Blood in Urine? Doctors Reveal 5 Common Causes
Blood in urine can indicate urinary tract infections, kidney stones, enlarged prostate, tumors, or certain foods, but a urologist warns that even painless hematuria requires prompt evaluation to rule out serious conditions.
A man in his twenties recently visited a urologist after discovering blood in his urine, alarmed by the possibility of cancer. Dr. Susinha, a urologist specialist, explained that the patient presented with lower abdominal discomfort and painful urination, ultimately diagnosed with acute cystitis combined with hematuria. The doctor outlined two types of hematuria: gross hematuria visible to the naked eye (appearing red, pink, or tea-colored) and microscopic hematuria detected only under a microscope, often found incidentally during routine checkups.
Dr. Susinha identified five common causes of blood in urine: urinary tract infections, which present with burning sensation, pain during urination, and frequent urination; kidney or urinary tract stones that cause severe back or abdominal pain; enlarged prostate gland in middle-aged and elderly men that may bleed during urination; tumors or cancers in the urinary system such as bladder or kidney cancer, notably characterized by painless hematuria; and certain foods or medications like dragon fruit or beetroot that create false hematuria without actual bleeding.
The doctor warned that clear urine does not mean recovery, as bleeding from stones or tumors can occur intermittently. Many people mistakenly believe that normal-colored urine indicates the problem has resolved, but delayed diagnosis could miss early treatment opportunities. Dr. Susinha strongly recommends that anyone with visible blood in urine or red blood cells detected in routine urinalysis—even without pain—should promptly consult a urologist for further evaluation including urinalysis, ultrasound, and possibly cystoscopy to identify the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.
