What can make a man pee blood

Blood in urine (pee) is not usually caused by anything serious, but you must get it checked out by a GP.

Table of Contents Show

Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
Cancer risk
What happens at your appointment
Causes of blood in urine
When it might be something else

Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

You have blood in your pee, even if:

you do not have any other symptoms
it's the first time it's happened
there's only a small amount of blood
you're not sure it's blood

Blood in your pee may be bright pink, red or dark brown.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Cancer risk

Blood in pee must be checked out because it can be a sign of cancer. This is easier to treat if it's found early.

What happens at your appointment

If you have blood in your pee, a GP will ask about your symptoms and may need to check inside your bottom (rectal examination), and your vagina if you're a woman.

They might also:

ask for a pee sample or arrange a blood test
prescribe antibiotics if they think you have an infection
refer you to a specialist for tests

Causes of blood in urine

Blood in your pee 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. But do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you think it's blood in your pee.

Possible causes of blood in urine.

Other symptoms	Possible cause
Burning pain when peeing, need to pee often, smelly or cloudy pee, high temperature, pain in sides or lower back	Urinary tract infection (UTI)
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 pee if:

you've recently eaten beetroot – this can turn your pee pink
you're taking a new medicine – some medicines can turn pee red or brown
you're bleeding from your bottom instead
it's happening during your period

Page last reviewed: 24 June 2020
Next review due: 24 June 2023

Most people pee between six and eight times a day, which means if something unusual is happening with your urine, you're probably going to notice straight away—especially if you're peeing blood.

Gross hematuria, the medical term for when you can see blood in your urine, might make your pee look pink, red, or brown, according to the NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). (Microscopic hematuria, on the other hand, means the blood in your pee is only visible under a microscope.)

It's important to see a healthcare provider in order to determine the reason for the bleeding, no matter what other symptoms you're experiencing. Here are seven possible causes of blood in urine.

"In women, the most common cause of gross hematuria typically is urinary tract infection," Norm Smith, MD, a urologist with NorthShore University HealthSystem near Chicago, told Health. UTIs occur when bacteria enter your body through the urethra and multiply in your bladder. Dr. Smith explained that the bacteria can cause irritation of the bladder, or cystitis, which can then lead to bleeding. Other symptoms of a UTI include a persistent urge to urinate, pain and burning with urination, and extremely strong-smelling urine.

Even if you're pretty sure you have a UTI, it's crucial you get checked out by a healthcare provider. "We see all the time a delay in diagnosis of bladder cancer in women who've been treated multiple times for what are thought to be urinary tract infections," Dr. Smith said.

In rare cases, intense exercising can result in blood in your urine, according to the NIDDK. Healthcare providers aren't totally sure why this happens, but they believe it could be linked to dehydration, trauma to the bladder, or the breakdown of red blood cells that occurs with aerobic exercise. Runners have been known to develop exercise-induced hematuria, but anyone can experience it after a really tough workout. Still, you shouldn't assume exercise is the cause and decide it's not serious. Always see a healthcare provider to be sure.

Kidney infection (or pyelonephritis) is a type of UTI that generally begins in your urethra or bladder and travels to one or both of your kidneys, per the NIDDK. Dr. Smith said the bacteria can irritate the lining of the kidneys, causing bleeding. Dr. Smith also added that a person with a kidney infection will likely have symptoms similar to those of a UTI—such as a persistent urge to urinate, pain and burning with urination, and strong-smelling urine—along with other symptoms like fever, chills, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

The minerals in your urine can sometimes form crystals on the walls of your kidneys or bladder. Over time, those crystals can become small, hard stones. Some kidney stones are symptomless, but if one becomes large enough, it can create a blockage in your urinary tract and cause extreme pain. They can also irritate the lining of the urinary tract and, in turn, cause bleeding, Dr. Smith said.

According to the NIDDK, your healthcare provider might remove it or break it up into small pieces to get rid of the stone. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience pain so severe that you can't sit still or find a comfortable position as well as nausea and vomiting or fever and chills.

Some genetic disorders can cause both visible and microscopic blood in your pee. One of those disorders is sickle cell disease—an inherited disorder that causes the body to create abnormally shaped red blood cells, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) stated. Other symptoms of sickle cell disease include episodes of pain, frequent infections, vision issues, and swelling of the hands and feet.

Alport syndrome, which affects the filtering membranes in the small blood vessels of the kidneys, is another inherited condition that can cause blood in urine. People with Alport syndrome experience progressive loss of kidney function, according to the NIH. Almost all affected individuals have blood in their urine, which is a sign of kidney malfunction. It can also cause symptoms like swelling, joint pain, hearing loss, and vision problems.

Some drugs can make a person more likely to have blood in their urine, including blood thinners (medicines for blood clot prevention), pain relievers, and antibiotics, according to the NIDDK. Dr. Smith also said that some patients, especially those who have a condition that causes their bladder to bleed (like a UTI), might notice blood in their urine after taking a blood thinner such as aspirin. Dr. Smith added that even patients on blood thinners need to be evaluated by a professional to make sure the blood isn't caused by some other factor.

Blood in your urine may most likely be due to a UTI, but it's important to be aware of the possibility that it could be cancer. Advanced kidney, bladder, or prostate cancer can cause blood in urine. The bleeding typically comes from the tumor itself, Dr. Smith said, though it can also be the result of irritation or inflammation. These cancers can also have symptoms like painful urination, fatigue, and pain in your back, side, or pelvis.

Overall, if you find that your urine looks out of the ordinary, always seek medical care to rule out any serious issues.