When you have hematuria or blood in your urine, the kidneys or other parts of your urinary tract may be leaking blood cells into your urine.
Read about some of the causes of blood in the urine below.
Urinary tract infections
When bacteria enters your urethra, it can cause an infection in your bladder, causing painful urination, sometimes accompanied by blood in the urine.
Kidney infections
When bacteria from your urethra travels into your kidneys, this can cause an infection similar to bladder infections.
Bladder or kidney stones
The minerals in urine can form crystals that will be passed through your urine stream, which can cause blood in the urine.
Enlarged prostate
The prostate gland continues to grow with age and can block urine flow, also causing occasional blood in the urine.
Kidney disease
An inflamed kidney can cause microscopic urinary bleeding.
Certain medications
Penicillin, aspirin, and heparin can cause blood in your urine.
Strenuous exercise
This is a rare case but can happen after exercise, especially in runners.
Always consult your doctor about anything abnormal that you see in your urine.
Blood in the urine that is visible to the naked eye or gross hematuria is typically red, pink, or brown. To determine the cause of the blood in your urine, your doctor will do a physical exam, discuss your medical history, and conduct a urine analysis. If the cause cannot be identified from those, you may need imaging such as a CT or MRI or cystoscopy, a scope inserted into your urethra.
Depending on the cause of blood in the urine, treatment options may involve antibiotics for a urinary tract infection, a prescription medicine for an enlarged prostate, or treatment for kidney or bladder stones. In some instances, no treatment is required. Follow up may be needed to ensure the blood in the urine goes away.
When you have hematuria or blood in your urine, the kidneys or other parts of your urinary tract may be leaking blood cells into your urine.
Read about some of the causes of blood in the urine below.
Urinary tract infections
When bacteria enters your urethra, it can cause an infection in your bladder, causing painful urination, sometimes accompanied by blood in the urine.
Kidney infections
When bacteria from your urethra travels into your kidneys, this can cause an infection similar to bladder infections.
Bladder or kidney stones
The minerals in urine can form crystals that will be passed through your urine stream, which can cause blood in the urine.
Enlarged prostate
The prostate gland continues to grow with age and can block urine flow, also causing occasional blood in the urine.
Kidney disease
An inflamed kidney can cause microscopic urinary bleeding.
Certain medications
Penicillin, aspirin, and heparin can cause blood in your urine.
Strenuous exercise
This is a rare case but can happen after exercise, especially in runners.
Always consult your doctor about anything abnormal that you see in your urine.
Blood in the urine that is visible to the naked eye or gross hematuria is typically red, pink, or brown. To determine the cause of the blood in your urine, your doctor will do a physical exam, discuss your medical history, and conduct a urine analysis. If the cause cannot be identified from those, you may need imaging such as a CT or MRI or cystoscopy, a scope inserted into your urethra.
Depending on the cause of blood in the urine, treatment options may involve antibiotics for a urinary tract infection, a prescription medicine for an enlarged prostate, or treatment for kidney or bladder stones. In some instances, no treatment is required. Follow up may be needed to ensure the blood in the urine goes away.
