Hematuria Specialist in Topeka, KS

Blood in Urine

Hematuria is a symptom associated with a number of both common and uncommon conditions of the urinary system. The medical term “hematuria” is used whenever an individual has blood in their urine. This symptom may present itself visually, or it can also exist in microscopic quantities that may only be identified during laboratory testing. Dr. Brad Rupp is a board-certified urologist with over 28 years of experience diagnosing and treating the source of hematuria. Call (785) 354-7877 to schedule an appointment at our urology office in Topeka, Leavenworth, or Emporia, KS today!

What are the Causes of Hematuria?

Although it is possible for hematuria to be a result of a serious medical condition such as kidney or bladder cancer, most often, blood in the urine is brought about by one of the following minor causes and conditions:

• Urinary tract infection
• Medication side effects
• Menstruation
• Infection of the prostate
• Kidney stones
• Bladder stones
• Enlarged prostate (BPH)
• Kidney infection
• Glomerulonephritis
• Intense exercise
• Trauma to the kidney

What is the Diagnosis and Treatment for Hematuria?

Individuals who notice the appearance of blood in their urine should be evaluated by a physician as soon as possible. Even though the cause of your hematuria is unlikely to be a serious threat to your health, it is still a symptom that should be corrected immediately.

If the blood is undetectable to the eye, then a urine sample will need to be collected and tested to determine if there is in fact blood in the person’s urine. This test is very simple and can often be performed within Dr. Rupp’s office in a matter of minutes.

Common Outcomes from Testing

The patient’s urine sample will be checked for the presence of more than just blood. This standard test also looks for the presence of protein within the urine, as this can provide additional insight that can lead Dr. Rupp to a definitive diagnosis.

If protein is found within the individual’s urine, then there is an increased likelihood for their hematuria to be caused by kidney disease. This is due to the fact that properly functioning kidneys will filter out any proteins from the urine before it is expelled from the body.

Those who do not have protein in their urine can still be suffering from a complication of the kidneys, but will need further testing to diagnose the cause of their hematuria.

It is also possible for blood to appear within a person’s urine and never be linked to an exact cause. Dr. Rupp will continue to routinely test a patient’s urine in this case, though if all results return to normal and no other symptoms are experienced, it is likely that the unidentified issue has resolved on its own.

What are the Treatment Options for Hematuria?

Those who continue to experience blood in their urine will typically complete additional tests and blood work until a source to their symptoms is found. From here it will be necessary to treat the original cause of the individual’s hematuria in order to effectively treat its associated symptoms as well.