Can birth control pills cause blood in stool?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Can birth control pills cause blood in stool?
Birth control pills are not generally associated with causing bloody stools. However, it has been reported in a few cases. The exact reason why that happens is not fully known and the incidence of this side effect is rare.
However, it is not considered dangerous. Bloody stools are usually of two types:
- Stools with bright red streaks
- Black-coloured stools
Bright red blood in stool generally indicates that the blood is coming from your large intestine (usually rectum) which is closer to the anal opening. Dark-coloured stool, however, is an entirely different story.
The black colour of your stool could be a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding and this should be discussed with your doctor right away. No matter what the colour of your stool is, if you think there is blood in your stool – it’s better to reach out to your healthcare provider.
Potential causes of bloody stools
There are a number of potential causes of bloody stools and your birth control pills may not have anything to do with them. Some of the causes may include:
- Haemorrhoids: Swollen blood vessels in the rectum or anus can cause bleeding during bowel movements. Haemorrhoids are a common cause of bright red blood in the stool (1).
- Anal fissures: Small tears or cracks in the lining of the anus can occur due to passing hard stools or straining during bowel movements. Anal fissures may cause blood on the surface of the stool or on the toilet paper (2).
- Gastrointestinal infections: Infections such as bacterial or viral gastroenteritis can lead to inflammation of the digestive tract, causing bloody stools along with symptoms like diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and fever. GI is responsible for black, tarry stools (3).
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can cause chronic inflammation in the digestive tract, leading to bloody stools, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and other symptoms (4).
- Diverticulosis: When small pouches (diverticula) form in the colon, they can sometimes become inflamed or bleed, resulting in blood in the stool (5).
- False alarms: Some medications like Pepto-Bismol (Bismuth Subsalicylate) can darken the colour of your stools and make them appear black. This may indicate gastrointestinal bleeding at first, but that is not usually the case.
What to do if you see blood in your stool?
Talk to your healthcare provider if you see bright red blood in your stool or if it appears black or tarry. It’s recommended to consult a gastroenterologist who specializes in digestive health. They can evaluate your symptoms, and medical history, and perform any necessary tests to determine the cause of the bleeding.
It is also important to pay attention to any additional symptoms you may be experiencing, such as abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, or weight loss. Make sure to communicate these details to your healthcare provider, as they can help with the diagnosis.
Once you receive a diagnosis, it’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s advice regarding treatment, lifestyle modifications, or further tests if necessary.
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References
1.-
Mott T, Latimer K, Edwards C. Hemorrhoids: Diagnosis and Treatment Options. Am Fam Physician. 2018 Feb 1;97(3):172-179. PMID: 29431977. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29431977/
2.-
Jahnny B, Ashurst JV. Anal Fissures. 2022 Nov 14. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30252319. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526063/
3.-
DiGregorio AM, Alvey H. Gastrointestinal Bleeding. 2022 Jun 11. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30725976. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537291/
4.-
Farmer RG. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding in inflammatory bowel disease. Gastroenterol Jpn. 1991 Jul;26 Suppl 3:93-100. doi: 10.1007/BF02779274. PMID: 1884972. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1884972/
5.-
Wilkins T, Baird C, Pearson AN, Schade RR. Diverticular bleeding. Am Fam Physician. 2009 Nov 1;80(9):977-83. PMID: 19873964. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19873964/
