What is hematuria?
Hematuria refers to blood in the urine, which can be alarming. It’s often harmless, but in some cases, it can indicate a more serious underlying health condition.
Visible blood in the urine is called gross hematuria, and urinary blood that’s only visible under a microscope with a urine test is called microscopic hematuria. Either way, it’s important to get to the root cause of your hematuria and evaluate your health.
Gross hematuria produces red, pink, or cola-colored urine as a result of red blood cells. It takes little blood to produce red urine, and the bleeding might not be painful. Passing blood clots in your urine can be painful.
Some medications, such as certain laxatives, and specific foods like beets, berries, and rhubarb can cause your urine to turn red. A change in urine color due to drugs, food, or exercise typically goes away within a couple of days.
Bloody urine does look different, but you might not be able to tell the difference, so it’s always best to stay on the safe side and visit Arizona Urology if you notice red-colored urine and have concerns.
What causes hematuria?
With hematuria, your kidneys or other parts of your urinary tract allow blood cells to leak into your urine. Multiple reasons could be causing this leakage, including:
- Urinary tract infections
- Kidney infections
- A kidney or bladder stone
- Enlarged prostate
- Infection of the prostate
- Kidney disease
- Cancer
- Inherited disorders
- Kidney injury
- Certain medications, such as the cancer drug cyclophosphamide
Factors that might increase your risk of developing hematuria include aging, a recent kidney, viral, or bacterial infection, and strenuous exercise.
How is hematuria treated?
To treat hematuria, your Arizona Urology doctor determines the cause, usually with effective testing, such as a physical exam, urine tests, imaging tests, and a cystoscopy.
A cystoscopy is an in-office procedure that involves threading a narrow tube fitted with a tiny camera into your bladder, so your doctor can examine your urethra and bladder for signs of disease.
Depending on what’s causing your hematuria, your doctor might recommend certain treatments, such as:
- A prescription medication to shrink an enlarged prostate
- Surgery, such as a surgical procedure for an enlarged prostate or bladder stones
- Antibiotics for a urinary tract infection
- Healthy lifestyle changes, such as nutritional counseling
Don’t just worry about the health of your urinary system when effective care is available at Arizona Urology. Call today.
