Could the Blood in Your Urine Be From Bladder Stones?

It can be frightening going to the bathroom and finding blood in your urine. However, this condition, also known as hematuria, can develop for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common problems that lead to hematuria include:

• Urinary tract or kidney infections
• Enlarged or infected prostate
• Kidney injury, disease, or stones
• Certain medications
• Cancer 

At Urology Associates of Southeastern North Carolina, our experienced team also sees hematuria resulting from bladder stones, which are far less common than kidney stones. 

If you have blood in your urine, here are a few signs that it could be due to bladder stones.

Bladder stone basics

Hard masses of minerals can form anywhere in your urinary tract. When they occur in your bladder, it’s typically because of two primary reasons. 

Your bladder doesn’t empty completely

Urine contains minerals and waste products, such as protein. When it stays in your bladder too long, your urine becomes more concentrated, increasing your chances of these substances hardening and forming stones.

You have an underlying condition

Sometimes, a problem is affecting your bladder’s ability to hold and pass urine. The most common conditions that can result in bladder stone formation include untreated infections, an enlarged prostate, kidney stones, medical devices used to drain the urethra, and damage to nerves involved in bladder function.

As a result, certain factors can increase your chances of developing bladder stones.

Risk factors for bladder stones

Anyone can get bladder stones, but almost all of them form in men, especially those age 50 or older. However, most cases impact men in their 80s. 

Other factors that increase your chances of bladder stones include:

• Poor diet
• Dehydration
• Enlarged prostate
• Nerve damage affecting the bladder

You can help avoid bladder stones by drinking plenty of fluids and talking to your provider about any unusual symptoms involving your urinary tract.

Signs of bladder stones

While bladder stones can cause blood in the urine, they often trigger additional symptoms, such as:

• Frequent or painful urination
• Cloudy, dark, or abnormally colored urine
• Pain or pressure in the abdomen
• Difficulty urinating
• A urine stream that starts and stops
• Pain or discomfort in the penis
• Loss of bladder control

It’s also possible to experience urinary tract infection symptoms with bladder stones, like the urge to urinate frequently, discomfort while passing urine, and fever.

Treating bladder stones

If you have symptoms of bladder stones, our team can reach a diagnosis. This process often involves performing a physical exam and additional screenings, like urinalysis, urine culture, cystoscopy, or types of imaging like ultrasounds, CT scans, and X-rays.

After reaching a diagnosis, we can outline the best course of treatment. For example, sometimes small stones pass on their own, while others require more advanced strategies to remove them. 

Another important aspect of treating bladder stones involves identifying and addressing what’s causing them to form, like an enlarged prostate.

Never ignore blood in your urine, especially if you think bladder stones could be to blame. Instead, contact our office in Wilmington, North Carolina, by calling (910) 763-6251 or booking an appointment online today.