Question: What Causes Blood In Urine?
Finding blood in your urine, particularly if you're not menstruating, is a frightening experience. A number of different conditions may cause blood in urine.
Answer: The most common cause in women is vaginal bleeding or normal menstrual bleeding. Other possible causes of blood in urine, or bloody-looking urine, include:
- certain drugs including blood thinners such as warfarin
- foods (such as beets) or medications that may discolor urine
- blood disorders such as hemophilia
- blood clots in the kidneys
- low platelets
- sickle cell anemia
- kidney stones or bladder stones
- urinary tract infections
- urinary tract injury
- polycystic kidney disease
- recent urinary tract procedures
Should you see blood in your urine that is not caused by menstrual bleeding, see your doctor as soon as possible for evaluation and diagnosis.
Source: Medline Plus. Urine - Bloody. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003138.htm. Accessed 11/03/10.
