Overview
The presence of blood in the urine is known as hematuria. Hematuria is divided into two types: gross hematuria, which can be seen with the naked eye, and microscopic hematuria, which is blood that can only be seen under a microscope. While spotting blood in your urine can be frightening, it is not always a cause for alarm.
Urinary tract infections, kidney infections or stones, enlarged prostate, drugs, or injuries are all possible causes of blood in the urine. Men over the age of 50, recent infection, family history of renal disease, and certain drugs are all risk factors for blood in the urine.
A physical exam, urine sample, imaging tests, and a cystoscopy can all be used to diagnose blood in the pee. Your treatment will depend on the reason of your hematuria. Always visit your doctor, no matter what you suspect is causing your hematuria. Urology Clinics of North Texas urologists vow to treat your urological diseases with the utmost attention.
Causes
The kidneys or other elements of your urinary tract may be leaking blood cells into your urine when you have hematuria, or blood in your urine.
Check out the list below for some of the most common reasons of blood in the urine.
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.
Diagnosis
Blood in the urine that can be seen with the naked eye, also known as gross hematuria, is usually red, pink, or brown in colour. Your doctor will perform a physical exam, examine your medical history, and perform a urine analysis to establish the reason of the blood in your urine. If the cause cannot be determined using these methods, you may require imaging, such as a CT or MRI scan, or a cystoscopy, which involves inserting a scope into your urethra.
Treatment
Gross hematuria is blood in the urine that can be seen with the naked eye and is usually red, pink, or brown in colour. To determine the cause of the blood in your urine, your doctor will conduct a physical examination, review your medical history, and conduct a urine analysis. If imaging, such as a CT or MRI scan, or a cystoscopy, which includes inserting a scope into your urethra, are not enough to diagnose the cause, you may need imaging or a cystoscopy.