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Hematuria means there's blood in your urine. Sometimes it’s obvious — your urine looks pink, red, or even cola-colored. Other times, it’s invisible to the naked eye and only shows up during a routine urine test. While it’s not always serious, hematuria should never be ignored. It’s a signal from your body that something might need attention, whether minor or more complex.
Hematuria can come from anywhere in your urinary tract — the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. There are two main types:
Gross hematuria, where blood is visible in the urine.
Microscopic hematuria, where blood is present but only seen under a microscope.
Many things can cause hematuria. Common culprits include urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and physical trauma. Even something as simple as intense exercise or certain medications can cause temporary blood in the urine. But it can also point to more serious issues like kidney disease or urinary tract cancers — especially in older adults or people with risk factors like smoking.
In children, it's often caused by infections or minor trauma. In women, menstruation and gynecological issues can sometimes mimic hematuria, which makes accurate testing and diagnosis important.
Hematuria isn't a disease on its own — it’s a symptom. Figuring out what’s causing it is the key step in treatment and peace of mind.
To evaluate you for hematuria, your doctor will first take a detailed history and ask about symptoms, medications, recent activity, and any family or personal history of kidney or bladder problems. A physical examination is often performed to check for signs of infection, tenderness, or underlying issues.
Urinalysis to confirm blood in the urine and detect signs of infection or kidney issues.
Urine culture if infection is suspected.
Blood tests to check kidney function and rule out systemic conditions.
Imaging like an ultrasound or CT scan to visualize the kidneys, bladder, and ureters.
Cystoscopy a thin tube with a camera is used to examine the bladder lining, especially if no clear cause is found.
Treatment for hematuria depends entirely on its underlying cause. If it's due to a urinary tract infection, antibiotics are usually effective. Kidney stones may require hydration, pain management, or procedures to remove them. If no cause is found and the condition is harmless, monitoring may be all that’s needed. In more serious cases like tumors or structural abnormalities, surgery or specialist care may be required. The key is treating the root issue rather than the symptom itself, which is why a proper diagnosis is so important.
Kegel exercises are not a direct treatment for hematuria, they can help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which support the bladder and surrounding organs. By improving muscle tone and coordination, Kegels can aid in relieving pelvic discomfort, reducing urinary leakage, and improving bladder control. When practiced regularly and correctly, they offer a simple, non-invasive way to support urinary health, especially in cases where pelvic floor dysfunction or bladder-related pain may be contributing to the symptoms of hematuria.
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