Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesCausesDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to See Your Healthcare ProviderFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
FAQ
Havingblood in your urine(hematuria) does not always mean you have an underlying abnormality. It may simply be the result of heavy exercise or a side effect of a drug that needs to be changed. However, other causes in females may indicate a serious medical condition, such as kidney disease, kidney or urinary stones, endometriosis, or cancer.
Although finding blood in your urine can be frightening, many causes are relatively benign and easily treated. Others may be indicative of a serious medical condition warranting further investigation.
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Types of Hematuria
There are two types of hematuria: gross hematuria and microscopic hematuria.
Gross hematuria is blood in the urine that is visible to the naked eye. Microscopic hematuria refers to blood in the urine that is not visible and typically requires a microscope or urine test to identify it.
Both types of blood in the urine can occur with or without pain.
Although many women are accustomed to seeing a little blood in urine during their period, hematuria that occurs outside of menses should be evaluated.
Causes of Blood in the Urine
Strenuous Exercise
Vigorous workouts orintense physical activity, such as long-distance running or high-intensity interval training, may cause blood to be visible in your urine. It is reported to occur in 5% to 25% of people and usually lasts for a few hours up to three days.If you’re seeing blood in your urine for longer than three days or have other symptoms, see your healthcare provider.
Medications
Certain drugs, including blood thinners such aswarfarin, can lead to blood in the urine.Healthcare providers often prescribe blood thinners if you have a heart or blood vessel disease, or if you have poor blood flow to your brain.
Finding blood in your urine if you are on blood thinners requires a full hematuria workup.
These medications can also change the color of your urine:
Why Is My Urine Orange?
Certain Foods
Some foods, such asbeets, can cause your urine to turn red or pink. Foods and juices containing extracts or pigments of beetroot can also cause dark red or pink urine. This pink or red color is the result of unmetabolized pigments in your food that is passed from the kidneys into your urine.
As such, the redness in urine is not hematuria but simply a benign discoloration that will go away.
Bladder and Kidney Stones
Kidney stonesand bladder stones are small, hard deposits that develop when minerals in your urine start to crystallize. As the stones are passed from the body in urine, they may tear or scratch the lining of the urinary tract causing extreme pain and bleeding.
The blood can mix with the urine, resulting in visibly pink or reddish urine, or the blood may only be visible with a urine dipstick testing or microscopic examination of the urine.
4 Stages of Passing a Kidney Stone
Recent Urinary Tract Procedures
There are a number of procedures that are done to check the functioning of the kidneys, the bladder, and your urethra (the tube through which urine leaves the body), or to eradicate other health conditions.
These include cystoscopy, pyelograms, voidingcystourethrogram, andureteroscopy. One side effect of these procedures can be blood in the urine.
Urinary Tract Infections
Aurinary tract infection(UTI) is a bacterial infection that occurs when bacteria invade the urinary tract system and then multiply.Blood in the urine is one of several common symptoms associated with UTIs.
What Does Cloudy Urine Mean?
Trauma
The kidneys and the rest of the urinary tract can become injured due to blunt force (such as a motor vehicle accident, a fall, or a sports injury), a penetrating force (such as a gunshot or stab wound), or surgery.
Injuries to the urinary tract often occur together with injuries to other organs, especially the abdominal organs.
Renal Blood Clots
Also known as renal vein thrombosis (RVT), this is a blockage of the renal vein, which carries blood away from the kidney and ureter blood to the inferior vena cava (a large vein that carries blood to the heart from the lower part of the body).
RVT is not common and is usually a result of an underlying kidney disease. It can cause severe damage to the kidneys and other life-threatening complications.
Bleeding Disorders
Hemophilia:This is a disorder in which your blood fails to clot normally. If an injury or infection occurs somewhere in the urinary tract, it may cause bleeding that people without hemophilia may be able to control. By contrast, the same infection or injury may result in sustained bleeding and the development of hematuria in people with hemophilia.
Low platelets: Platelets are tiny, disc-shaped pieces of cells that are found in the blood and spleen. They help form blood clots to slow or stop bleeding and to help wounds heal.If you have low platelets in your blood, calledthrombocytopenia,your ability to form clots and stop bleeding may be impaired.
The causes of thrombocytopenia are many and includeaplastic anemia, alcohol abuse, viral infections (like chickenpox andEpstein-Barr),liver cirrhosis,leukemia, and iron, folate, or vitamin B-12 deficiency.
Polycystic Kidney Disease
Polycystic kidney disease(PKD) is an inherited disorder that causes many fluid-filled sacs, called cysts, to form in both kidneys.In addition to blood in urine, symptoms of PKD include high blood pressure, back or side pain, and a swollen abdomen.
Endometriosis
Endometriosisoccurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (womb) grows outside of the uterus. It may affect more than 11% of American women between 15 and 44 years old. Pain is the most common symptom and although blood in the urine isn’t a common symptom, it can occur.
How Do Endometriosis Symptoms Feel?
Cancer
Painless blood in urine is the most common sign ofbladder cancer.There are often other symptoms including:
Hematuria also occurs as a result ofrenal cell cancer—a type of kidney cancer. Just like with bladder cancer, there are usually other symptoms such as:
How Is Hematuria Diagnosed?
An accurate diagnosis of what’s causing blood in the urine will be important for determining the best treatment. Your healthcare provider will likely:
Other common tests include:
What Causes Blood in Urine With No Pain in Females?
Urine Test
A urine test, also called urinalysis, tests for protein, blood cells, and other components in the urine. It can identify a variety of medical conditions, such as UTIs, diabetes, and kidney disease.
Imaging Tests
Sometimes your healthcare provider will get imaging tests, such as:
Treating Blood in the Urine
Treatment will depend on the diagnosis and underlying cause of hematuria. It may include rest if strenuous exercise, trauma, or a procedure is the cause. Antibiotics are typically prescribed for UTIs. Specific treatments will be recommended for conditions, such as cancer, endometriosis, kidney disease, and bleeding disorders.
A Word From VerywellUrine can tell you a lot about your health. Foaminess may indicate you have too much protein in your urine. Red-tinged urine may mean you have eaten beets recently. Blood clots can indicate you have engaged in strenuous exercise. While urine changes are usually not a cause for alarm, contact your healthcare provider if you are worried and want to seek a urine workup.—STEFFINI STALOS, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Urine can tell you a lot about your health. Foaminess may indicate you have too much protein in your urine. Red-tinged urine may mean you have eaten beets recently. Blood clots can indicate you have engaged in strenuous exercise. While urine changes are usually not a cause for alarm, contact your healthcare provider if you are worried and want to seek a urine workup.—STEFFINI STALOS, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Urine can tell you a lot about your health. Foaminess may indicate you have too much protein in your urine. Red-tinged urine may mean you have eaten beets recently. Blood clots can indicate you have engaged in strenuous exercise. While urine changes are usually not a cause for alarm, contact your healthcare provider if you are worried and want to seek a urine workup.
—STEFFINI STALOS, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Summary
If you discover blood in your urine, it could be due to any number of issues varying from something minor, such as exercise, to something much more serious like cancer or a bleeding disorder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Probably not. But if you don’t drink enough water, your urine is likely to be dark in color. Persistentdehydrationcan cause kidney stones and other problems associated with hematuria. Although individual needs vary, a general rule is males need around 13 cups (3 liters) of fluid each day and females need 9 cups (2.2 liters).Learn MoreSigns of Dehydration
Probably not. But if you don’t drink enough water, your urine is likely to be dark in color. Persistentdehydrationcan cause kidney stones and other problems associated with hematuria. Although individual needs vary, a general rule is males need around 13 cups (3 liters) of fluid each day and females need 9 cups (2.2 liters).
Learn MoreSigns of Dehydration
Hematuria that’s visible (gross hematuria) can be seen in the toilet bowl and/or on toilet paper. It can range in color from shades of pink or red to tea-colored to dark brown.Clots of bloodin urine likely come from the urethra in females, or the urethra or prostate in males.Learn MoreWhat Is Prostatitis?
Hematuria that’s visible (gross hematuria) can be seen in the toilet bowl and/or on toilet paper. It can range in color from shades of pink or red to tea-colored to dark brown.Clots of bloodin urine likely come from the urethra in females, or the urethra or prostate in males.
Learn MoreWhat Is Prostatitis?
What Urine Color and Odor Tell You
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine StatPearls.Hematuria.Varma PP, Sengupta P, Nair RK.Post exertional hematuria.Ren Fail. 2014;36(5):701-703. doi:10.3109/0886022X.2014.890011Mladenov BS, Mariyanovski V, Hadzhiyska V.Macroscopic hematuria in patients on anticoagulation therapy. Cent European J Urol. 2015;68(3):330-3. doi:10.5173/ceju.2015.658American Urological Association.Microhematuria AUA/SUFU Guideline.Urology Care Foundation.The meaning behind the color of urine.Bolenz C, Schröppel B, Eisenhardt A, Schmitz-dräger BJ, Grimm MO.The Investigation of Hematuria. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(48):801-807. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0801Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Urinary tract infection.National Cancer Institute.Platelet.National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Polycystic kidney disease (PKD).U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Endometriosis.Dulku G, Shivananda A, Chakera A, Mendelson R, Hayne D.Painless Visible Haematuria in Adults: An Algorithmic Approach Guiding Management. Cureus. 2019 Nov 13;11(11):e6140. doi:10.7759/cureus.6140American Society of Clinical Oncology.Bladder cancer: symptoms and signs.MD Anderson Cancer Center.7 kidney cancer symptoms and signs.Penn Medicine.Hematuria (blood in urine).National Kidney Foundation.6 Tips To Be “Water Wise” for Healthy Kidneys.Medline Plus.Blood in urine.University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics,Hematuria: Blood in the urine.Additional ReadingMedline Plus. Urine - Bloody.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine StatPearls.Hematuria.Varma PP, Sengupta P, Nair RK.Post exertional hematuria.Ren Fail. 2014;36(5):701-703. doi:10.3109/0886022X.2014.890011Mladenov BS, Mariyanovski V, Hadzhiyska V.Macroscopic hematuria in patients on anticoagulation therapy. Cent European J Urol. 2015;68(3):330-3. doi:10.5173/ceju.2015.658American Urological Association.Microhematuria AUA/SUFU Guideline.Urology Care Foundation.The meaning behind the color of urine.Bolenz C, Schröppel B, Eisenhardt A, Schmitz-dräger BJ, Grimm MO.The Investigation of Hematuria. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(48):801-807. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0801Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Urinary tract infection.National Cancer Institute.Platelet.National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Polycystic kidney disease (PKD).U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Endometriosis.Dulku G, Shivananda A, Chakera A, Mendelson R, Hayne D.Painless Visible Haematuria in Adults: An Algorithmic Approach Guiding Management. Cureus. 2019 Nov 13;11(11):e6140. doi:10.7759/cureus.6140American Society of Clinical Oncology.Bladder cancer: symptoms and signs.MD Anderson Cancer Center.7 kidney cancer symptoms and signs.Penn Medicine.Hematuria (blood in urine).National Kidney Foundation.6 Tips To Be “Water Wise” for Healthy Kidneys.Medline Plus.Blood in urine.University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics,Hematuria: Blood in the urine.Additional ReadingMedline Plus. Urine - Bloody.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Library of Medicine StatPearls.Hematuria.Varma PP, Sengupta P, Nair RK.Post exertional hematuria.Ren Fail. 2014;36(5):701-703. doi:10.3109/0886022X.2014.890011Mladenov BS, Mariyanovski V, Hadzhiyska V.Macroscopic hematuria in patients on anticoagulation therapy. Cent European J Urol. 2015;68(3):330-3. doi:10.5173/ceju.2015.658American Urological Association.Microhematuria AUA/SUFU Guideline.Urology Care Foundation.The meaning behind the color of urine.Bolenz C, Schröppel B, Eisenhardt A, Schmitz-dräger BJ, Grimm MO.The Investigation of Hematuria. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(48):801-807. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0801Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Urinary tract infection.National Cancer Institute.Platelet.National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Polycystic kidney disease (PKD).U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Endometriosis.Dulku G, Shivananda A, Chakera A, Mendelson R, Hayne D.Painless Visible Haematuria in Adults: An Algorithmic Approach Guiding Management. Cureus. 2019 Nov 13;11(11):e6140. doi:10.7759/cureus.6140American Society of Clinical Oncology.Bladder cancer: symptoms and signs.MD Anderson Cancer Center.7 kidney cancer symptoms and signs.Penn Medicine.Hematuria (blood in urine).National Kidney Foundation.6 Tips To Be “Water Wise” for Healthy Kidneys.Medline Plus.Blood in urine.University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics,Hematuria: Blood in the urine.
National Library of Medicine StatPearls.Hematuria.
Varma PP, Sengupta P, Nair RK.Post exertional hematuria.Ren Fail. 2014;36(5):701-703. doi:10.3109/0886022X.2014.890011
Mladenov BS, Mariyanovski V, Hadzhiyska V.Macroscopic hematuria in patients on anticoagulation therapy. Cent European J Urol. 2015;68(3):330-3. doi:10.5173/ceju.2015.658
American Urological Association.Microhematuria AUA/SUFU Guideline.
Urology Care Foundation.The meaning behind the color of urine.
Bolenz C, Schröppel B, Eisenhardt A, Schmitz-dräger BJ, Grimm MO.The Investigation of Hematuria. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(48):801-807. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0801
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Urinary tract infection.
National Cancer Institute.Platelet.
National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Endometriosis.
Dulku G, Shivananda A, Chakera A, Mendelson R, Hayne D.Painless Visible Haematuria in Adults: An Algorithmic Approach Guiding Management. Cureus. 2019 Nov 13;11(11):e6140. doi:10.7759/cureus.6140
American Society of Clinical Oncology.Bladder cancer: symptoms and signs.
MD Anderson Cancer Center.7 kidney cancer symptoms and signs.
Penn Medicine.Hematuria (blood in urine).
National Kidney Foundation.6 Tips To Be “Water Wise” for Healthy Kidneys.
Medline Plus.Blood in urine.
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics,Hematuria: Blood in the urine.
Medline Plus. Urine - Bloody.
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