The most obvious symptom of bleeding hemorrhoids is the presence of blood, either in the stool or toilet, or on the toilet tissue you use. It usually occurs during a bowel movement and stops when the stool has been passed.

Typically, the blood that comes from bleeding hemroids is bright red, and not dark or clotted. That is because the blood from bleeding hemorrhoids is fresh blood from the affected vein or veins. Blood that is dark in color could indicate some other medical condition and should be seen by a doctor. The blood loss that occurs with bleeding hemroids is usually very minimal.  If it is not, you should consult your doctor immediately.

Potential Causes of Blood Loss
As mentioned earlier, there are conditions other than bleeding hemorrhoids which may result in rectal bleeding. Conditions such as anal fissures or cracks, infections, polyps and even cancer can all cause rectal bleeding similar to bleeding hemroids. The color of the blood is usually not the same, however, and typically is darker than the bright red color that characterizes bleeding hemorrhoids. Polyps can also mimic the lump-like appearance and feel of bleeding hemorrhoids. It is always a good idea to seek professional diagnosis, even if you suspect it is simply bleeding hemroids causing your bleeding and not something more serious.