Microhematuria is unseen blood in urine. This term is a shortened version of Microscopic hematuria.  It is normal for urine to have very small amounts of blood in it. However there are standards that can, either in a laboratory or in the doctor’s office with a dipstick, distinguish between a normal number of blood cells and an abnormal number of blood cells. A million red blood cells will normally pass out with our urine each day. Even though we can not see the blood with our eyes, when the tests show us the diagnosis of microhematuria, it is time to find out if there is a urinary system problem.

Microhematuria, while caused by many internal events, is generally brought on by the upper urinary tract. Micro hematuria is one of the classic symptoms of kidney stones and also one of the urinary tract infection symptoms. When your doctor informs you of microhematuria it helps if you can remember any incidence that may have brought it on.  Physical activity and trauma (accidents) can make blood appear in your urine. If you are a runner or involved in full contact sports that may very easily be the cause of microhematuria. You should also tell your doctor if you have recently been involved in a car accident, or a fall.

Many times the standard medical check up is the time when people find out that they have microscopic blood in urine. Women have a higher incidence of urinary tract infections leading to microhematuria and women may contaminate a urine sample which gives false results due to contamination of blood from their menstrual cycle. Older men may have microscopic blood from urethritis, or irritation from medicines for benign prostatic hyperplasia they may be taking. Medical complications such as high blood pressure may cause blood in your urine.

Microhematuria has many causes so giving the doctor information about other symptoms will help lead the way to a faster more accurate diagnosis. Tell the doctor if you have had any urological procedures such as prostate removal, cystectomy, nephrectomy, green light laser, pyeloplasty, Bladder surgery for bladder tumor, kidney surgery for kidney tumor, or any treatment for prostate cancer. Diabetes can also be a source of microhematuria. Once your doctor has your medical history it will help even further if you can detail your daily urinary habits and possible maladies. When you visit the Miami urology center you can fill out a urinary function sheet.