Urological Health Possible Causes of Blood in Urine (Hematuria) By Tracee Cornforth linkedin Tracee Cornforth is a freelance writer who covers menstruation, menstrual disorders, and other women's health issues. Learn about our editorial process Tracee Cornforth Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD on July 13, 2019 linkedin Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Learn about our Medical Review Board Brian Levine, MD Updated on October 22, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Vaginal Bleeding Medications Certain Foods Low Platelets Urinary Stones Recent Urinary Tract Procedures Urinary Tract Infections Urinary Tract Injury Renal Blood Clots Bleeding Disorders Polycystic Kidney Disease Finding blood in your urine can be frightening, but you should know that there are many different causes of hematuria (blood in urine), some of which are relatively benign and easily treated. Others may be indicative of a serious medical condition warranting further investigation. Tonic Photo Studios, LLC / Photographer's Choice RF / Getty Images As such, you should never discount blood in urine as being "minor," particularly if it is persistent and accompanied by other symptoms. Having hematuria does not always mean you have an underlying abnormality. It may simply be the result of a minor injury to the urethra (the tube through with urine leaves the body) or a side effect of a drug that needs to be changed. Here are 10 of the most common causes worth considering: Vaginal Bleeding In women, the most common cause of blood in urine is vaginal bleeding, including normal menstrual bleeding. This is rarely a cause for alarm and will eventually normalize without treatment. Although many women are accustomed to seeing a little blood in urine during her period, hematuria that occurs outside of menses should raise a red flag. If vaginal bleeding is the cause of hematuria, the doctor will perform tests to determine the underlying cause. Medications Certain drugs, including blood thinners such as warfarin, can lead to blood in the urine. Doctors often prescribe blood thinners if you have a heart or blood vessel disease, or if you have poor blood flow to your brain. Blood thinners reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by reducing the formation of blood clots in your arteries and veins. You may also take a blood thinner if you have an abnormal heart rhythm, have undergone heart valve surgery, or have congenital heart defects. Certain Foods Some foods, such as beets, can cause discoloration of your urine. This red color is the result of unmetabolized pigments in your food that is passed from the kidneys into your urine. As such, the redness in urine is not hematuria but simply a benign discoloration that will eventually normalize. Why Is My Urine Orange? Low Platelets Platelets are the small cells in your body that stick to the wall of a blood vessel following injury. They clump together and prevent bleeding. If you have low platelets in your blood, your ability to form clots and stop bleeding may be impaired. This is called thrombocytopenia. The causes of thrombocytopenia are many and include aplastic anemia, alcohol abuse, viral infections (like chickenpox and Epstein-Barr), liver cirrhosis, leukemia, and iron, folate, or vitamin B-12 deficiency. Urinary Stones Kidney stones and bladder stones are small, hard deposits that develop when minerals in your urine start to crystallize. As they are passed from the body in urine, they can cause extreme pain and bleeding. The urine may be pink or reddish, or the blood may only be visible only with a urine dipstick testing or microscopic examination of the urine. Recent Urinary Tract Procedures There are a number of procedures that exist to check the functioning of the kidneys, the bladder, and your urethra, or to eradicate other health conditions. These include cystoscopy, pyelograms, and voiding cystourethrogram. One side effect of these procedures can be blood in the urine. Urinary Tract Infections A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection that occurs when bacteria invade the urinary tract system and then multiply. UTIs are more common in women and principally affect the bladder and urethra. Bladder infections (cystitis) are usually caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), a type of bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract. What Does Cloudy Urine Mean? Urinary Tract Injury The kidneys and the rest of the urinary tract can become injured due to blunt force (such as a motor vehicle crash, a fall, or a sports injury), a penetrating force (such as gunshot or stab wounds), or surgery. Injuries to the urinary tract often occur together with injuries to other organs, especially the abdominal organs. Renal Blood Clots Also known as renal vein thrombosis (RVT), this is a blockage of the renal vein, which carries blood away from the kidney via a blood clot. RVT is not common and can cause severe damage to the kidneys and other life-threatening injuries. Bleeding Disorders Hemophilia is a disorder in which your blood fails to clot normally. If an injury or infection occurs somewhere in the urinary tract, it may cause bleeding that people without hemophilia may be able to control. By contrast, the same infection or injury may result in sustained bleeding and the development of hematuria. Polycystic Kidney Disease Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an inherited disorder that causes many fluid-filled sacs, called cysts, to form in both kidneys. In addition to blood in urine, symptoms of PKD include high blood pressure, back or side pain, and a swollen abdomen. Should you notice blood in your urine that is not caused by menstrual bleeding, see your doctor as soon as possible for evaluation and diagnosis. What Urine Color and Odor Tell You Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. House AA, Cattran DC. Nephrology: 2. Evaluation of asymptomatic hematuria and proteinuria in adult primary care. CMAJ. 2002;166(3):348-53. Mladenov BS, Mariyanovski V, Hadzhiyska V. Macroscopic hematuria in patients on anticoagulation therapy. Cent European J Urol. 2015;68(3):330-3. doi:10.5173/ceju.2015.658 Bolenz C, Schröppel B, Eisenhardt A, Schmitz-dräger BJ, Grimm MO. The Investigation of Hematuria. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(48):801-807. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0801 Additional Reading Medline Plus. Urine - Bloody.