Hematuria aka blood in the urine is a common sign of male problems. While this isn’t a cause for major concern, you shouldn’t ignore it because bloody urine can be a sign of a serious medical condition. The blood can come from different parts of your pelvic area. The treatment of hematuria usually depends on the root cause of the problem.
Keep reading to discover more about 5 possible causes of hematuria in males, along with their additional symptoms.
1. Enlarged prostate
Benign prostatic hyperplasia aka enlarged prostate is a common health condition that affects older men. This condition causes symptoms like frequent urination(especially at night), hematuria, and the inability to completely empty the bladder. The severity of the symptoms can vary from person to person. The size of the prostate doesn’t necessarily determine the intensity of the symptoms.
Treatment of enlarged prostate depends on the size of the prostate, overall health, severity of symptoms, and age. Your doctor can suggest alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors to relax the bladder and make urination easier. If medications aren’t effective the doctor can recommend minimally invasive surgery.
2. Urinary tract infection
One of the most common causes of bloody urine is a urinary tract infection. This condition occurs when bacteria enter your urethra and bladder. Rarely this condition can affect the kidneys. While this condition is more common in women, men also can develop it. Other symptoms of this disease include pain in the urethra, cloud urine, frequent urination, and foul odor of the urine. If you have prostate problems, you can be more prone to UTI.
To treat urinary tract infections, doctors can suggest a two-week course of antibiotics. It is also important to drink more water to flush the bacteria from your system. Drinking cranberry juice can also be helpful. Certain substances in this juice lower bacteria count in the bladder.
3. Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a common health concern. About 1 man in 9 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. An early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer can help you cure the condition. A few men experience symptoms in the early stage. For this reason, regular appointments with a urologist are crucial for your health. The symptoms of prostate cancer include pain during ejaculation, blood in the urine and semen, poor appetite, lower back pain, and unexplained weight loss.
The treatment of prostate cancer involves radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or surgery to remove the prostate. However, immediate treatment for prostate cancer may not be necessary. Low-grade prostate cancer may not need treatment right away, while some patients may never need treatment.
4. Kidney stones
Kidney stones are a big problem caused by tiny deposits of salt and minerals in the kidney. Every eight American men develop kidney stones at some point. This is a highly painful condition that can cause serious health problems. As stones start moving from your kidneys to your bladder, you may experience intense pain. Some women compare the intensity of pain with childbirth. The symptoms of kidney stones include vomiting, fever, chills, and blood in the urine.
The treatment of kidney stones includes painkillers to relieve pain, medical therapy to help pass your kidney stone, and drinking water. Proper hydration level helps keep your urine dilute and may prevent stones from forming again.
5. Post-exertional hematuria
One of the causes of blood in the urine is post-exertional hematuria. This type of blood in the urine occurs after performing high-intensity exercise. Poor hydration during exercise can increase your risk of post-exertional hematuria. This problem usually resolves on its own within several days. If blood in the urine persists for more than a week, you need to seek medical attention.
To prevent post-exertional hematuria you need to drink enough water and avoid overstraining during exercise. Take a break from exercise for several days if hematuria occurs.
There are many possible causes of hematuria in males. Rarely, this condition indicates cancer of reproductive organs or urinary tract. Sometimes the amount of blood in the urine can be very low that the doctor can detect it only under the microscope. If you experience other recurrent pelvic symptoms, talk with your doctor about this.
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