Blood In Urine Specialist

What is hematuria?

Hematuria is a condition where red blood cells enter and pass through your urine. There are two types: gross hematuria, which features red blood cells that are visible in your urine and produce a red, pink, or brown hue, and microscopic hematuria, which is only visible under a microscope.

What causes hematuria?

You can suffer from hematuria for a variety of reasons, ranging from relatively minor to more serious underlying conditions. Some of the most common causes include:

Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Blood in the urine is a common symptom of UTIs, though they most commonly result in microscopic rather than gross hematuria.

Kidney stones

Kidney stones that have entered your urinary tract can result in inflammation and other small injuries that lead to hematuria.

Kidney cancer

More advanced kidney cancers, as well as bladder or prostate cancers, might cause hematuria. Unfortunately, this symptom rarely presents until these cancers are in their later stages.

Exercise

Though it might sound surprising, strenuous exercise can lead to gross hematuria, with runners experiencing the condition most often. It’s not fully understood why this happens, but it’s thought that bladder trauma or red blood cell breakdown might play a role.

Enlarged prostate

If you’re suffering from an enlarged prostate, you might experience gross hematuria as one of your symptoms, though microscopic hematuria may also be present.

To identify the cause of your hematuria, the team at Metro Renal Associates can use a few simple medical evaluations, including a physical exam or urine and imaging tests, to get to the root of the problem.

How is hematuria treated?

The team at Metro Renal Associates recommends a treatment for your hematuria based on its underlying cause. For some cases of hematuria, such as those linked to exercise, your symptoms might simply resolve on their own.

For hematuria caused by more serious medical conditions, treatment of the underlying condition will generally relive your hematuria symptoms.

Are you experiencing blood in your urine and you’re not sure why? If so, there’s no need to panic. The team at Metro Renal Associates can quickly identify the cause and get you on the road to recovery. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today to learn more.