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Blood In Urine - What You Need to Know?

Reviewed by Cynthia Murphy, MD

Haematuria (blood in urine) is not normal unless a woman is going through her period. Having blood in urine often means that there is another medical condition that needs treatment. Blood may appear bright red or a rusty brown or black. Bright red blood indicates fresh blood while brown or black blood indicates old, decaying blood. Old blood may cause the urine itself to turn brown.

Excreting pink urine can also indicate that blood is present in the urine. Sometimes medications can cause pink urine. But it is best to always contact a doctor after excreting pink urine. Passing bright red or dark red blood can happen to people on antibiotics, particularly nitrofurantoin, or after eating beetroot.

Common Causes of Blood In Urine

A common cause of bright red blood in urine is hemorrhoids or piles. Symptoms of hemorrhoids include burning, itching and swelling around or inside of the anus. When the skin is irritated or wiped, it bleeds. Hemorrhoids can often be treated with over the counter products but rarely need prescription medication or surgery.

Cystitis or bladder infections are other common causes for blood to appear in the urine. Bacteria have invaded the urinary tract and began breeding prolifically in the bladder. This causes irritation in the skin which causes bleeding. Other symptoms of cystitis or bladder infections include fever, abdominal pain, intensely painful urination and only being able to produce a few drops despite a constant need to urinate. All urinary tract infections are contagious if someone has sex with an infected person. Anyone with a urinary tract infection usually has a lowered libido due to the pain.

A common cause of blood in urine for men over 40 is due to an enlarged prostate. The prostate presses on the bladder and can keep it from emptying completely. This can cause cystitis. Although not painful, an enlarged prostate should be checked and monitored by a doctor.

Uncommon Causes of Blood in Urine

People with kidney stones will often pass bloody urine. Although kidney stones are often painful, sometimes they are not. The minute stone blocks a kidney tube which causes the tissue in the tube to bleed. Kidney stones sometimes pass by themselves but often need medical intervention or they become larger and more painful.

Cancer in the kidneys, bladder, prostate or rectum can also cause bloody urine, sometimes without pain. People over 50 who pass bloody urine and do have other symptoms may need to go to a specialist immediately to test for cancer. The sooner treatment starts for cancer, the better a person’s chances are of complete recovery.

Some sexually transmitted diseases cause urinary tract infections which can cause bloody urine.

Questions Your Doctor Will Ask

In order to help speed diagnosis or if you need to go see a specialist, be prepared to answer these questions from your doctor: