Deep urination can be caused by blood or other factors such as food or medicine, but it is always important to get to the root of the cause.
Blood in your urine can be a sign of various medical conditions, especially those that affect the kidneys, bladder, urethra or prostate.
It is natural to feel this concern if you see blood in the urine. The blood that appears in your urine is known as total hematuria. Blood in your urine that cannot be seen and can only be detected under a microscope called microscopic hematuria. (1)
Symptoms That Accompany Blood in Your Urine
If your urine is pink, red, or brown, you may experience hematuria. A small amount of blood may change the color of your urine, but you may also feel that you are going through large chunks of blood. (2)
Colored urine, however, does not mean that there is blood in your urine. Some foods such as blackberries, rhubarb, and beets, as well as certain medications and vitamins can change the color of your urine. (3)
Regardless, it is best to consult your doctor at any time to have your urine colored to see if the change is harmless or more serious.
Additional symptoms may include blood in the urine: (4)
Discomfort or pain when urinating
Urgent need to urinate
Frequent need to urinate
Weight loss
Unable to urinate
Fever
Nausea or vomiting
Stomach pain
It’s getting cold
Causes of Blood in Your Urine (Hematuria)
When you experience hematuria, red blood cells are excreted in your kidneys or in your urine. Blood in your urine is not always a sign of a serious medical condition, but it should also be taken as a warning sign that something may be wrong. Hematuria can be a symptom of many different medical conditions, including: (2)
Bladder or kidney stones
Kidney disease
Kidney injury
Bladder enlargement
Urinary tract infections
Blood clots
Kidney infection
Kidney, bladder or urinary cancer
Sickle cell anemia
If you see blood at the beginning of urination, the actual bleeding may be in the urethra. If you feel blood in your urine, it may be from your bladder, kidneys or ureters. If you see blood at the end of the urethra, it could be the bladder or the prostate. (5)
If you are over the age of 35 and smoke, blood in your urine is often a sign of bladder cancer. (5)
Some medications can also cause bleeding in the urine, including: (2)
Cyclophosphate
Penicillin
Aspirin
Heparin
Anticoagulants such as warfarin, revoxabine, debigatrin, or auxabine
Excessive exercise can also cause hematuria, possibly due to bladder trauma, dehydration, or red blood cell breakdown. If you are a runner or you have exercised hard and felt blood in your urine, contact your doctor. (2)
Bleeding can also come from other sources, such as vaginal discharge during menstruation, ejaculation in men (often due to a prostate problem), or bowel movements due to hemorrhoids or other problems. (4)
What Causes Small Blood Clots in Urine?
Urinary tract infections, kidney stones and prostate problems are common causes of small blood clots, which sometimes look like coffee. If you notice blood clots in your urine – even small ones, you should contact your doctor. Large blood clots can block urine flow and cause discomfort, and are often a sign of a medical emergency. (6)
If you see blood clots in your urine, like worms, it could be a sign that you are bleeding from the urethra or prostate. If the pain is excruciating, it may be coming from the tubes that connect your kidneys to your bladder, called the ureters. (5)
Can Dehydration Cause Blood in Urine?
Although dehydration is less likely to cause direct bleeding in the urine, it can lead to conditions that can lead to hematuria. For example, a small amount of urine due to permanent dehydration can lead to kidney stones which can lead to blood in the urine. When high exercise causes blood in the urine, dehydration can also be helpful. (7)
Why Is There Blood in My Child’s Urine?
Both visible and microscopic blood in children’s urine can be a sign of a medical condition or a risk of developing a medical condition.
If a red, pink, or gray color appears, the change may be due to medication or certain foods. Regardless, parents should consult a doctor if they experience abnormal color changes in their child’s urine. (8)
According to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, about 33% to 4% of children will experience microscopic blood in their urine. Since the microscope does not show blood, parents should also look for these symptoms: (8)
Parasites around the eyes
Swelling of hands and feet
Abdominal or asthma pain
Low urine output
Wet accidents
Increasing frequency of urination
Pain when urinating
Hematuria in children may be a symptom: (9)
Polycystic kidney disease
Kidney stones
Hereditary nephritis
Alport syndrome
Sickle cell disease
Kidney disease
It is also possible that your child has familial hematuria, which may mean that there is nothing wrong with your child medically.
Diagnosing the Cause of Blood in Urine
To determine the cause of blood in your urine, your doctor will usually start by discussing your medical history with you. They may ask if you have a recent infection or have a family history of hemorrhage. ()) You can prepare for your appointment by writing a few notes about the color and odor of your urine, as well as how often you urinate and what you feel when you urinate. You want to take a picture of your colored urine on your mobile phone which you can show to your doctor during your appointment.
Your doctor may also perform several tests. A urinalysis can also detect microscopic hematuria and test for urinary tract infections or kidney stones. If the urology does not determine the cause, your doctor may perform a CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound. They can also examine the bladder and urine through a cystoscopy, where a tube attached to the camera is inserted into your bladder. (2) Additional tests may include: (4)
Anticoagulant antibody test
Blood creatinine levels
Kidney biopsy
Complete blood count (CBC)
Strip test
Blood disorder test
Coagulation test
Blood chemistry test
24 hour urine collection
“Many doctors and patients do not underestimate the importance of finding the cause of blood in the urine,” said MD Ann Schkeman, assistant professor of urology and urological oncology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Both CT scan and cystoscopy. “Unfortunately, many patients who have blood in their urine also have some white blood cells in their urine and are treated for a urinary tract infection. Antibiotics can help for a while. However, a serious underlying cause of bleeding can be remembered without a thorough investigation.
Treating What’s Causing Blood in Your Urine
Treatment of blood in the urine will depend on which medical condition is causing the hematuria. For example, if you have a urinary tract infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. If you have an enlarged prostate, your doctor may prescribe medication to shrink it. (2)
For bladder or kidney stones, your doctor may use a shock wave treatment, called extracorporeal shock wave litho trapsy. They may remove the stone by inserting a circle through the urethra, or they may recommend surgery. (7)
