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What are the Causes of a Urinary Tract Infection with Bleeding?

Erin J. Hill
Erin J. Hill

The main cause of urinary tract infection with bleeding is irritation in the bladder or urethra. Sometimes this bleeding is noticeable and a red or brown tinge is noted by the patient, but at other times, blood cells are only found upon closer inspection by a health care professional. Sometimes blood in the urine can indicate that an infection has spread into the kidneys rather than being isolated in the bladder and urethra. Other times, the blood may not be originating from the urinary tract at all, since secondary infections are common among females.

In most cases, a urinary tract infection with bleeding indicates that bacteria have caused irritation in the urethra, bladder, or kidneys and led to an open lesion of some sort. Bleeding is usually minimal, so blood loss is not the main concern. It does often indicate that an infection has grown severe and that immediate medical care is warranted. Antibiotics are the most common treatment for a urinary tract infection.

Patients often receive antibiotics to treat a urinary tract infection.
Patients often receive antibiotics to treat a urinary tract infection.

It is a good idea to be sure, when dealing with a urinary tract infection with bleeding, that the blood is coming from the urinary tract. Sometimes another infection or condition may be to blame. This is especially common in women. For instance, often a vaginal infection will migrate into the urinary tract, or the same bacteria causing one infection is also causing another. Vaginal infections can lead to bleeding between periods, especially if the infection is severe.

Irritation in the bladder or urethra may cause a urinary tract infection with bleeding.
Irritation in the bladder or urethra may cause a urinary tract infection with bleeding.

Other times the area surrounding the urethra and vagina may become irritated and bleed when wiping. This usually appears as thin streaks of blood on the toilet paper, and the color varies from pink to bright red, depending on how severe the bleeding is. If it is determined that bleeding is not coming from the urethra, another infection should be ruled out. Sometimes, the start of a menstrual period may be confused for bleeding from the urinary tract.

The human urinary tract.
The human urinary tract.

Anyone with a urinary tract infection with bleeding should see a doctor right away Infections are not usually serious, but once bacteria reaches the kidneys it can become more severe. Kidney infections which are not treated can eventually cause fever, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, burning upon urination, cloudy urine, foamy urine, a feeling of urgency when using the restroom, and sometimes even renal failure. The speed at which infection may spread will depend on the type of bacteria and the person’s overall health.

Discussion Comments

amypollick

@anon310623: Yes, I can help. Go to the doctor. If you're having bleeding after urination, all these symptoms, nausea and a low grade fever, you need to see a doctor. You could have an STD. See a doctor.

anon310623

I have a urinary tract infection. I say it because after doing research on this, I am sure that it's a urinary infection.

I got my period this month and it's around these dates. Actually, I am bleeding after urinating. And I can also see some clots like thing mixed in the blood. The blood is not clear. Therefore I wanted to know if I have my period or it's the infection which is causing this bleeding.

Also, two weeks ago my fiancee and I had sex. Since then whenever I've urinated, I've been getting pains and a burning sensation. Then last week we again had sex. Since then I've had this infection and it's causing lower abdomen pain,bleeding when urinating, feeling I need to urinate each minute and low fever. I feel like vomiting when I eat. I really don't know if it can be pregnancy or simply an infection, or if it's my period. Can you help? Thank you in advance.

seag47

I had a urinary tract infection turn into a kidney infection once, and I felt much sicker than I normally did. I had put off going to the doctor, but when I saw a pinkish-brown color on my toilet paper, I got a little worried.

I planned to see my doctor the following morning. When I woke up, I felt incredibly nauseated, and I had to vomit. I also had a fever.

I had trouble sitting up in the exam room, because I felt very weak and ill. Thankfully, my husband had driven me, so he could go to the pharmacy and pick up my antibiotics.

My doctor confined me to bed rest for the next two days. I was so glad, because I know I couldn't have sat up in my chair at work all day in that condition.

StarJo

I tried a natural cure for my urinary tract infection, and I was amazed to find that it worked! Cranberries have the power to both prevent and heal problems in the urinary tract, and though drinking their juice is widely touted as a preventive measure, I have found that it can be powerful medicine for treating an existing urinary tract infection.

Whether you prefer to take the supplement or drink the juice, you will see results if you stick with it. It took me about four days of drinking a couple of glasses each day and taking supplements to get relief, but the infection totally went away.

I did see a small amount of blood in my urine at first, but that also disappeared. If the blood had persisted, I would have been concerned that something more serious was wrong.

OeKc05

@Perdido – I have experienced blood in my urine during a urinary tract infection before, but it turned out to be related more to my polycystic kidney disease than the actual infection itself. I have multiple cysts growing on both of my kidneys, and from time to time, one will rupture and bleed. The blood comes out in my urine, but it is usually such a small amount that only the doctor can detect it.

One of these cysts ruptured right after I noticed urinary tract infection symptoms. The pain it caused in my lower back made me think that the infection might be in my kidneys instead.

My doctor told me that since there was blood in my urine after the intense pain started, it probably just meant that a cyst ruptured. She treated the infection with antibiotics that would have worked for either a kidney or lower urinary tract infection, so I got better, anyway.

Perdido

I have a kidney disease, and only a week after I first noticed urinary tract infection symptoms, I developed a kidney infection. People with a kidney disease have to be extra careful about getting urinary tract infections treated early, because we are more vulnerable to kidney problems.

I didn't notice the blood in my urine, but my doctor said that trace amounts were present in my sample. She gave me some strong antibiotics and told me to drink lots of water to help flush out the bacteria.

She also told me to drink a glass of cranberry juice every day. She said this would help keep infections away, and a person in my condition needs to take precautions.

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    • Patients often receive antibiotics to treat a urinary tract infection.
      By: Syda Productions
      Patients often receive antibiotics to treat a urinary tract infection.
    • Irritation in the bladder or urethra may cause a urinary tract infection with bleeding.
      By: Ana Blazic Pavlovic
      Irritation in the bladder or urethra may cause a urinary tract infection with bleeding.
    • The human urinary tract.
      By: 3drenderings
      The human urinary tract.
    • Blood in the urine may indicate a urinary tract infection has spread to the kidneys.
      By: tomschoumakers
      Blood in the urine may indicate a urinary tract infection has spread to the kidneys.
    • Severe vaginal infections can lead to bleeding between periods.
      By: Vlad Ivantcov
      Severe vaginal infections can lead to bleeding between periods.
    • Patients recovering from a urinary tract infection should drink plenty of water.
      By: koszivu
      Patients recovering from a urinary tract infection should drink plenty of water.