Blood in Urine: When Should You See a Urologist?

Doctors divide hematuria (blood in urine) into two kinds: visible (gross) hematuria, where urine looks pink, red or cola-coloured, and microscopic hematuria, found only on a urine test. Both deserve evaluation, but visible blood in an adult always needs a urological review — even a single episode that settles on its own.

The commonest causes are infection and stones, which usually bring pain or burning. Painless visible blood matters because it is the classic warning sign of bladder cancer and can also occur with kidney or prostate conditions. The risk rises with age, smoking and certain occupational exposures.

Evaluation is straightforward: urine tests, an ultrasound or CT scan of the kidneys and urinary tract, and usually a flexible cystoscopy — a brief telescope inspection of the bladder done under anaesthetic gel in minutes. Most people who complete this work-up receive a benign explanation and reassurance; those who do not get a diagnosis early, when treatment is most effective.

Do not assume blood in urine is 'just an infection' and treat it repeatedly with antibiotics without testing. And do not wait because it stopped — the evaluation is about finding the cause, not the persistence of the symptom.