Can certain foods cause red urine?

Yes. Beetroot, blackberries, and certain food colourings can turn urine pink or red. This is known as 'beeturia.' However, unless you are certain it is food-related and it disappears within 24 hours, you should still have a simple dipstick test to confirm it isn't blood.

What if the blood goes away on its own?

This is a common reason why people delay seeing a doctor. Tumours or stones can bleed intermittently. The fact that the bleeding stopped does not mean the underlying cause has gone away; it simply means the vessel has temporarily sealed. You still require a full investigation.

Is the investigation different for men and women?

The core pathway (scans and cystoscopy) is the same. However, in women, we must ensure the blood is not coming from a menstrual or gynaecological source. In men, we pay closer attention to the prostate as a potential source of the bleeding.

Home Treatments UrologyBlood in Urine Haematuria

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Blood in Urine (Haematuria)

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Noticing blood in your urine is a symptom that should never be ignored. While it is often caused by something treatable and non-life-threatening, such as a urinary tract infection or kidney stones, it can also be an early warning sign of more serious underlying health issues.

Medically Reviewed By

Mr Vasu Karri, Medical Director • Updated Updated 25-01-2026

In the medical profession, we categorise blood in the urine into two types: visible haematuria, which you can see with the naked eye, and non-visible haematuria, which is only detectable through a lab test or 'dipstick' analysis. Regardless of the amount of blood or whether it disappears after one or two bathroom visits, the UK clinical guidelines are clear: any instance of unexplained bleeding in the urinary tract warrants a thorough investigation.

At Kinvara Private Hospital, we provide a streamlined 'One-Stop' haematuria clinic. This approach combines expert consultant physical examinations with immediate diagnostic imaging and endoscopic bladder inspections. Our goal is to provide you with a definitive diagnosis or, more importantly, to rule out significant pathology like bladder or kidney cancer, allowing you to move forward with peace of mind or a clear treatment plan.

Is this an Emergency?

While seeing blood in your urine is distressing, it is rarely a surgical emergency unless you are also experiencing an inability to pass urine (clot retention) or severe, uncontrollable pain. However, it is an 'urgent' medical priority. If you are over the age of 45 and notice visible blood, or if you are over 60 and have recurrent UTIs with non-visible blood, UK national guidelines recommend a specialist referral within two weeks. Choosing private care at Kinvara allows you to compress this timeline into just a few days, reducing the period of uncertainty.

Understanding Haematuria

Blood enters the urine when there is a leak somewhere in the urinary system, which consists of the kidneys, the ureters (the tubes connecting kidneys to the bladder), the bladder itself, and the urethra. In many cases, the cause is 'benign,' meaning it is not cancerous. Common culprits include vigorous exercise, certain medications, or an enlarged prostate in men.

However, we must treat haematuria as a 'red flag' symptom. Statistics show that in older adults, a significant percentage of those with visible blood in their urine may have an underlying malignancy. Because bladder and kidney cancers are highly treatable when caught early, rapid diagnostics are essential. Even if the bleeding is completely painless - in fact, especially if it is painless - you should seek a specialist urological opinion immediately rather than waiting to see if it happens again.

Common Causes of Haematuria

Through our investigations, we often identify one of the following conditions:

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Inflammation of the bladder lining can cause small blood vessels to burst.
Kidney or Bladder Stones: These hard crystals can scrape the lining of the urinary tract as they move, causing bleeding and often significant pain.
Enlarged Prostate (BPH): In men over 50, a growing prostate can become very vascular and bleed easily.
Kidney Disease: Inflammation of the kidney's filtering system (glomerulonephritis) can leak red blood cells.
Cancer: Tumours in the bladder, kidney, or prostate are serious but important causes to identify or rule out.

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