Aa
Blood in urine with seemingly no infection?
For approximately 3 days, I have felt a constant need to urinate. It does not feel like there is a decrease, nor increase in the overall volume, although less is coming out each time because I am going more often. I went in to my doctor wondering if it might be a UTI (although I've never had one). She did a dipstick test that showed no signs of infection but sent it to be cultured anyhow. She did find blood in my urine (not visible to the eye). I am now extremely worried. I have no pain anywhere, just a discomfort associated with "holding it". I am female, 38, non smoker, and currently not sexually active. I take continuous birth control - haven't had an off day in 8 months. My gyno says spotting is possible with continual bcps, but that doesn't explain the urgency. Any ideas?
Hi there,
You indicated that the urine was sent for culture but not what the results were.
Your symptoms sound like they are consistent with a UTI. Even if the nitrites are negative on a dipstick, that doesn't preclude the possibility of an infection, since a dipstick is not the most sensitive of tests.
Similarly, if the urine culture comes back as negative, I would suggest it be repeated. Urine if often improperly refrigerated before being sent to the lab for culture, and this generally has the effect of killing off bacteria, and thus the result is a false negative test. I recommend that you obtain the urine container and the requisition from the doctor, collect the urine yourself and drop it off directly at the lab shortly after it is collected.
I would also ask your doctor to send another urine sample to biochemistry for another urinalysis, unless your doctor has the facility to centrifuge the urine and examine it microscopically. Most doctors' offices simply do the dipstick portion of a urinalysis, but the lab will do both the dipstick and a microscopic analysis which can often show things not detected by dipstick.
Hopefully, this gives you some ideas as to how to proceed.
In the meantime, drink lots of cranberry juice to try and acidify the urine flow. This often has the effect of clearing out a urinary tract infection without the need for antibiotics.
You indicated that the urine was sent for culture but not what the results were.
Your symptoms sound like they are consistent with a UTI. Even if the nitrites are negative on a dipstick, that doesn't preclude the possibility of an infection, since a dipstick is not the most sensitive of tests.
Similarly, if the urine culture comes back as negative, I would suggest it be repeated. Urine if often improperly refrigerated before being sent to the lab for culture, and this generally has the effect of killing off bacteria, and thus the result is a false negative test. I recommend that you obtain the urine container and the requisition from the doctor, collect the urine yourself and drop it off directly at the lab shortly after it is collected.
I would also ask your doctor to send another urine sample to biochemistry for another urinalysis, unless your doctor has the facility to centrifuge the urine and examine it microscopically. Most doctors' offices simply do the dipstick portion of a urinalysis, but the lab will do both the dipstick and a microscopic analysis which can often show things not detected by dipstick.
Hopefully, this gives you some ideas as to how to proceed.
In the meantime, drink lots of cranberry juice to try and acidify the urine flow. This often has the effect of clearing out a urinary tract infection without the need for antibiotics.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
Since you are having microscopic hematuria, so definitely its cause needs to be probed. Microscopic hematuria can be due to urinary tract (bladder) infection, swelling in the filtering system of the kidneys ,stone in bladder or in a kidney, blood disease, like sickle cell anemia, certain medicines and tumors in the urinary tract.
You have already undergone cystoscopy which has ruled out most of the cases. I suggest you to get done an ultrasound abdomen to look for any kidney stone and blood tests for sickle cell anemia.
I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep us posted on how you are doing. Kind regards.
Since you are having microscopic hematuria, so definitely its cause needs to be probed. Microscopic hematuria can be due to urinary tract (bladder) infection, swelling in the filtering system of the kidneys ,stone in bladder or in a kidney, blood disease, like sickle cell anemia, certain medicines and tumors in the urinary tract.
You have already undergone cystoscopy which has ruled out most of the cases. I suggest you to get done an ultrasound abdomen to look for any kidney stone and blood tests for sickle cell anemia.
I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep us posted on how you are doing. Kind regards.
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