3 Health conditions that cause the navel to bleed

Having a bleeding navel is not a common thing. When a part of the body is bleeding it is a sign that something is wrong with your body, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms. Likewise if you experience bleeding in the navel. There are several things that usually cause why the navel can bleed. For more details, see the following reviews.

Various causes of bleeding navel

Bleeding navel can be caused by certain health conditions, from infection to blood pressure disorders. Then, what are the causes of bleeding navel?

1. Infection

Infection of the navel can cause the navel to bleed. Usually the infection is caused by various things. However, the most common cause of infection is poor hygiene.

Quoted from Healthline, the navel can be a nest for nearly 70 types of bacteria. Its dark, warm, and humid area makes the navel a perfect place for bacteria to grow and multiply.

So leaving the navel dirty and never cleaned can keep bacteria from multiplying, causing various types of infections from mild to severe. In addition, doing belly button piercing can also be one of the causes of infection which will lead to a bleeding navel.

Symptoms of navel infection

The symptoms shown usually vary according to the cause of the infection. The general symptoms that are usually felt are:

• The navel feels soft, warm, and painful to the touch
• Redness and swelling on the inside or around the navel area
• Itching, tingling, and a burning sensation
• Pus discharge from the navel
• Foul-smelling liquid that appears white, yellow, green, gray to brown
• Dizzy
• Nausea
• Gag
• Bleeding in the navel

When your belly button is bleeding due to an infection, you may experience some or all of these symptoms, depending on the cause of the infection. The doctor will usually perform a physical examination by taking some material from the navel with a cotton swab to find out the cause of infection.

If the cause is known, the doctor will usually recommend you to adopt a healthy lifestyle, including keeping your navel clean. If the infection is severe enough, the doctor will give you some suitable drugs, both oral (drinking) and topical which are usually applied directly to the infected area.

2. Primary umbilical endometriosis

Primary umbilical endometriosis is a condition where the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows and appears in the navel. This condition is rare but can cause bleeding in the navel.

Symptoms of primary umbilical endometriosis

• Bloody navel
• Pain around the navel
• Change in navel color
• Swelling of the navel
• Lumps or nodules near or on the navel

To find out whether or not the cause of bleeding in your navel is due to primary umbilical endometriosis, your doctor will perform a series of tests including an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI.

This imaging tool can help the doctor to check for cell masses or lumps near the navel. Usually this condition occurs in women who have endometriosis.

After carrying out a series of tests, if you are positive for this condition the doctor will usually ask you to perform surgery to remove the lump or recommend hormone therapy.

3. Portal hypertension

Portal hypertension is an increase in blood pressure in the portal vein, which is the blood vessel that carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver. If the blood vessels in the liver are blocked due to liver damage, blood cannot flow properly through the liver.

As a result, there is an increase in blood pressure in the portal vein which can make the veins dilate and enlarge (varicose veins) in the esophagus, stomach, anus and navel. If left untreated, these dilated and enlarged veins can burst and bleed and can lead to potentially life-threatening complications. The most common cause of this condition is cirrhosis of the liver.

Symptoms of portal hypertension

• Swelling of the stomach
• Black or dark stools that may occur due to bleeding in the digestive tract
• The vomit is black
• Stomach ache

Usually if the doctor suspects bleeding in your navel is due to portal hypertension, a series of tests will usually be performed including a CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, and a liver biopsy. The doctor will also do a physical exam and look at your medical history.

Blood tests can also be used to check your platelet count and white blood cells. The reason is, an increase in the number of platelets and a decrease in the number of white blood cells can be signs of swelling of the spleen.

If the diagnosis has been made the doctor will give certain drugs to lower blood pressure in the portal vein. Also, if you have severe bleeding then a blood transfusion may be done.

After knowing the various causes, do not underestimate if you experience bleeding in the navel. You need to see a doctor immediately if:

• The navel feels painful, reddish, and warm to the touch
• Lumps around the navel
• The navel smells and oozes pus

If these are accompanied by dark stool or vomiting, this is a sign that you need immediate medical attention because bleeding has occurred in your digestive system.