How to determine if there are internal hemorrhoids when experiencing fresh blood in stool?

Written by He Cai Dong
Colorectal Surgery Department
Updated on May 15, 2025
00:00
00:00

Fresh blood in the stool is usually caused by internal hemorrhoids. Bleeding from internal hemorrhoids can be seen on toilet paper, fresh blood in the toilet bowl, and sometimes severe bleeding can be spray-like. Based on the color of the blood, we can generally determine it to be internal hemorrhoids. When internal hemorrhoids are severe, anal lumps may protrude after defecation. If minor, the lumps can retract on their own; if severe, they need to be manually pushed back in, and if more severe, they remain irreducible at the anus. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is recommended that you visit the hospital's proctology department. A doctor can confirm whether the bleeding is caused by internal hemorrhoids through a digital rectal examination and an anoscopy, and then prescribe appropriate treatment.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
38sec home-news-image

Do internal hemorrhoids cause a sensation of falling and swelling in the anus?

Internal hemorrhoids can cause a sensation of fullness or swelling in the anus. Although the main clinical symptoms of internal hemorrhoids are bleeding and prolapse of the hemorrhoidal nodes outside the anus, any stage of internal hemorrhoids can exhibit varying degrees of this sensation. Early to middle stages of internal hemorrhoids typically involve less severe swelling, while in the later stages, when the hemorrhoidal nodes prolapse, the sensation can be significantly more intense, especially after prolonged standing or physical exertion.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
34sec home-news-image

Does bleeding after defecation followed by a feeling of discomfort in the anus indicate internal hemorrhoids?

Bleeding after bowel movements followed by discomfort in the anus may be due to internal hemorrhoids, but could also indicate ulcerative proctitis, rectal cancer, or infections around the anus. To confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a thorough examination with a digital colonoscopy. Based on the results of the colonoscopy, appropriate treatment measures can be taken. If the symptoms are caused by internal hemorrhoids, surgical treatment may be considered. For diseases like ulcerative colitis, treatment with salicylate preparations may also be used.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
53sec home-news-image

Can internal hemorrhoids heal on their own?

To determine whether internal hemorrhoids bleeding is self-healing, one should primarily assess the amount of bleeding and the duration of bleeding to further evaluate the severity of the condition. If it is the first occurrence or if the bleeding is mostly noticeable on toilet paper and is relatively minor, self-healing of internal hemorrhoids bleeding can be achieved through lubrication of the stool during defecation and, if necessary, oral administration of cooling blood-stopping medications. However, if the bleeding duration is prolonged, or if the amount of bleeding is significant each time, it is unlikely to achieve complete healing simply through lifestyle adjustments, dietary changes, or even medication. Further surgical ligation and hemostasis treatment may be required for the patient.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
44sec home-news-image

Why is it difficult to cure internal hemorrhoids bleeding?

Internal hemorrhoids refer to the soft venous masses formed by the dilation and varicosity of the hemorrhoidal venous plexus located beneath the mucosa at the end of the rectum, above the dentate line of the anus. Once these masses have formed, they contain blood vessels which can rupture, leading to bleeding during bowel movements, evident as blood mixed with stool. Once these pathological masses have formed, it is very difficult to completely heal them with medication alone; surgical removal of these venous masses is required to prevent recurrent bleeding. Therefore, if conservative treatment is applied, it only slightly alleviates symptoms. If any triggering factors are present, bleeding may recur.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
30sec home-news-image

The harm of internal hemorrhoids prolapse

Prolapsed internal hemorrhoids are one of the main clinical manifestations of internal hemorrhoids, and their harm is mainly manifested in two aspects: Firstly, the prolapse of hemorrhoidal tissue outside the anus can lead to perianal skin eczema and itching, and anal eczema. Secondly, it can lead to incarcerated hemorrhoids, where the prolapsed internal hemorrhoid, held by the sphincter, forms congestion, and is accompanied by hardening of the hemorrhoidal tissue, pain, and even necrosis.