid symptoms that keep coming back

Get urgent care: Go to the ER for heavy bleeding, passing clots, dizziness or fainting, or bleeding with severe belly pain.

Learn more: Colonoscopy in Port Charlotte · HemWell™ & hemorrhoid treatment

Talk with Dr. Tufts

Dr. Tufts is a minimally invasive and endoscopic general surgeon. To have your symptoms evaluated or talk through your options, call (941) 391-5102 to schedule a visit at Charlotte Harbor Surgical, 4245 Kings Hwy, Unit A, Port Charlotte, FL 33980. We see patients from Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, North Port, Englewood, Cape Coral and North Fort Myers and across Southwest Florida.

Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Matthew Tufts, MD, FACS, a board-certified minimally invasive and endoscopic general surgeon in Port Charlotte, FL. Last reviewed 2026-11-11.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Every patient is different. Dr. Tufts will review your history, exam and test results with you and explain the options, benefits and risks that apply to you.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Tufts

Call Charlotte Harbor Surgical in Port Charlotte. Mon–Thu 7:30 am–4:00 pm, Fri 7:30 am–12:00 noon.

Call (941) 391-5102 Patient portal