Causes of blood in urine
Blood in your urine could come from anywhere in the urinary tract – the bladder, kidneys or urethra (the tube that carries pee out of the body).
If you have other symptoms, this might give you an idea of the cause. Don't self-diagnose – see a GP if you think it's blood in your urine.
| Other symptoms |
Possible cause |
| Burning pain when peeing, need to pee often, smelly or cloudy pee, high temperature (fever), pain in sides or lower back |
urinary tract infections (UTIs) |
| Very bad pain in sides, lower back or groin that comes and goes, unable to lie still, feeling sick |
kidney stones |
| Older men (common in over-50s) finding it difficult to pee, needing to pee suddenly and often, waking up to pee in middle of the night |
enlarged prostate |
When it might be something else
It may not be blood in your urine if:
- you've recently eaten beetroot – this can turn your urine pink
- you're taking a new medicine – some medicines can turn urine red or brown
- you're bleeding from your bottom instead
- it's happening during your period
Introduction 