There are many causes of blood in urine. It is a common problem that sometimes can have a serious cause and other times requires no treatment. If you have visible signs of blood in your urine it is a good idea to seek the advice of a doctor.

You can have blood in your urine and not even see it. Usually this is discovered during a urine test. This is called microscopic hemautria.

When blood is visible the color can range from pink, red, or a bit brown. This is referred to as frank hematuria. For blood to be visible it only take roughly one-fifth of a teaspoon in a half quart of urine.

Blood is normally in your urine, but at such small levels you cannot see it. An abnormal amount of blood can be re-occuring or a one time event. Causes of blood in urine can stem from infection, inflamation, or urinary system injury.

If you do have blood in your urine you should seek medical attention to find out the cause of the possible problem. If at any time you have a combination of blood in the urine, fever, and pain you should seek emergency medical care.

There are different lab tests you may have to take. Urine can be tested with a dipstick to reveal anything unusual. Urinalysis is more accurate in determining the cause of any bleeding and is performed by examing the urine under a microscope in a lab. A urine culture is when urine is brushed on a dish and placed in an incubator.

More advanced tests can be called upon to assist in diagnosis. An ultrasound is useful in seeing your kidneys and looking for stones, prostate enlargement, or stricutures. Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) is used to take an x-ray of the urinary tract. A dye is processed by the kidneys allowing for an x-ray picture to be taken of the kidneys and ureter. IVP involves using a contrasting dye which can be tough on older people's kindeys.

Men who are 50 and older who can see blood in their urine could have a symptom of an enlarged prostate. A sudden stretching of the bladder wall due to BHP could cause urine to appear and a doctor should examine you.