Urine - bloody

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Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

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.

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:

• Kidney or bladder stones
• Infection of the bladder (especially if chronic and recurrent ), kidney , or urethra (tube that empties urine from the bladder to the outside)
• Inflammation of the bladder, urethra, or kidney (called glomerulonephritis)
• Cancer of the bladder or kidney
• Trauma to the kidney, fractured pelvis, or recent procedure somewhere in the urinary tract like catheterization, circumcision, surgery, or kidney biopsy.
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Kidney failure (acute or chronic)
• Kidney disease following strep throat, called post-stretococcal glomerulonephritis; this is a classic cause of blood in the urine in children

Causes from blood disorders include:

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

Review Date: 08/04/2005
Reviewed By: David R. Knowles M.D., Scottsdale Urologic Surgeons, Scottsdale, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.