Rectal bleeding

Rectal bleeding is frequently noticed as bright red blood, blood on the toilet paper, or blood staining the toilet bowl water red. But bleeding can also cause black, tarry stools or maroon (dark red) stools. Bright red blood usually means bleeding from low in the colon or rectum. Dark red blood usually means bleeding higher up in the colon or small bowel and black tarry stools (melena) is seen with bleeding from the stomach (ulcers, for example).