Haematuria (Blood in Urine)

The main sign is visible blood in your urine, making it pink, red or brown. 

Additional symptoms may include:

• cloudy urine

• pain or burning when passing urine

• needing to urinate more often

• difficulty emptying your bladder

• lower abdominal or back pain

• fever or feeling generally unwell 

Sometimes there are no other symptoms, and blood is only found during a routine urine test.

Blood in urine can come from anywhere in the urinary tract, which includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, and urethra. 

Common causes include:

• urinary tract infections (UTIs) – bacteria can irritate the bladder lining and cause bleeding

• kidney or bladder stones – stones can rub against the urinary tract lining

• enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) in men

• kidney disease 

• recent vigorous exercise

• certain medicines, such as blood thinners

In some cases, haematuria can signal more serious problems, such as bladder cancer or kidney cancer, especially in older adults.

Risk factors for haematuria

You may be more likely to develop haematuria if you:

• are aged over 40

• smoke

• have a family history of kidney disease

• have frequent urinary tract infections

• take medicines that thin the blood, such as warfarin or aspirin

At your initial consultation, your urologist will take a detailed medical history and ask about your symptoms. They’ll ask for a urine sample to check for infection, blood, and protein and may also perform a physical examination. 

Additional tests may include:

• blood tests – to assess kidney function

• imaging scans – such as ultrasound, CT, or MRI to examine the kidneys and urinary tract

• cystoscopy – a thin, flexible camera is passed into the bladder to look for abnormalities

Sometimes, if no obvious cause is found, your consultant may recommend ongoing monitoring.

It’s not always possible to prevent haematuria, but steps that support urinary tract health include:

• drinking enough fluids to stay well hydrated

• not smoking, to reduce the risk of bladder and kidney cancer

• managing blood pressure and diabetes, to protect kidney health

• urinating after sex, to reduce the risk of UTIs

• seeking prompt treatment for UTIs

• avoiding overuse of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, which can affect the kidneys

On its own, haematuria does not cause complications. However, untreated underlying causes can lead to problems such as:

• recurrent or severe urinary tract infections

• blockage from kidney or bladder stones

• reduced kidney function

• delayed diagnosis of cancer in the urinary tract

While some causes are minor, it’s always important to seek medical advice to rule out anything serious and avoid further complications.

Treatment for haematuria will depend on the cause, and your consultant will explain the options and recommend the most suitable treatment for you. 

Possible treatments include:

• antibiotics, if haematuria is due to infection

• procedures to break up or remove kidney or bladder stones

• medicines to shrink an enlarged prostate

• blood pressure or kidney medications if the blood is caused by kidney disease

• surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy in rare cases where cancer is found

At Welbeck, our urologists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.