What causes blood in urine?

Urinary tract infection (infection of the bladder or kidney) is one of the most common causes of blood in the urine. Other common causes are:

• exercise, sexual intercourse or injury
• a kidney stone
• cysts
• blood-thinning medication
• a disease of the blood
• a medical procedure

Blood in the urine can also be caused by:

• kidney disease
• injury to the kidney, ureter, bladder or urethra
• tumours of the bladder, kidney or prostate

How is blood in urine diagnosed?

Your doctor will talk to you and will examine you.

They will ask for a urine sample for urine tests, and may ask for a blood test.

A urine test involves checking your urine to see what it contains. White blood cells in the urine usually indicate infection. Red blood cells in the urine may indicate infection, kidney disease, a blood disorder or other conditions such as a tumour.

Further possible tests include:

• an ultrasound or CT scan of the kidneys, ureters and bladder
• a cystoscopy, in which a specialist looks into the bladder with a flexible camera

How is blood in urine treated?

There are many different treatments for blood in the urine, and it depends on the cause. It may involve antibiotics, or surgery. Some causes of blood in urine don’t need any treatment.

It is important to have regular follow-ups with your doctor to ensure complete recovery.

When might it be something else?

Normal urine colour is light yellow. Certain foods and medicines can change urine colour. For instance, beetroot, blackberries, food colours and certain medicines can cause pink, red or lighter brown urine.