Blood in the urine, or hematuria, is one of the most common reasons people visit a urologist. The National Institutes of Health reports that about one in five people a urologist evaluates receives a hematuria diagnosis.
Even though the issue isn’t always serious, it’s important to get screened. Sometimes, red, pink, or brown urine indicates a more concerning condition, so it’s essential to determine the cause.
At Advanced Southern Westchester Medical in Yonkers, New York, experienced urologist Sherif S. El-Masry, MD, regularly diagnoses and treats blood in the urine. Here’s what you need to know.
Many people assume that blood in the urine is always obvious, but that isn’t necessarily the case. Let’s take a closer look at the types of hematuria and how they differ:
This type is the most obvious and causes your urine to become red, pink, or cola-colored. These color changes are easy to see and can also discolor the water in your toilet.
This type of hematuria isn’t visible and is typically only discovered during urinalysis or another type of lab test. Because it doesn’t cause noticeable changes, many people with microscopic hematuria are unaware there’s an issue.
If your doctor confirms that you have hematuria, it’s important to pinpoint what’s causing it, regardless of the type.
Blood in the urine happens for various reasons, including:
You can manage many of these causes of hematuria with lifestyle changes, prescription medication, or outpatient procedures, such as lithotripsy.
However, blood in your urine can also be due to more serious conditions, including kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and kidney disease. In these instances, early diagnosis is crucial. Prompt treatment can help prevent the underlying condition from worsening and protect your urological health.
Many people with blood in their urine wait to visit a urologist because their symptoms come and go or because they assume the underlying cause isn’t serious. It’s better to get checked as soon as possible, though, because delaying care can let the underlying cause worsen.
During your appointment, Dr. El-Masry reviews your health history and asks about your symptoms, including when they started, what color your urine is, and if the discoloration occurs alongside burning or the need to urinate more frequently.
Then, he may complete a pelvic exam or digital rectal exam and order lab tests, including a urinalysis. Dr. El-Masry may also order a urine culture to check for infection, or urine cytology, to determine if your urine contains any abnormal cells.
After gathering the necessary information, he confirms your diagnosis and makes custom treatment recommendations. If your hematuria is due to a UTI, he prescribes antibiotics. But if it’s caused by an underlying condition, like kidney cancer, he refers you to an oncologist and helps coordinate your care.
Don’t wait to contact Dr. El-Masry if you have blood in your urine. To get the answers you need, schedule an appointment by calling Advanced Southern Westchester Medical at 914-375-5700 today.
