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Blood in your urine: common causes and why the NHS wants it checked

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Blood in the urine is not usually serious, but the NHS advises seeing a GP every time, even if the amount is small, because cancer is one possible cause.

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Key points

  • The NHS says blood in the urine is not usually serious, but it is important to get medical help.
  • Urinary tract infections, kidney stones and an enlarged prostate are the usual causes the NHS lists.
  • The NHS advises asking for an urgent GP appointment or contacting NHS 111 for blood in the pee, even if there is only a little or it is the first time.
  • Beetroot, some medicines, bleeding from the back passage or a period can make urine look pink or red.

What does blood in urine look like?

Blood in the urine may look bright pink, red or dark brown. Beetroot, some medicines, bleeding from the back passage or a period can make urine look pink or red, so these do not always mean blood in the urine. The NHS says to get checked even if you are unsure whether it is blood.

What are the common causes?

The NHS lists urinary tract infections, kidney stones and an enlarged prostate as the usual causes. The other symptoms that come with each of these can give a clue to the cause. Kidney inflammation and blood-thinning medicines are also named as possible causes.

Could it be cancer?

Cancers of the bladder, kidney or prostate are on the NHS list of possible causes, which is why the NHS stresses that blood in the urine must be checked. Blood in the urine is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. The NHS notes that blood in the urine is not usually a sign of anything serious.

When should you get help?

The NHS says to see a GP about blood in the urine even if the amount is small. The NHS bladder cancer page says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 for blood in the pee, even with no other symptoms, if it is the first time, if there is only a little, or if you are not sure it is blood.

What will a GP do?

A GP will ask about symptoms and may examine the person. A urine sample or blood test may be requested, antibiotics may be prescribed for a suspected infection, or a referral to a specialist may be made. At a specialist clinic, the checks can include an ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder and a look inside the bladder with a thin flexible camera.

More guides and news

Educational content. This article summarises public guidance and announcements in plain English for education. It is not medical advice and it cannot say what is right for you: speak to a clinician about your own health, call NHS 111 if you are unsure what to do and 999 in an emergency.