The short explanation
When blood is found in the urine and there is no infection to explain it, doctors look for other causes, especially in people over about fifty. Causes range from harmless to serious: kidney stones, thinning of tissues after menopause, inflammation of the kidneys, certain medicines, and, less commonly, growths in the bladder or kidney. A scan looks at the kidneys and bladder, and a cystoscopy, a thin camera passed into the bladder, lets the doctor see the bladder lining directly. These tests are a standard way to make sure nothing important is missed. Being asked to do them does not mean the doctor has found a cancer.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Smoking now or in the past, exposure to some industrial chemicals, and blood thinners can affect what is looked for. Blood tests for kidney function and a repeat urine test are often done too.
- Cystoscopy is usually done as a day procedure with local anaesthetic gel. Ask what it involves, whether she can eat beforehand, and whether someone should accompany her. Government medical colleges and district hospitals often offer these tests at lower cost.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot say what is causing the blood in her urine. Only the tests and the specialist's assessment can do that.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- What are the most likely causes in her case?
- What does the scan look for, and which type will it be?
- What does a cystoscopy involve, and how should she prepare?
- Could any of her medicines be causing the bleeding?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Get help the same day
- Take her to be seen the same day if she passes clots, cannot pass urine, or has fever with back pain.
Book an appointment soon
- Arrange the scan and specialist review within the time the doctor advised, ideally within a couple of weeks.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Urinary tract infection — adults MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Urinary tract infections MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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