Seeing blood while urinating can be a scary sight for many, in fact, seeing blood come out of any part of our bodies immediately scares us into thinking that there is something seriously wrong.
Many research studies indicate that blood in urine should not be taken lightly, as it may be caused by something seriously wrong in our bodies or may lead to a more serious condition. Healthline shares many possible medical conditions that one might be suffering from if they see urine in their blood. For this article we have selected the three below.
Urinary tract infection
When the bacterium E. coli gets into the urinary tract through the urethra, this causes UTIs (urinary tract infections). UTIs affect around 20% of the male population, and the risk increases with age.
Symptoms
UTIs can cause blood in the urine and any of the following symptoms:
- cloudy urine
- pain or burning when you pee
- frequent urination
- sudden urge to pee
- lower abdominal pain
Kidney infection
A kidney infection is a type of UTI that begins in the lower portion of the urinary tract and makes its way up to one or both kidneys. Getting treatment for kidney infections can prevent serious health conditions, such as high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and kidney failure.
Symptoms
Kidney infection symptoms include:
- frequent, painful urination
- cloudy or bloody urine
- fever
- chills
- nausea and vomiting
- back, flank, or groin pain
Bladder or kidney stone
Bladder and kidney stones are more common in people who are assigned male at birth (AMAB ) than in cisgender women and others assigned female at birth (AFAB). They form when certain chemicals in your urine crystallise, forming hard stones ranging from as small as a grain of sand to as big as a golf ball.
Small stones can sometimes pass through urination, but larger stones can get stuck in the bladder or in the kidney.
Symptoms
Bladder and kidney stones can cause blood in your urine, but other symptoms vary between locations. Other symptoms of bladder stones include:
- lower abdominal pain
- painful urination
- only passing small amounts of urine
- UTIs
