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Last Updated on November 25, 2025 by
Blood in urine, known as hematuria, affects up to 30% of adults. It can signal many health issues, from infections to serious diseases.
Seeing blood in your urine can be scary, but it’s usually treatable. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a top reason, hitting adults and seniors hard. Knowing the causes, signs, and treatments is key to getting the right care fast.
We’ll look into how common hematuria is, its main causes, and treatment choices. This will help you find the best medical help.
Hematuria is when you see blood in your urine. It’s a sign that needs quick medical help. It can mean many things, from simple infections to serious diseases like cancer.
Hematuria means there are red blood cells in your urine. Doctors find it by looking at your urine under a microscope. It’s split into two types: gross and microscopic hematuria.
Gross hematuria means you can see blood in your urine. It looks pink, red, or like cola. Microscopic hematuria is only seen under a microscope. Knowing the difference helps doctors figure out what’s wrong and how to treat it.
People with hematuria might feel pain when they pee, need to pee a lot, or have belly pain. These signs can change based on why you have hematuria.
“The presence of blood in urine is a significant symptom that should not be ignored. It is essential to seek medical evaluation to determine the underlying cause.”
Common symptoms include:
Knowing these symptoms and types of its helps you get the right medical care.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common cause of blood in the urine. These infections happen when bacteria get into the urinary system. They can affect the kidneys, bladder, and urethra.
When bacteria infect the urinary tract, they can cause inflammation and irritation. This irritation leads to blood in the urine.
UTIs start when bacteria, like Escherichia coli (E. coli), enter the urinary tract. They get in through the urethra and multiply. This leads to an infection.
The infection causes symptoms like painful urination, frequent urination, and blood in the urine. It irritates the urinary tract, damaging blood vessels and causing bleeding.
Women are more likely to get UTIs because of their shorter urethra. This makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder. UTIs are a big cause of blood in urine, mainly in women.
The female urinary tract’s anatomy makes women more likely to get UTIs. Their shorter urethra lets bacteria easily reach the bladder. Hormonal changes, certain birth control, and sexual activity can also increase the risk.
UTI-induced hematuria comes with other symptoms. These include:
Treating UTIs usually means taking antibiotics. Common antibiotics are trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, nitrofurantoin, and fosfomycin. Drinking plenty of water, urinating when needed, and practicing good hygiene also help.
In conclusion, UTIs are a major cause of hematuria, mainly in women. Knowing the causes, symptoms, and treatments for UTIs is key to managing and preventing this condition.
UTIs are not the only reason for blood in urine. Kidney stones, tumors in the urinary tract, and an enlarged prostate can also cause it. Knowing these causes is key to the right diagnosis and treatment.
Kidney stones are hard, mineral-based deposits that form in the kidneys. They can cause a lot of pain and harm to the urinary tract, leading to blood in the urine. Symptoms include:
Treatment for kidney stones often involves drinking lots of water to help pass the stone. But bigger stones might need medical help, like lithotripsy or surgery.
Urinary tract tumors and bladder cancer are also big causes of blood in urine. Bladder cancer can cause blood in urine without pain. Risk factors include:
Early detection of bladder cancer is key to effective treatment. This might include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate, is common in older men and can cause blood in urine. Symptoms include:
Treatment for BPH might include medications or surgery to remove part of the prostate.
Some medications, like anticoagulants and certain antibiotics, can cause blood in urine as a side effect. If you’re taking medication and notice blood in your urine, talk to your doctor. They can check if the medication is the cause.
By knowing the different causes of blood in urine, people can get the right medical care and treatment for their condition.
Checking for hematuria is a detailed process. It helps find out why there’s blood in the urine. This step is key to treating the problem right.
The first step is a urinalysis. This lab test looks for blood, infection, or other issues in the urine. It helps figure out if the blood is from an infection, kidney stones, or something else.
We also do a physical examination and take a detailed medical history. This helps spot any possible causes or risks.
Imaging studies like ultrasound, CT scans, or X-rays are very important. They let us see the urinary tract and find problems like kidney stones or tumors.
The right imaging study depends on the person’s situation and health history. For example, a CT scan might find kidney stones or tumors. An ultrasound is better for pregnant women or kids.
Sometimes, we do a cystoscopy. This means putting a flexible tube with a camera into the bladder. It helps see inside the urinary tract and find things like bladder stones or tumors.
Other special tests, like retrograde pyelography, might also be used. They help check the urinary tract for blockages or other issues.
After the tests, we will talk about the results with you. If there’s a problem like a tumor or cancer, we’ll explain what to do next.
Hematuria can mean different things, some serious. But with the right tests and diagnosis, we can find the cause and treat it effectively.
Seeing blood in your urine, or hematuria, can be scary. It’s important to know that it might mean you have an underlying issue. We’ve talked about things like infections, stones, and tumors that could cause it.
If you see blood in your urine, you should get checked out. A doctor will do tests to find out why and treat it. Catching and treating problems early is key to getting better, even if it’s serious.
Think about how bad your symptoms are and if you have pain or trouble peeing. If you have blood in your urine, see a doctor. Getting help quickly is important for your health.
Hematuria is when blood shows up in your urine. Doctors use tests like urinalysis and imaging to spot it.
UTIs, kidney stones, and tumors in the urinary tract are common causes. Bladder cancer and an enlarged prostate can also cause it. Some medicines can lead to hematuria, too.
Visible blood in urine is called gross hematuria. Microscopic hematuria is when tests find red blood cells in your urine, but you can’t see the blood.
Symptoms include pain while urinating and abdominal pain. Some people might not feel any symptoms at all.
Women are more likely to get UTIs because their urethra is shorter. This makes it easier for bacteria to get into the urinary tract, raising the risk of hematuria.
Doctors treat UTIs with antibiotics. Drinking plenty of water and keeping clean can also help manage symptoms.
Cystoscopy uses a camera tube to look inside the bladder. It helps find problems like bladder cancer and tumors in the urinary tract.
Hematuria can mean there’s a serious problem like bladder cancer or kidney disease. If not treated, these can get worse.
Doctors use urinalysis, imaging, and cystoscopy to diagnose hematuria. Understanding test results and cancer risk is key to finding the cause.
If you see blood in your urine, see a doctor right away. They can find out why and treat it.
Yes, some medicines like anticoagulants and certain antibiotics can cause hematuria as a side effect.
Occult hematuria is when blood is in your urine, but you can’t see it. It’s found through lab tests.
