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Hematuria, the clinical term for blood in urine, is a common issue. Studies show that at least 1 in 5 persons who visit a urologist will be diagnosed with it. "There are two types of haematuria," Consultant Urologist Dr Elon Thompon says, "Gross and microscopic." Most people will be diagnosed with microscopic hematuria, "which is normally observed when the urine is checked on a clinical visit," Dr Thompson explains. Still, some will encounter gross hematuria, where the blood is visible in the urine.
Dr Thompson notes that "while it is mostly caused by a urinary tract infection, other causes include stone disease and genitourinary cancers, like bladder cancer." As such, if you're experiencing any hematuria, it should always be looked into.
That said, more often than not, there's no need to panic, as many easily treatable conditions can result in bloody urine.
Here are three common causes of blood in urine:
1) Kidney or Bladder Stones
Most people with kidney or bladder stones experience hematuria. As these hard, rock-like deposits move through the ureter, urethra or bladder, they can scrape the linings, resulting in bleeding. This is one reason why even small stones can hurt. However, there's no need to panic. Once the stone passes or is removed, bleeding should stop. But remember, if you've experienced kidney or bladder stones before, you're at a higher risk of developing them again.
2) Urinary Tract Infections or (UTIs)
As bacteria infect the urinary tract, they can cause inflammation and bleeding. Red blood cells pass into the urine, resulting in hematuria.
While we generally refer to urinary tract infections as a single infection, there are different types. In the lower tract:
Cystitis (where the bladder is infected),
Urethritis (where the urethra is infected), and
Vaginitis (where the vagina is infected)
While in the upper tract, kidney infections are called Pyelonephritis (ureteritis or infections of the ureter are rare). If a UTI in the lower urinary tract is left untreated, it can spread to the upper tract, causing serious issues.
3) Prostate Swelling
Issues like Prostatitis and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) are common in older men. With these disorders, the prostate becomes inflamed, swollen or enlarged, often causing urinary symptoms like incontinence and hematuria.
"When the prostate is enlarged or inflamed, it has more blood vessels present," explains Dr Thompson. "Any external pressure or friction, like straining to pass urine or stool, can cause these blood vessels to bleed."
Preventing Hematuria
Since hematuria is a symptom of another issue rather than an illness itself, the only way to prevent or treat it is by preventing or treating the conditions that cause it. For example, drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, helps flush bacteria out of the urinary tract, reducing the risk of infections.
While hematuria is often harmless, it should never be ignored. "If someone has gross haematuria," Dr Thompson says, "they need to be investigated." Further, look for other symptoms of the above conditions, like a burning sensation when peeing, difficulty emptying the bladder and severe pain in your lower back or abdomen.
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