Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsExerciseTraumaAngiomyolipomaKidney DiseasesCancerWhen to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Exercise
Trauma
Angiomyolipoma
Kidney Diseases
Cancer
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
You can have blood in your urine (hematuria) without any pain due to excessive exercise, trauma, or certain diseases.Since urine typically does not contain red blood cells, blood in your urine should prompt follow-up with a healthcare provider.
Healthcare providers divide hematuria into two categories:
Sometimes, hematuria has a simple explanation (e.g., exercise), while other types need further investigation and treatment. This article explains the potential causes of blood in the urine without pain.
Pramote Polyamate / Getty Images
What Does Blood in Urine Mean?
Working out, especially for long and intense periods, can affect your body’s ability to filter the blood in the kidneys.When this occurs, red blood cells can mix with urine (pee), and you may notice traces of blood when you urinate.
Symptoms
It is possible to have hematuria after exercise—or “exercise-induced hematuria.“Exercise-induced hematuria is often seen after intense, prolonged exercise, such as long-distance running or high-intensity interval training. Exercise-induced hematuria is typically painless.
Treatment
Healthcare providers don’t recommend treatment for exercise-induced hematuria and expect symptoms to resolve independently within 72 hours after the intense workout period ends.If you experience blood in your urine after 72 hours, follow up with a healthcare provider.
Physical trauma, whether blunt or penetrating, with a direct hit to the organs of the urinary system (kidneys, renal pelvis, ureters, bladder, and urethra) can cause microscopic or gross hematuria.It is estimated that a little over 3% of people who experience physical trauma will have damage to some part of their kidneys (renal) system.
Depending on the type of trauma, symptoms might include pain or bruising to the flanks (on your side between your back and abdomen) and back.In severe cases, when people experience significant bleeding into the urine, they may experience additional symptoms associated with blood loss, such as elevated heart rate or low blood pressure.
Identifying the site of injury is essential, so if a provider suspects you have renal system trauma, they will complete acomputed tomography(CT) scan and laboratory blood analysis.Depending on your results, your healthcare provider will likely consider one of two treatment options:
Renal angiomyolipomas(AML) are the most common type of benign (not harmful) renal tumors.Renal AMLs are made of blood vessels, smooth muscles, and fatty tissue.
The majority of renal AMLs have no associated symptoms.They are often found incidentally during ultrasound or CT imaging.
Most renal AMLs don’t require treatment unless the following symptoms or situations apply:
In these cases, discuss treatment options with your provider.
There are many types of kidney diseases, the most common of which are discussed below.
Various kidney diseases can cause hematuria:
Can Kidney Stones Cause a UTI, or Vice Versa?
Treatment for each disease varies.
Hematuria is one of the early signs ofbladder cancer. You can also experience hematuria if there is cancer in the kidney or the ureter. If you experience the symptoms below, follow up with a qualified healthcare provider for evaluation.
Symptoms of bladder cancer can include:
Treatment for bladder cancer depends on how advanced the cancer is (stage) and can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and other targeted therapies or a combination of these approaches.Treatments for other urinary tract cancers have similar options.
Causes of Blood Clots in Urine With or Without Pain
To identify the cause of the hematuria, a healthcare provider will likely:
If your healthcare provider can’t identify a clear cause for blood in your urine, they will order additional laboratory blood testing or imaging studies, such as ultrasound or CT scan.
Blood in Urine (Hematuria) in Males
Summary
14 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 Kidney Foundation.Hematuria in adults.
American Urological Association.Can intense exercise cause hematuria?
American Urological Association.Urotrauma.
Erlich T, Kitrey ND.Renal trauma: the current best practice.Ther Adv Urol. 2018;10(10):295-303. doi:10.1177/1756287218785828
Mount Sinai.Flank pain.
National Library of Medicine.Renal angiomyolipoma.
National Library of Medicine.Hematuria.
National Library of Medicine.Uncomplicated urinary tract infections.
National Kidney Foundation.Kidney stones.
National Kidney Foundation.Polycystic kidney disease.
National Kidney Foundation.Alport syndrome.
American Cancer Society.Bladder cancer signs and symptoms.
American Urological Association.What is hematuria?
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
