Overview

It can be scary to see blood in urine, also called hematuria. In many cases, the cause is harmless. But blood in urine also can be a sign of a serious illness.

If you can see the blood, it’s called gross hematuria. Blood that can’t be seen with the naked eye is called microscopic hematuria. It’s such a small amount that it can be seen only under a microscope when a lab tests the urine. Either way, it’s important to figure out the reason for the bleeding.

Treatment depends on the cause.

Symptoms

Blood in the urine can look pink, red, or cola-colored. Red blood cells cause the urine to change color. It takes only a small amount of blood to turn urine red.

The bleeding often isn’t painful. But if blood clots get passed in the urine, that can hurt.

When to see a doctor

See a health care provider whenever urine looks like it might have blood in it.

Red urine isn’t always caused by red blood cells. Some medicines can cause urine to turn red, such as a medicine called phenazopyridine that eases urinary tract symptoms. Certain foods also can turn urine red, including beets and rhubarb.

It can be hard to tell whether a change of urine color is caused by blood. That’s why it’s always best to get a checkup.

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