Blood in your urine, or hematuria, can be classified as microscopic or gross.

• Microscopic hematuria is when there is very little blood in the urine and it can only be seen with a microscope.
• Gross hematuria is when there is enough blood in the urine that you can see it with the naked eye. Usually it turns toilet water pale pink or bright red, or you may just see spots of blood in the water after urinating.

Hematuria; Blood in the urine

In women, blood may appear to be in the urine when it is actually coming from the vagina. In men, what may be mistaken for urinary bleeding is sometimes a bloody ejaculation, usually due to a prostate problem. In some cases, blood in the urine can sometimes be confused with blood from a bowel movement. In any case, you should see a health care provider.

Discoloration from certain drugs, beets, or other foods can mimic blood in the urine.

You may not see blood in your urine. In some cases, it is found microscopically when your doctor checks your urine during a routine exam. Your doctor will follow up on this problem to see if it persists and identify the cause.

When blood is visible to the naked eye, prompt and thorough evaluation is always needed. In children, hospitalization is often necessary to complete the work up.

There are many potential causes of blood in the urine. Often, bloody urine is from a problem in your kidneys or other parts of the urinary tract. If your kidneys, urinary tract, prostate, and genitals turn out to be fine, your doctor may check to see if you have a bleeding disorder.

Kidney and urinary tract causes include:

• Cancer of the bladder or kidney
• Kidney or bladder stones
• Kidney disease following strep throat ( post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis) -- a classic cause of blood in the urine in children
• Kidney failure
• Infection of the bladder, kidney, or urethra
• Inflammation of the bladder, urethra, prostate, or kidney ( glomerulonephritis)
• Injury to the bladder or kidney
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Recent urinary tract procedure such as catheterization, circumcision, surgery, or kidney biopsy

Causes from blood disorders include:

• Bleeding disorders (such as hemophilia)
• Blood clot in the kidneys
• Low numbers of platelets
• Medications including blood thinners (such as warfarin)
• Sickle cell disease

Images

Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

Review Date: 09/30/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Scott Miller, MD, Urologist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)