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Hematuria: When There’s Blood in the Urine

Hematuria means there’s blood in your urine. Sometimes it’s visible (called gross hematuria) and your urine looks pink, red, or cola-colored. Other times, it’s only seen under a microscope (microscopic hematuria) during a urine test.

While seeing blood in urine can be scary, it doesn’t always mean something serious. But it should never be ignored, because it can be a sign of an underlying condition that needs treatment.

Common causes include:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Kidney stones
• An enlarged prostate (in men)
• Vigorous exercise
• Bladder or kidney infections
• More serious causes like bladder, kidney, or prostate cancer

Hematuria is often painless, unless it’s caused by a stone or infection — in those cases, you may also feel burning, pain, or need to urinate often.

To find the cause, a doctor may recommend urine tests, blood tests, ultrasound, or a cystoscopy (a camera to look inside the bladder).

Treatment depends on the cause. It could be as simple as treating an infection with antibiotics or more complex if a tumor or stone is found.

If you ever notice blood in your urine, don’t wait. Early evaluation can prevent bigger problems later.