Hematuria is when you have blood in your urine. Sometimes the amount of blood is very small and can only be detected with urine tests or under a microscope. This is called microscopic hematuria.
Gross hematuria is when you actually see blood in your urine. Symptoms of hematuria include urine that is red, pink, or brown. In most cases, people with gross hematuria do not have other signs and symptoms. It is not normal to find blood in your urine, so it's important to talk to your healthcare provider to find the cause.
Hematuria can be from a non-serious (benign) cause:
- Menstruation
- Vigorous exercise
- Sexual activity
- Kidney stones
- Trauma
- Infection (like a bladder infection or urinary tract infection [UTI])
Or from a more serious cause:
- Inflammation of the kidney, urethra, bladder or prostate
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Sickle cell disease
- Cancer of the kidney or bladder
Any time blood is found in your urine, a health care provider will want to make sure there is not a serious underlying health issue. He or she will conduct a physical exam, medical history, and urinalysis (urine test) to better understand what's going on with you. If microscopic blood is found in your urine, your health care provider may repeat the urine test. This confirms that the first finding was correct. In some cases, additional procedures such as a urinary tract CT scan and cystoscopy will be needed.
Treatment for hematuria will depend on the cause. If the condition is not serious, you may not need treatment at all.
Never ignore blood in your urine. Get checked by your health care provider, especially if you have urination problems or unexplained weight loss.