Over 80% of people will experience rectal bleeding at some point in their lifetime. The causes of such bleeds are multiple and most often the underlying problem is not a serious one. However, this is not always the case – bleeding from your bowels should always be reported to your doctor so that an accurate assessment of your bleeding can be made.

Diverticular disease of the colon is a condition where the lining of the colon bulges through defects in its muscle wall, creating multiple pouches, or “diverticula”. Diverticular disease also affects the smooth muscle in the colonic wall, which becomes thickened and scarred.