Answering Common Questions About Hematuria

The presence of blood in one’s urine is known as hematuria. Hematuria isn’t a specific medical condition. Rather, it’s a sign of an underlying problem. Although hematuria may be attributed to a benign issue, it might sometimes be caused by a serious medical problem that requires treatment. This is why it’s important to see a urologist promptly, even if you only notice bloody urine once.

What is microscopic hematuria?

Patients who visit a urologist because of hematuria often noticed the visible blood in the urine, but bloody urine isn’t always detectable to the naked eye. Sometimes, the presence of blood in a urine sample is only discovered during other medical exams. When red blood cells in the urine cannot be visibly detected, it is referred to as microscopic hematuria.

Am I at risk of hematuria?

Anyone can experience hematuria, including pediatric patients. Your risk may be elevated if you are a man over the age of 50 or a woman with a urinary tract infection. A family history of kidney problems or a recent infection might also increase your risk. Long-distance runners and other athletes who engage in strenuous exercise may experience hematuria from time to time.

What underlying problems can cause hematuria?

There are many possible causes of hematuria, including relatively harmless issues like strenuous exercise and sexual activity. It may be attributed to a urinary tract infection (UTI), viral infection, or sexually transmitted disease (STD). In men, benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as an enlarged prostate, can be the culprit. Some of the more serious causes of bloody urine include kidney, ureter, and bladder stones, kidney diseases, sickle cell anemia, and tumors of the bladder, kidneys, prostate, ureter, or urethra. Fortunately, urological cancers are not a common cause. Sometimes, no cause is found. This is known as idiopathic hematuria.

How is hematuria treated?

Your urologist will develop a treatment plan based on his or her findings. Since hematuria is the result of an underlying issue, the treatment will address the cause. If no cause is found, you may be referred for monitoring and follow-up testing.

You’ll find the answers to all of your questions at Urology Associates, P.C. Our urology specialists throughout Tennessee provide cutting-edge treatments for all sorts of urologic conditions—from kidney stones to kidney cancer and many more. Call us at 888-245-0702 to request a confidential patient evaluation.