Blood in Urine (Hematuria)

Types of hematuria

• Gross hematuria. This means that the blood can easily be seen when you look at it. The urine may look pinkish, brownish, or bright red.

• Microscopic hematuria. This means that the urine appears clear, but blood cells can be seen when urine is looked at under a microscope or tested in a lab.

Both types of hematuria can have the same causes. Neither is more serious than the other. With either type, you may not have any other symptoms at all. Or you may have symptoms, such as:

• Pain, pressure, or burning when you urinate

• Belly pain

• Back pain

No matter how much blood is in your urine, the cause of the bleeding needs to be diagnosed and treated.

What causes hematuria?

Causes of hematuria vary. Some of the more common causes include :

• Injury or trauma

• Strenuous exercise

• Infection or inflammation of the bladder, urethra, kidney, or prostate

• Menstruation. In this case, blood is found in urine sample, but it's not related to urinary problems.

Other reasons for blood in urine that may be more serious include:

• Blood-clotting disorders

• Kidney or bladder stones

• Prostate enlargement

• Bladder or kidney cancer

• Sickle cell disease

• Kidney disease of the glomeruli. This is a round cluster of blood vessels.

Many treatments are available for blood in the urine, depending on the cause.

Diagnosing hematuria

Your healthcare provider will first confirm that blood is in your urine. They will also ask about your health history and give you a physical exam. Then you may have tests to find out where the blood is coming from and why. Your provider will decide which tests will best find the cause of your hematuria. These are some common tests that may be done:

• Urine tests, such as urinalysis, urine culture, or urine cytology

• Blood tests

• Cystoscopy

• CT scan or CT urography

• MRI or MR urography

• Ultrasound of the kidney

• Kidney biopsy