Blood In Urine

Blood in urine with no pain is common, but infections and passing clots can be painful. Blood in the urine may be accompanied by other symptoms, depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition:

• Back or flank pain

• Dribbling urine

• Frequent nighttime urination

• Frequent urination

• Painful urination

• Urgent urination

• Weight loss

In some cases, blood in the urine can occur with other symptoms that might indicate a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting.

Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, are exhibiting any of these life-threatening symptoms:

• Blood clots in urine

• Chills

• Confusion and disorientation

• Flank pain (along your abdomen, side, or back)

• High fever (higher than 101°F)

• Inability to urinate

• Nausea

• Rapid pulse

• Vomiting

• Weakness (loss of strength)

Blood in the urine is often due to problems with the organs along the urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra) and the prostate gland. However, your doctor may suspect a bleeding disorder if there is not a problem involving these organs.

Causes of blood in urine related to the urinary tract include:

• Bladder, kidney or prostate cancer

• Cystitis (bladder inflammation), urethritis (inflammation of the urethra), and glomerulonephritis and nephritis (types of kidney inflammation)

• Foreign body in the urethra

• Genital or urinary tract injury

• Kidney failure

• Kidney stones

• Polycystic kidney disease

• Post-streptococcal kidney damage

• Recent urinary tract surgery or procedure, such as circumcision or biopsy

• Sexually transmitted disease

• Urinary tract infection (UTI), including bladder infection and kidney infection (pyelonephritis)

Blood in urine can be caused by medications and conditions including:

• Blood-thinning medications

• Hemophilia (rare hereditary disorder in which blood doesn't clot normally)

• Hemorrhagic fever (viral infection)

• Kidney blood vessel clot

• Leukemia (cancer of the blood or bone marrow)

• Sickle cell disease or trait

• Strenuous exercise

• Tuberculosis of the kidney

• Von Willebrand’s disease (a hereditary bleeding disorder)

In some cases, blood in urine may accompany a serious or life-threatening condition, including:

• Abdominal abscess

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm

• Acute congestive heart failure

It is best to see a doctor any time you notice blood in your urine or changes in urine color that you cannot explain. See a doctor promptly when blood in the urine or changes in color occur along with the following symptoms:

• Difficulty urinating, dribbling after urination, or frequent nighttime urination in men

• Frequent or urgent urination

• Pain, burning or discomfort with urination

• Painful intercourse or heavy menstrual bleeding in women

• Unexplained weight loss

Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room for blood in the urine or changes in urine color when:

• You are passing blood clots in your urine.

• You are unable to urinate.

• You have fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or pain in the belly, back or flank.

Sometimes, blood in the urine shows up as microscopic hematuria on a routine urinalysis. In other cases, it is obvious to see. Either way, to diagnose the cause of your condition, your doctor may ask you several questions related to your urine including:

• How long have you had blood in your urine or changes in its color?

• Do you always have blood in your urine or does it happen occasionally?

• Are there blood clots in your urine?

• Do you have other symptoms, such as pain or burning?

• Do you have a history of kidney stones?

• Do you notice an odor to your urine?

• How often are you urinating?

• What, if anything, seems to make your symptoms better or worse?

• Have you had UTIs (urinary tract infections), kidney problems, or urinary surgery in the past?

• What medications and supplements do you take?

• Do you eat foods, such as beets or rhubarb, that can discolor urine?

• Do you smoke, have chemical exposures, or had radiation therapy?

Your doctor may also perform a physical exam. For men, this may involve a digital rectal exam to check the prostate. For women, it may include a pelvic exam. Depending on the results and your answers, testing may be necessary. Tests may include:

• Urinalysis and urine culture to check for bacteria, blood cells, and minerals that may indicate a urinary stone

• Blood tests to check blood cells counts, electrolytes, kidney function, blood clotting times, and antibodies

• Strep test

• Imaging exams, including abdominal ultrasounds, CT (computerized tomography) scans, and MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging)

• 24-hour urine collection, which gives more precise information about kidney function and urine content

• Cystoscopy, which involves threading a narrow tube with a camera through the urethra into the bladder to examine the inside of the bladder

• Kidney biopsy to take a sample of tissue for examination in a lab

It is not always possible to diagnose an underlying cause or condition. If the problem persists and your provider is unable to determine a cause, seeking a second opinion may give you more information and answers.

Blood in urine treatment depends entirely on the underlying cause. Possible treatments may involve:

• Antibiotics for infections and possibly a urinary tract analgesic for pain or burning

• Medications or sound wave therapy for kidney stones

• Prostate medications for an enlarged prostate

Other causes may require different treatments and sometimes, no treatment is necessary.

Like treatment, the potential complications of blood in the urine will depend on the underlying cause. Because blood in urine can be due to serious diseases, failure to seek treatment can result in complications and permanent damage. Once you know the underlying cause, it is important to follow the treatment plan that you and your doctor design specifically for you to reduce the risk of potential complications.