While you should always get an urgent GP appointment if you have blood in your urine (pee), there can be a few different reasons for this, and it might not be anything serious. In this article we explain some of the common causes of blood in urine (pee) and what happens when you seek help from your GP.
If your urine is red, and the discoloration is not likely due to certain foods, menstruation or medication, you should always consult a doctor. The doctor will analyse a urine sample to verify that there are red blood cells in the urine. The analysis can also show whether there are signs of inflammation, or if levels of protein in the urine are enhanced.
All of these factors assist in diagnosing potential underlying causes or health concerns. Often, it is not possible to make a clear diagnosis by only examining the urine. In this case the doctor will request further examinations, such as a medical ultrasound of the kidneys or bladder.
At this point it is normal to wonder, ‘what could blood in my urine mean?’ There are several potential reasons for blood in urine. It can be one of many symptoms, caused by a variety of conditions. Most of these are fairly common and are often treatable. Possible underlying diseases which cause blood in urine include:
Urinary tract infections. This occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract. The resulting infection causes inflammation, and can lead to blood in the urinary tract which in turn causes blood in urine. Sometimes, the infection can spread further up to one or both of the kidneys.
Bladder or kidney stones. Naturally occurring salts and minerals in our diet can cause crystals to form in our urine. These are usually flushed out with our urine but sometimes they become too large to do so. The presence of these crystals (called ‘stones’ because of their appearance) causes irritation to the lining of the urinary tract, causing pain and blood in the urine.
Tumours of the urinary tract (including the bladder, urethra or kidneys) can also cause blood in urine. They sometimes also cause you to pass urine (pee) more often, and can cause pain around the navel (belly button).
Diverticula occurs when part of the bladder wall or urethra wall is weak for some reason and thereby forms a small ‘pocket’ that can become infected. One of the symptoms can be bleeding when urinating.
Kidney injury. Traumas of the kidneys or urinary tract (due to falls, blows or other injuries) can cause visible blood in the urine.
Side effects of medications or radiation therapy are also sometimes the cause of blood in urine in both men and women.
A red, pink, dark orange, or even brown colour might indicate various traces of blood in urine. But such changes may not be due to the presence of blood. For example, certain foods and medications can affect your urine colour, sometimes changing the colour dramatically and in unexpected ways. For example, if you have recently eaten a lot of beetroot or have started taking a new medicine, this could be the reason your urine has changed colour.
If there really is blood in the urine, the medical term for this phenomenon is haematuria. When the urine has red, reddish, pink or brownish tones, it is called gross haematuria. But even if the urine is red in colour, this doesn’t necessarily mean it contains a large amount of blood – it only takes a small amount of blood in urine to make urine red.
However, sometimes there can be blood in urine without it being visible to the naked eye. When the concentration of red blood cells in the urine is so low that it can only be detected by testing in a laboratory, it is called microhaematuria.
Blood in women’s urine during menstruation is extremely common.
For men, blood in the urine is less common but can be caused by an infection of the prostate (prostatitis). In cancer, however, blood in the urine is not one of the first or main symptoms. Early stages of prostate cancer usually show no symptoms or signs, which is why active monitoring of prostate health is important.
If blood is detected in your urine, the potential treatment depends on the cause of the bleeding. For example, if the bleeding is caused by a urinary tract infection, it would usually be treated with antibiotics.
However, if the bleeding is caused by stones in the kidneys or bladder, the stones will often need to be removed.
Stones can also be removed using ultrasound, which breaks the stones into small pieces and then flushes them from the bladder.
For tumors or more complex conditions, the treatment depends on many different factors and so will vary from patient to patient.
As already mentioned, blood in men’s urine can be explained by problems with an enlarged prostate. In benign enlargement or a prostate infection (prostatis), bloody urine is not the most common symptom – other typical symptoms include a constant urge to urinate, or such a strong urge that you can’t make it to the toilet in time. Prostate problems can also cause male incontinence.
If you have urine leakage, contact a professional who will diagnose the underlying cause and recommend the right treatment. For extra support, there are also discreet and easy to use male incontinence products available that prevent leakage on clothes and remove unwanted odours.
TENA absorbent products are designed to prevent social isolation, keeping you confident and in control. Depending on the level of incontinence, there are different product types designed to suit different life situations. For light , for example, TENA Discreet Mini liners and pads offer a perfect blend of discretion and protection. Their asymmetrical shape ensures a tight fit and guarantees discretion and comfort. The absorbent core safely absorbs urine and prevents moisture or odours. You can find more TENA products here.
If you need to learn more about health, you can get prostate facts from professor Ralph Peeker, or learn how to keep a bladder diary to monitor changes to your urinary health.
Audited by Josefine Grandin, District nurse, urotherapist, 2020-02-26 – updated 2024 with Dr. John Young
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TENA absorbent products are designed to prevent social isolation. Depending on the level of , there are different product types designed to suit different life situations. For light incontinence, for example, TENA Lady Discreet Mini liners and pads offer a perfect blend of discretion and protection. Their asymmetrical shape ensures a tight fit and guarantees discretion and comfort. The absorbent core safely absorbs urine and prevents moisture or odours. You can find more TENA products here.
Audited by Josefine Grandin, District nurse, urotherapist, 2020-02-26
