Why You Should Never Ignore Blood in Your Urine

When you have blood in your urine, it’s known as hematuria. There are two types of hematuria: one you can see with the naked eye (gross hematuria), and one you can only see with a microscope (microscopic hematuria). No matter which kind you have, hematuria is your body’s way of telling you that something’s wrong.

At Urology Associates in Charlottesville, Virginia, our experienced team of doctors can help identify the cause of your hematuria and provide treatments to resolve your condition.

How the urinary tract works

Blood in your urine can come from anywhere in your urinary tract. Your urinary tract includes several organs that work together to remove waste and excess fluid from your body. These organs include:

Two kidneys
Two ureters
One bladder
One urethra

Each day, adult kidneys filter 122-150 quarts of blood to produce between one to two quarts of urine. As this waste moves out of the kidneys, it flows through your ureters into your bladder where you can store it until an appropriate time to urinate. When you void, your urine leaves your bladder through your urethra.

Even though hematuria is a common problem, it often requires medical attention.

What causes blood in your urine

Hematuria can have several causes, and not all of them are serious. Sometimes, you can get blood in your urine because of menstruation, endometriosis, and sexual activity. Other common causes of hematuria include:

Vigorous exercise
Certain medications, like blood thinners, antibiotics, and pain relievers
Bladder, kidney, or prostate infections
Bladder or kidney stones
Enlarged prostate
Viruses like hepatitis
Trauma to organs in your urinary tract

In some cases, hematuria can indicate more serious conditions, including bladder or kidney cancer. Bladder and kidney cancers usually don’t cause physical symptoms in the early stages, so having blood in your urine shouldn't be ignored.

What to do if you have blood in your urine

If your urine is pink, red, brown, or has blood clots, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately -- even if it goes away. Our team of experienced urologists have advanced training specialized with the urinary tract and offer expert diagnosis using state-of-the-art medical equipment on-site.

During your appointment, we discuss your medical history and perform a comprehensive physical exam. If you’re a man, this exam might include a digital rectal exam to physically check your prostate and rectum for abnormalities. For women, we often perform a pelvic exam to look for issues that could cause hematuria.

In addition to your physical exam, we might recommend additional tests, such as: