Seeing blood in your urine can be a scary thing. This guide will walk you through several questions about your symptoms. Based on your answers, you will learn about the causes of the blood in your urine and what actions you should take.

This guide is informational and not intended to replace the evaluation and advice of a health care professional.

Sometimes blood from the vagina or rectum can be in the urine. This guide addresses blood in your urine that is not coming from another source.

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First of all, there are some medications and drugs that can change the color of your urine. Some examples of medications that can make your urine red or orange are rifampin, pyridium, phenolphthalein, some laxatives, and vitamins B and C. Foods such as beets, rhubarb and blackberries can turn urine red.

Severe dehydration can also make your urine darker than normal, but it should not cause your urine to be red or brown.

Do you think that a food or medication may be the reason for the color change of your urine?

Yes, I think this is likely.

No, I don't think it is related to food or medication.

So let's assume that your urine looks like it has blood in it and that you are not on any of the above medications and didn't just eat a big bowl of beet soup.

One of the most common reasons for women to have blood in the urine is a bladder infection.

In addition to blood in the urine, do you have one or more of the following new symptoms?

• discomfort with passing urine

• an urge to urinate frequently

• discomfort just above your pubic bone.

Yes, I have at least one of these symptoms.

No, I do not have any of these symptoms.

If you think it is from a medication, you can expect that the urine color will return to normal when you stop taking it. If it is food related, it should clear very quickly.

If you are not certain that it is medication or food related, continue with the guide.

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One of the most common reasons for women to have blood in the urine is a bladder infection.

In addition to blood in the urine, do you have one or more of the following new symptoms?

• discomfort with passing urine

• an urge to urinate frequently

• discomfort just above your pubic bone.

Yes, I have at least one of these symptoms.

No, I do not have any of these symptoms.

Sometimes blood in the urine is caused by kidney stones. Kidney stones can be extremely painful. The pain can be in your back or your abdomen, and sometimes feels like it goes down into the groin.

Do you have a severe pain in your back, abdomen or groin that is new?

Yes, I have new severe pain in my back, abdomen or groin.

No, I don't have any new severe pain.

We are glad to hear you are not in severe pain.

The kidneys are located under the ribs, in back. Sometimes they can be injured in accidents or trauma that involves your back, your abdomen or your sides. If the kidneys are injured, they may bleed and that blood can show up in the urine.

Did you recently injure your back, your side or your abdomen?

Yes, I did recently injure my back, my side or my abdomen.

No, I have had no recent injuries.

So far you have stated that you don't have symptoms of a bladder infection and that you don't have a new severe pain or recent injuries to your back, side or abdomen.

Sometimes kidney disease is the cause of blood in the urine. People with kidney disease may have other symptoms as well. Please consider the following questions:

• Do you have new swelling in your legs?

• Do you have new puffiness in the face or around the eyes?

• Do you have a fever?

• Are you more tired than normal?

• Do you have new joint pains?

• Do you have a new unexplained rash?

Yes, I answered yes to at least one of these questions.

No, none of these are true for me.

Based on your answers, you have red urine without some of the symptoms that help to identify a cause.

Even if your urine turned red transiently and is now clear, there still could be small amounts of blood that can only be detected by a urine test. Your doctor will need to test your urine to determine if further evaluation is necessary.

Call your doctor's office to arrange an appointment.

To learn more about what can cause blood in urine without pain or other symptoms, continue with the guide.

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Kidney or bladder stones can cause blood in the urine with minimal or no pain.

A less common cause of blood in the urine is a tumor in the bladder or kidneys. There are some things that can be associated with a higher risk of a tumor. Please consider the following questions:

• Have you had a recent unexplained weight loss?

• Do you smoke cigarettes?

• Have you ever worked in the chemical or rubber industry?

• Have you ever taken a medication called cyclophosphamide?

Yes, I answered yes to at least one of these questions.

No, none of these are true for me.

Your do not appear to be at increased risk of a tumor. However, your doctor will determine whether you need a CT scan and cystoscopy to be sure. Contact your doctor.

To learn more about one additional possibility for red urine, continue with the guide.

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If you answered yes to one of these questions, you may be at risk for having a tumor that is causing the blood in your urine. Contact your doctor.

To learn more about additional possibilities for red urine, continue with the guide.

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Sometimes blood in the urine looks like blood but is not actually blood. Sometimes the urine can look dark, tea-colored or red-orange because of other bodily substances in the urine that are not blood.

To learn more about one additional possibility for red urine, continue with the guide.

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Some people show blood in the urine right after vigorous exercise, such as running a long distance high impact aerobics or heavy weight lifting. As long as it only happens after vigorous exercise and continues to be a small amount of blood, this is usually not dangerous.

You have indicated that you have one or more of the symptoms that may be associated with kidney disease. Call your doctor's office today to discuss the blood in your urine and your other symptoms.

If you suffered an injury to your back, side or abdomen that involved your kidney, the blood in your urine may be a sign of injury to the kidney. Get urgent medical care now.

If you have blood in your urine and a new severe pain, get urgent medical care now. You may have a kidney stone.

If you do have a kidney stone, a doctor will be able to help relieve your pain.

Some people are more at risk of getting kidney stones than other people and if you have had more than one episode, you should speak your doctor about this. Your doctor may be able to help figure out why you are getting them and can teach you how to prevent them.

If you have any of these symptoms along with blood in your urine, you may have a bladder infection.

Bladder infections are very common and are treated with antibiotics. If you think you have a bladder infection, you should call your doctor so you can get appropriate antibiotic treatment. Bleeding caused by a bladder infection should stop within a few days after starting antibiotic treatment. If you still have blood in your urine after your infection has been fully treated, you should be re-evaluated by your doctor to find the cause of that bleeding.