Blood In Urine
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Urology Center of Florida
Urologists located in Pompano Beach, FL
Have you noticed pink, reddish, or dark discoloration in your urine? This is a sign of hematuria, a potentially serious condition where blood seeps into the urinary tract. Dr. Craig Herman and Dr. Steven C. Kester at the Urology Center of Florida in Pompano Beach are highly respected urologists who have the tools, technology, and experience to find the cause of your hematuria and develop a successful treatment plan. Make an appointment for an evaluation today by calling or booking online.
Blood in Urine Q & A
What is hematuria?
Hematuria, or blood in urine, occurs when red blood cells enter the urinary tract. If concentrations are high enough, urine appears pink or reddish. This is called gross hematuria. More often, blood is not visible to the naked eye and can only be seen under a microscopic during urinalysis testing. Fittingly, this is referred to as microscopic hematuria.
What are the symptoms of hematuria?
Apart from the discolored urine seen in gross hematuria, this condition often exhibits no symptoms. However, contributing causes like kidney stones, enlarged prostate, or urinary tract infection produce symptoms. These include:
- Abdominal pain
- Decreased urinary force, hesitancy, incomplete voiding
- Fever
- Frequent need to urinate
- Pain during urination
- Pain in the flank or side
- Urinary urgency
What causes hematuria?
Although the presence of blood in your urine is alarming, the causes are often benign and quickly resolved. For example, strenuous exercise combined with dehydration can stress the bladder and trigger the release of red blood cells into the urinary tract. Some medications, such as antibiotics, aspirin, blood thinners, and cancer drugs, can also cause urinary bleeding.
However, hematuria can also be a sign of serious illness, and is often associated with these conditions:
- Bacterial and viral urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Enlarged prostate
- Kidney infection or disease
- Kidney stones
- Tumors and/or cancer
How is hematuria diagnosed?
If blood is present in your urine, the cause needs to be discovered. Usually, the doctors recommend cystoscopy. During this procedure, a cystoscope -- a hollow, flexible tube equipped with a lens -- is used to inspect your urethra, bladder, and (for men) the prostate. This simple procedure takes about a minute and is highly effective for locating the source of the bleeding.
Occasionally, the results of cystoscopy are inconclusive and you may need other tests, including:
- Ultrasonic exam of kidneys, bladder, and prostate
- X-ray exam of urinary tract organs
- Computed tomography (CT)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Biopsy of the kidney
How is hematuria treated?
Your treatment plan depends on the cause of your hematuria. UTIs are usually treated with antibiotics, and there are numerous interventions for kidney stones, including ultrasonic treatment. Enlarged prostates are often resolved with medications. For more serious issues, like cancer, you will be referred to other qualified specialists.
Hematuria is a potentially serious condition that should be evaluated by a skilled and experienced urologist. If you notice blood in your urine, call or book an appointment online right away at the Urology Center of Florida.
