Blood in Urine Specialists

Associated Urologists of North Carolina

Urologists located in Apex, Cary, Clayton, Dunn, Raleigh & Wake Forest, NC

If you ever see blood in your urine, don’t pass it off, it may be a sign of something serious like cancer. At Associated Urologists of North Carolina, the team of board-certified urologists provides diagnosis and treatment at seven locations in Apex, Cary, Clayton, Dunn, Raleigh, and Wake Forest, North Carolina. For expert medical care when you have a urinary disorder, call the office nearest you today.

Blood in Urine Q & A

Do I Need to Worry if I Have Blood in My Urine?

While many times blood in the urine isn’t serious, some cases do require urgent treatment. For that reason, you should always visit Associated Urologists of North Carolina if you notice any blood in your urine.

The medical name for blood in the urine is hematuria. There are two types of hematuria:

Microscopic Hematuria: This means the blood is only visible under a microscope. You won’t see the blood in your urine, so this type is usually detected when you have a urine test.
Gross Hematuria: This means there’s enough blood in your urine that you can see it for yourself. Your urine might be pink, red, or brown. Although having gross hematuria indicates a larger quantity of blood in your urine than microscopic hematuria, the causes are the same. Even if you only see blood in your urine once, you should still get it checked out. In most cases, you won’t have any other symptoms, even if the cause is more serious.

What Causes Blood in Urine?

The most frequent causes of hematuria are:

Urinary tract infections
Enlarged prostate
Kidney stones
Vigorous exercise
Blood-thinning medications
Aspirin and other pain medications
Antibiotics

Less common causes are swelling of the kidney, bladder, urethra, or prostate, and kidney or bladder cancer.

Very few people who have blood in their urine get a cancer diagnosis. However, because there is a risk, it’s vital to see your urologist at Associated Urologists of North Carolina if you ever have bloody urine.

Cancers in the bladder and kidneys tend not to cause symptoms until they reach a stage where the disease has become incurable. Therefore, ignoring a sign like blood your in urine could be potentially life-threatening.

How is Blood in the Urine Treated?

First, your urologist at Associated Urologists of North Carolina needs to confirm the cause of your hematuria. Repeat urine tests, and a physical exam can aid the diagnosis. You might also need to undergo diagnostic tests such as an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to check your kidneys.

Another test you might need is a cystoscopy. This involves inserting a tiny camera on a flexible tube into your urethra, which enables your urologist to see inside your bladder.

Once your urologist diagnoses the cause of blood in your urine, they can start you on the right treatment. That might mean taking antibiotics for a urinary tract infection, taking other medications, or undergoing a procedure.

If you’ve noticed blood in your urine, don’t ignore it. Call Associated Urologists of North Carolina today.