Gross Hematuria

Gross hematuria is the term used to describe visible blood in the urine. Gross hematuria can be painless or in some cases quite painful. Other symptoms that some patients experience are:

• Pain in lower abdomen, urethra or penis
• Inability to urinate
• Urinary urgency
• Passage of blood clots

There are a number of causes of gross hematuria including:

• Urinary tract infection
• Kidney stones
• Bladder stones
• Kidney disease
• Trauma or injury to the urinary tract
• Medications, especially blood thinners
• Cancer of the urinary tract

Dr. Hodgins will evaluate the possible source of the blood in the urine. Some tests for gross hematuria may include:

• Physical examination
• Urine test and culture
• Imaging to evaluate the kidneys and ureters (the tubes that drain the kidneys)
• Cystoscopy (procedure in which a small camera is inserted into the urethra and bladder to evaluate for a bladder source of blood in the urine)