Hematuria

Hematuria Evaluation at Southland Urology

Hematuria is a medical condition characterized by the presence of blood in the urine. While the cause can sometimes be benign, such as from strenuous exercise, it can also be a sign of a more serious underlying condition. Hematuria can be either visible to the naked eye (gross hematuria) or only detectable through a lab test (microscopic hematuria).

Understanding Hematuria

What Causes Hematuria (Blood in Urine)?

Although it is possible for hematuria to be a result of a serious medical condition such as kidney or bladder cancer, most often, blood in the urine is brought about by one of the following minor causes and conditions:

• Urinary tract infection
• Medication side effects
• Menstruation
• Infection of the prostate
• Kidney stones
• Bladder stones
• Enlarged prostate (BPH)
• Kidney infection
• Glomerulonephritis
• Intense exercise
• Trauma to the kidney

How Does Southland Urology Diagnose Hematuria?

Individuals who notice the appearance of blood in their urine should be evaluated by a physician as soon as possible. Even though the cause of your hematuria is unlikely to be a serious threat to your health, it is still a symptom that should be evaluated immediately.

If the blood is undetectable to the eye, then a urine sample will need to be collected and tested to determine if there is in fact blood in the person’s urine. This test is very simple and can often be performed within Southland Urology’s office in a matter of minutes.

Commonly, additional testing is needed to identify the cause of the blood in the urine. Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or CT scan, can be useful. Cystoscopy, or a camera exam of the bladder, also helps to identify the cause. This is a test that is performed quickly and easily in the office, usually in less than 5 minutes.

Common Outcomes from Hematuria Testing

The patient’s urine sample will be checked for the presence of more than just blood. This standard test also looks for the presence of protein within the urine, as this can provide additional insight that can lead your urologist to a definitive diagnosis.

If protein is found within the patient’s urine, then there is an increased likelihood for their hematuria to be caused by kidney disease. This is due to the fact that properly functioning kidneys will filter out any proteins from the urine before it is expelled from the body.

Those who do not have protein in their urine can still be suffering from a complication of the kidneys, but will need further testing to diagnose the cause of their hematuria.

It is also possible for blood to appear within a person’s urine and never be linked to an exact cause. Our office will continue to routinely test a patient’s urine in this case, though if all results return to normal and no other symptoms are experienced, it is likely that the unidentified issue has resolved on its own.

How is Hematuria Treated?

Those who continue to experience blood in their urine will typically complete additional tests and blood work until a source to their symptoms is found. From here it will be necessary to treat the original cause of the individual’s hematuria in order to effectively treat its associated symptoms as well.