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Hematuria

What Is Hematuria?

Hematuria causes blood in your urine. Red blood cells turn urine pink, red or reddish-brown (gross hematuria). If the cells are only seen under a microscope, it’s called microscopic hematuria. Food, dyes or supplements can affect urine color.

Conditions causing hematuria include:

  • Kidney or urinary tract injury
  • Urinary tract infection or defects
  • Kidney stones
  • Kidney or bladder disease
  • Menstruation
  • Mineral imbalances
  • Strenuous exercise
  • Inherited conditions
  • Medications
  • Glomerulonephritis (inflamed kidney filtering units)
  • Bleeding disorders

Symptoms

Microscopic hematuria has no symptoms. Gross hematuria may just change urine color. Blood can form clots in your bladder which blocks urine and causes pelvic pain. An infection can cause fever, pain while urinating and lower abdominal pain.

Symptoms of related conditions may include:

  • Glomerulonephritis – Reduced urination, high blood pressure, and swollen feet and ankles
  • Kidney or bladder infection – Fever and chills, intense pain on one side of your lower back, nausea or vomiting, pubic or bladder pain, urine odor, and frequent, painful urination
  • Prostate infection – Lower back pain, bloody semen, pain during ejaculation, pain between the scrotum and anus, and occasionally, fever and chills
  • Kidney or bladder tumor – Abdominal pain, frequent urination and pain after urinating
  • Kidney stones – Severe back, side or groin pain; frequent or painful urination; and nausea and vomiting
  • Bleeding disorders – Abnormal bleeding throughout your body, including excessive bleeding from cuts; abnormal skin bruising or bleeding; black color or bright red blood in the stool; and bleeding gums
  • Traumatic injury – Bruises, swelling, punctures and open wounds

Treatment Options

Your doctor will do a physical exam and review your history and symptoms. You’ll provide a urine sample to check for red blood cells or protein. If you have no other symptoms and no protein in your urine, your doctor will do follow-up urine tests over a few months to check for blood.

Serious conditions require additional tests such as a urine culture and imaging scans. Certain conditions – such as a tumor, trauma or kidney stones – may require minimally invasive or open surgery. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist.

Ready for an Appointment?

If you're experiencing signs or symptoms of hematuria, schedule an appointment or call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) today.

Learn more about our doctors and care team who diagnose and treat hematuria.