1. Diagnose the Underlying Cause
If you experience hematuria, or the presence of blood in your urine, this may be caused by a number of different conditions. If you notice blood in your urine, it is important to make an appointment with your doctor right away, so that the cause may be determined. You should also try to take note of all of the symptoms associated with the blood in your urine. Does it occur just at the beginning of urination? This could indicate that the problem is located in the urethra or the prostate. If it occurs at the end of urination, the problem may be located in the bladder or the prostate. If it occurs throughout urination, the source of the problem could lie in the bladder, the ureter or the kidneys. You should also make note of any abdominal or other pain and frequency of urination. Evaluate whether urinary force is decreased and/or voiding is incomplete and whether you are running a fever. All of these symptoms will help your doctor to pinpoint the cause of your hematuria.
2. Undergo Clinical Testing
If it is determined that your hematuria may be the result of a medical condition rather than trauma to the body, it may be necessary for you to undergo certain types of testing. The simplest test you may take is called a dipstick test, in which your urine is applied to a chemically treated strip, which then changes color according to the amount of blood present in the urine. The results of this test may indicate the need for a urine culture and/or blood chemistry workup to determine the possible presence of various infections or even cancerous cells.
Another test you may undergo is the intravenous pyelogram (IVP), a procedure in which a colorless dye that contains iodine will be injected into a vein in your arm. The dye will collect in your urinary system, after which time you will undergo a series of x-rays. The dye helps to produce better images of the ureters, bladder and kidneys and can reveal tumors, blockages, stones and other possible causes of your hematuria. If you have an allergy to shellfish or you've previously had an allergic reaction to intravenous dye, this procedure may not be advisable for you, so be sure to let your doctor know of your concerns before agreeing to this test.
Cystoscopy is yet another procedure that may be performed when the cause of your hematuria cannot be identified. You will be given local anesthesia, and a small, fiber-optic instrument called a cystoscope will be inserted into your urethra to allow your doctor to inspect your urethra, bladder and prostate visually. This procedure should take just 10 minutes, and you shouldn't experience much discomfort after the anesthesia wears loses effect.
3. Make Needed Changes to Diet, Medications or Exercise
If it is determined that your hematuria is caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia, your doctor may advise you to eliminate certain types of foods, beverages and over-the-counter medications from your diet. In certain cases, your hematuria may even be caused by prescription medications you are taking, in which case your doctor will check to see whether different medications can be prescribed or your dosage changed to eliminate the hematuria. If your hematuria is trauma induced, you may be asked to refrain from vigorous exercise or even to rest in bed for several days. You may even be required to give up certain forms of exercise, such as jogging. Such activity can lead to repeated jarring of the bladder, which in turn, results in hematuria.
