Learn what different shades of blood mean and how they signal changes in your health or potential medical issues.

Bright red blood in your stool, also known as hematochezia, is a sign of bleeding in the lower digestive tract. It is most likely caused by a condition like hemorrhoids or diverticular disease.

Rectal pain, abdominal pain, and bloody stools are common symptoms ... Rectal discharge can refer to mucus, pus, or blood. What rectal discharge looks like can depend on the cause.

External hemorrhoids look like small lumps just outside ... People with external hemorrhoids may notice some blood when they pass stool, which is typically on the stool’s outer surface.