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Blood in your urine is never normal, but that doesn’t mean it’s always serious. Whether you see it just once or it appears regularly, bloody urine indicates something going on in your body, and you need to get it checked out.
Mike Hseih, MD, specializes in men’s health and offers high-quality care in and around La Jolla, California. The board-certified urologist and director of the Men’s Health Center at the University of California, San Diego, is the go-to physician for guys seeking exceptional care and discretion for erectile dysfunction, vasectomies, prostate problems, low testosterone, and more.
Here, Dr. Hseih explains the possible causes of bloody urine and why you should come to see him if it happens to you.
Blood in your urine indicates something’s not right in your urinary system, which includes your bladder, kidneys, ureters, and urethra.
Your kidneys filter waste from your blood and turn it into urine, which passes through the ureters to your bladder, where it hangs out until you pee through your urethra. Problems anywhere along that line can lead to blood in your urine. Here are some of the possible culprits.
Bacteria entering your urinary tract can lead to an infection, causing painful, sometimes bloody, urination. Your body may fight off a mild UTI on its own, but if it persists or keeps returning, you may need antibiotics.
Bladder stones develop when you don’t (or can’t) empty your bladder completely. The remaining urine crystalizes and forms small shards that can cause pain and bleeding.
Like bladder stones, kidney stones are crystalline clumps that irritate your urinary tract. But these occur when you don’t produce enough urine to clear your system. You may pass small kidney stones when you urinate, but larger stones may require surgical intervention.
An enlarged prostate, the gland in your groin that produces part of your semen, can lead to bloody urine. It’s typically about the size of a pingpong ball, but if it grows, it squeezes your urethra and causes bleeding.
Prostate cancer is common, second only to skin cancer for men in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates 288,300 new cases of prostate cancer occur annually, resulting in 34,700 deaths.
A weakened urine flow, back pain, painful urination and ejaculation, trouble emptying your bladder, and blood in your urine are common symptoms of prostate cancer.
Certain medications like blood thinners and aspirin can also lead to bloody urine, and even strenuous exercise can cause a temporary show of blood. The resolution is simple in these cases, but you need to find the underlying cause.
Call Dr. Hseih anytime you notice blood in your urine, especially if you also have:
Dr. Hseih performs a thorough exam and gets to the bottom of your bloody urine, so you can begin treatment if necessary and walk away with peace of mind. Contact us by calling 858-216-2561.
