Hematuria Specialist

What is hematuria?

Hematuria means there’s blood in your urine. When blood is visible to the naked eye, it’s called gross hematuria. Gross hematuria causes urine to appear red, pink, or brownish. If red blood cells in your urine are only visible with a microscope, you have microscopic hematuria. There are several reasons you may have blood in your urine, and not all of them are serious.

What causes hematuria?

The cause of hematuria isn’t always known. Blood can appear in your urine because of red blood cells in any part of your urinary tract. Common causes of hematuria include:

• Certain medications, like penicillin
• Enlarged prostate
• Kidney infections
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Stones in the kidney or bladder
• Kidney disease
• Certain disorders, like sickle cell anemia

In some cases, blood in your urine can be the result of a blow to your kidneys or strenuous exercise.

Who is at risk for hematuria?

Men over 50 are particularly susceptible to hematuria, but anyone can have blood in their urine. Factors that may increase your risk include:

• A family history of kidney stones or disease
• Recent bacterial or viral infections
• Medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers or antibiotics
• Strenuous exercise like long-distance running, also known as jogger’s hematuria

Certain foods like beets and berries can also cause benign urine discoloration, but any time your urine looks different, it’s important to contact your doctor to rule out a serious medical condition.

How is hematuria diagnosed and treated?

To diagnose your hematuria, your doctor at Advanced Urology of South Florida performs extensive testing, which typically includes a physical exam and review of your medical history, urine testing, and imaging tests like CT scans, MRIs, or ultrasound.

Depending on your symptoms, your provider might also perform a cystoscopy, looking inside your bladder and urethra with a miniature camera for signs of abnormalities and disease. They might also suggest additional tests if you’re at risk of bladder cancer or other urinary conditions.

Based on the cause of your hematuria, your Advanced Urology of South Florida provider might recommend a variety of treatments, such as:

• Antibiotics to treat infections
• Medications to reduce an enlarged prostate
• Shockwave therapy to break up stones in your bladder or kidneys

Don’t ignore blood in your urine — call Advanced Urology of South Florida or schedule an appointment online to learn more about hematuria.