Blood in your urine, medically called hematuria, means that red blood cells are leaking into your urine from your kidneys or other parts of your urinary tract, such as the bladder, ureters, or urethra
. This can happen for many reasons, including:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs), where bacteria infect the urinary system
- Kidney or bladder stones, which can irritate or damage urinary tract tissues
- Trauma or injury to the urinary tract
- Enlarged prostate in men, which can affect urine flow and cause bleeding
- Kidney diseases, including inflammation or damage to the glomeruli (filtering units)
- Certain cancers of the bladder, kidney, or prostate
- Blood clotting disorders or medications like blood thinners
- Strenuous exercise or other less common causes like sickle cell disease
The blood may be visible, turning urine pink, red, or brown (gross hematuria), or it may be microscopic and only found on urine tests
. Even small amounts of blood in urine should be evaluated by a healthcare provider, especially if accompanied by symptoms like pain during urination, frequent urination, or abdominal/back pain
. In summary, blood in urine signals an underlying issue in the urinary system that requires medical assessment to determine the cause and appropriate treatment
