Having blood in your urine (pee) can be a sign that something is wrong with your kidneys or another part of your urinary tract. The medical name for blood in your urine is hematuria. There are two types of hematuria:
- If you can see the blood in your urine, it is called gross hematuria.
- If you cannot see the blood in your urine without looking at it under a microscope, it is called microscopic hematuria.
Anyone can have hematuria, but you might be more likely to have it if you:
- Have a family history of kidney disease
- Have an enlarged prostate (in men)
- Have a history of getting kidney stones
- Are taking certain medicines, such as pain relievers, blood thinners and antibiotics
- Participate in strenuous (difficult) exercise
- Have or recently had an infection
What are the causes of blood in urine?
There are many reasons that you might have blood in your urine. Having blood in your urine does not necessarily mean you have kidney disease. Some common causes are:
- Strenuous (difficult) exercise
- Sexual activity
- Having a virus
- Having an infection, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI)
Other more serious problems can also cause you to have blood in your urine. Some of these problems include:
- Kidney or bladder cancer
- Irritation or swelling in your kidneys, prostate (in men) or another part of your urinary tract
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Blood clots or diseases that cause problems with blood clotting
- Sickle cell disease
What are the symptoms of blood in urine?
You may not notice any symptoms if you have microscopic hematuria. If you have gross hematuria, you may notice that your urine is pink, red or brown. This happens because the blood in your urine makes it a different color. If you have gross hematuria, you may also get blood clots in your urine, which can be painful.
If you notice that your urine is a different color than normal or if you are having pain when you urinate, tell your health care provider. He or she can do some tests to figure out why you have blood in your urine or what is causing the pain and what treatment would be best for you.
What is the treatment for blood in the urine?
The treatment for having blood in your urine depends on what is causing the problem. For example, if you have blood in your urine because of an infection, your doctor might tell you to take an antibiotic medicine. If you have blood in your urine for another reason, you might need a different kind of treatment.
To find out why you have blood in your urine, your doctor might ask you for a urine sample. The urine sample can be used to test for signs of an infection, kidney disease or other problems. Your doctor will use the results of the urine test to decide if you need more tests or if you can start a treatment.