Can blood in urine go away on its own?
Can blood in urine (hematuria) go away on its own? The answer is yes, but there are several different factors to consider. For instance, hematuria can have different possible causes, which is why it’s important to meet with a healthcare provider to determine what may or may not be affecting the urinary system. Even if you only see a small amount of blood, it’s important to get yourself checked out.
Hematuria (red blood cells in urine) can be linked to a variety of things, including blood thinners, or high blood pressure. In women, menstruation may cause blood contamination of the urine, giving the appearance of hematuria. Hematuria can also be a sign of vigorous exercise, an infection, a medication side effect (such as cyclophosphamide), or a sign of different forms of cancer. It’s also possible for hematuria to be a result of kidney stones, an enlarged prostate, or a potential urinary tract infection. Blood in urine can even affect your ureters, the duct your urine passes through when traveling from the kidneys to the bladder. Although hematuria can resolve on its own, seeing a doctor is important to rule out serious conditions like cancers, sickle cell disease, tumors, or pyelonephritis.
Reasons to see the Doctor
Because blood in urine can be due to minor or major issues, it’s important for you to see a doctor to find out the underlying cause. Even if you see blood in your urine once, it’s important for you not to dismiss it, since it may be a sign of a greater issue. A physical exam, blood tests, and a lab exam of what the urine looks like (urinalysis) will assist in determining what is causing the issue, and whether the patient should be referred to a urologist.
Although some people try to drink large amounts of water when they notice blood in their urine, drinking water alone will not resolve the issue. It may help dilute urine and flush out small kidney stones or bacteria, but it does not treat conditions like infections, kidney disease, or tumors. Seeking medical attention is the best way to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.
Visiting a Doctor
When seeing a doctor for hematuria, it’s important to describe its color, amount, and whether you have noticed blood clots. Your doctor will order a urine test and the appearance of your urine can provide clues to the underlying cause of hematuria:
- Pink or bright red urine - may indicate bleeding from the bladder or lower urinary tract
- Brown or tea-colored urine - may suggest kidney-related issues
- Blood clots or thick, dark urine - could be a sign of a more serious issue, like a tumor, kidney injury, or a clotting disorder.
If a patient has gross hematuria (blood in urine is visible to the naked eye), doctors may order a cystoscopy, a CT scan or an ultrasound.
- Cystoscopy - a procedure using a thin tube with a camera to examine the bladder lining
- CT scan or ultrasound - to detect kidney stones, tumors, or structural abnormalities.
Blood in urine not always visible to the naked eye. Because of this, it’s important for a person to have their urine tested when receiving an annual physical. A microscopic exam requires for a medical or laboratory technologist examine your urine sample under a microscope. Meanwhile, a dipstick urine analysis involves dipping a chemical strip into a sample of your urine to test for abnormalities. These tests can help determine if your bloody urine is a result of bladder stones, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, or high blood pressure. These tests will also help determine if a patient needs a follow-up or should be referred to a urologist.
Risk Factors
Depending on the findings, your doctor may ask about additional risk factors, including:
- Smoking (a major risk factor for bladder and kidney cancer)
- Exposure to industrial chemicals (like dyes, paints, and rubber)
- A family history of kidney disease, glomerulonephritis, or recurrent urinary tract infections.
Key Causes of Blood in Urine
Taking a closer look at some of the key causes of hematuria can allow a person to know not only what is causing the blood, but also its greater effect on the body. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria get into the tube of the urethra. The bacteria multiply in the bladder and cause bleeding that is red, pink, or brown in color. With a UTI you may also experience a stronger urge to be and a burning sensation when you do pee.
A bladder or kidney stone are also able to cause hematuria. They result when minerals in urine form crystals on the walls of the kidneys or bladder. These stones are typically painless, but they can cause a person to hurt greatly if they either cause a blockage or leave the body through urine.
Another common cause of blood in urine is an enlarged prostate. Typically, in middle age, the prostrate grows in grows in size, and begins putting more pressure on the urethra. This pressure, in turn, can cause a variety of problems including trouble peeing, an urgent need to pee, or blood in the urine. An infection of the prostate (called prostatitis) is also able to cause similar symptoms.
Kidney disease is another cause of blood in urine. However, in this instance, the blood can only be seen when viewed in a lab. Hematuria related to kidney disease can occur on its own or be a part of a larger condition such as diabetes.
When blood in the urine can be seen with the naked eye it can be a sign of advanced kidney, bladder, or prostrate. It’s for these reasons if a person experiences hematuria, a doctor will conduct a urinalysis and other tests to rule out the possibility of cancer.
Hematuria can also be caused by inherited illnesses. Both sickle cell anemia and and Alport syndrome are able to cause blood in urine.
An injury to one’s kidneys from an accident or contact sport is able to cause blood in urine.
As alluded to earlier, particular medicines are also able to cause blood in urine. The anti-cancer drug Cytoxan as well as penicillin are linked to blood in urine. Even aspirin and heparin have been known to cause hematuria from time to time.
Strenuous exercise and sports can also be a cause of blood in urine. In football, blood in urine can be caused by enduring a bladder injury. Marathons and long-distance running have also been linked to hematuria, but the reasons why aren’t as clear.
Outside of these different causes, blood in urine can also occur due to the different chemicals and dyes someone is frequently exposed to in their workplace. These chemicals and dyes cause the lining of the bladder and urinary tract to become irritated and inflamed, which later leads to microscopic bleeding.
Hematuria Caused by Physical Trauma
Blood in urine can be caused by physical trauma or an accident, especially if the kidneys or bladder sustain a heavy blow. In many cases where mild trauma is the cause of hematuria, it resolves on its own with rest and hydration. However, severe or persistent bleeding may require medical intervention, including imaging tests to assess the damage. If bleeding does not stop or if there is significant organ injury, surgical treatment may be necessary.
Signs and Symptoms of Hematuria
There are two types of hematuria: Gross hematuria, which is visible to the naked eye, and microscopic hematuria, which can only be detected under a microscope. It’s important to monitor for any changes in urination, pain in the lower back, flanks, or abdomen, and signs of infection such as burning, fever, or urgency.
If you experience severe symptoms, such as intense pain, visible blood clots, fever, or difficulty urinating, it’s best to seek urgent medical care rather than waiting for a scheduled doctor’s appointment.
Testing for UTI : Possible Cause of Blood in Urine
A quick at-home Ribbon Checkup urine test can tell you if you have an infection that may be causing the blood in your urine. You simply collect your urine sample in the urine collection cup, dip the Ribbon test strip, and take a picture of the test strip with your phone. The Ribbon app will analyze the strip to let you know if you have traces of blood appearing in your urine.
What Doesn’t Cause Blood in Urine
Though it’s important to know the different causes of blood in urine, it’s also important to know what does not cause blood in urine. At times, dehydration can cause difficulties and complications for the body, however, it cannot lead to blood in the urine. Also, eating beets, rhubarb, and certain berries are able to cause the color of your urine, but they cannot cause for blood to appear in your urine.
It’s also important to note that your treatment will depend on what your doctor determines to be the underlying cause of your hematuria. The treatment you’d receive for bladder cancer would be very different from having overexerted yourself during exercise.
Key Takeaways
Blood in urine can go away on its own. Drinking water can also flush blood out of one’s urine, but that doesn’t mean it resolves the issue.
Because hematuria can occur for a variety of reasons, it’s best to see a doctor to determine what might be going on. Some issues with hematuria may be easy to recover from, whereas other issues can be more problematic and require you to see a specialist.
References
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Mayo Clinic - Hematuria (Blood in Urine)
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National Kidney Foundation - Hematuria
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American Urological Association - Hematuria
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Cleveland Clinic - Blood in Urine
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WebMD - Hematuria (Blood in Urine)
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Urology Care Foundation - Hematuria
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Healthline – 9 Causes of Blood in Urine
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