Whether you notice a faint pink tint or more noticeable streaks of red, blood in your urine is never something you should ignore. Many causes of blood in your urine are minor and quite manageable, but to ease anxiety and concern, reach out to an experienced urologist like Dr. W. Cooper Buschemeyer of Buschemeyer Urology in Conroe, Willis, and The Woodlands, Texas.
He can address your worries and uncertainty by getting you a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan. Read on to learn the step-by-step guide to reacting to blood in your urine.
When you notice blood in your urine, your first step is to stay calm. While seeing blood in your urine is alarming, it’s important to remember that it doesn’t always indicate a serious problem.
In some cases, it could be caused by something as benign as vigorous exercise or a minor urinary tract infection (UTI). But, blood in your urine can also be a sign of more serious conditions that require immediate attention, so it’s important to consult a urologist — like Dr. Buschemeyer — soon.
Take note of any other symptoms that are also present:
These additional symptoms can provide valuable clues about what might be causing the blood in your urine.
Some common conditions associated with blood in your urine include:
The blood in your urine may be due to a UTI if you also have burning during urination, frequent urination, and cloudy or strong-smelling urine.
Kidney stones may cause severe pain in the back or side, nausea, and blood in the urine.
These infections can lead to fever, chills, abdominal pain, and hematuria (blood in urine).
By the time a man reaches the age of 50, he has a 50% chance of having an enlarged prostate. This benign condition can cause difficulty urinating, frequent urination, and blood in the urine.
In a limited number of cases, blood in the urine can be a symptom of bladder, kidney, or prostate cancer.
Hematuria is a symptom that warrants a visit to a urologist. As a specialist in urinary tract and male reproductive system disorders, Dr. Buschemeyer can evaluate your symptoms, review your medical history, and run additional tests if needed.
These tests may include a urinalysis, urine culture, imaging studies (like an ultrasound or CT scan), or cystoscopy (a procedure to look inside the bladder) to determine the cause of the bleeding.
Once Dr. Buschemeyer has identified the cause of the blood in your urine, he’ll create a customized treatment plan. For a UTI, antibiotics are typically prescribed to clear the infection.
If you have kidney stones, smaller ones may pass on their own, but larger stones might require medication or even surgery.
For men who have prostate issues, Dr. Buschemeyer may recommend medications or Rezūm® therapy to shrink any enlargement.
In the unlikely case that you do have signs of cancer, Dr. Buschemeyer will discuss treatment based on the type, location, and stage of the cancer.
Even after receiving treatment, keep track of any symptoms and follow up with our office as recommended. If the hematuria recurs or you notice new symptoms, don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you notice blood in your urine or have other questions about your urinary health, contact our urology clinic today to schedule a consultation. Call today or use the online tool to schedule an appointment at Buschemeyer Urology.
