Dr. MJ Bazos MD,
Patient Handout
Microscopic
Hematuria
What is microscopic hematuria?
"Microscopic" means something is so small that
it can only be seen through a special tool called a microscope. "Hematuria"
means blood in the urine.
So if you have microscopic hematuria, you have
red blood cells in your urine, but you can't see the blood when you urinate.
What are some common causes of
microscopic hematuria?
Here are some common causes of blood in the
urine:
- Urinary tract (bladder) infection
- Swelling in the filtering system of the kidneys
(this is called "glomerulonephritis")
- A stone in your bladder or in a kidney
- A disease that runs in families, like cystic
kidney disease
- Some medicines
- A blood disease, like sickle cell anemia
- A tumor in your urinary tract (this may or may
not be cancer)
- Exercise (this will usually go away in 24
hours)
How will my
doctor check for microscopic hematuria?
Your doctor will usually start by asking you for
a urine sample. He or she will test your urine (urinalysis) for the presence of
red blood cells. Your doctor will also check for other things that might explain
what is wrong. For example, white blood cells in your urine usually mean that
you have an infection. If you have blood in your urine, your doctor will ask you
some questions to find out what caused it.
If the cause isn't clear, you may have to have
more tests. You might have an ultrasound or an intravenous pyelogram (this is
like an X-ray). A cytoscope or endoscope may be used to look inside of your
bladder. These tests are usually done by a urologist.
How do I give a urine sample?
A nurse will give you an antiseptic wipe (to
clean yourself) and a sterile urine collection cup. In the bathroom, wash your
hands with soap and warm water first.
- For women: Use the antiseptic wipe to clean your
vagina by wiping yourself from front to back 3 times before you urinate. Fold
the wipe each time you use it, so that you are wiping with a clean part each
time.
- For men: Use the antiseptic wipe to clean the
head of your penis. If you're not circumcised, pull the foreskin back behind the
head of the penis before you use the wipe. Move the wipe around the head of your
penis before you urinate.
- Start urinating in the toilet. About halfway
through the urination, start catching the urine in the cup.
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
- Give the sample to the nurse. Someone will look
at your urine under a microscope to see if it has blood in it.
What will my doctor
do if I have microscopic hematuria?
If the cause of the blood in your urine is
clear, your doctor will probably treat you. Then your doctor will check your
urine again to see if the blood is gone. If it's not, your doctor may perform
more tests or refer you to a urologist.
Remember that it is always important to find out
the cause of blood in your urine.
Websites:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): www.niddk.nih.gov