What should I do if my urine turns red or contains blood?
Visible blood in urine needs prompt medical assessment even after a single painless episode. Foods or medicines can change urine colour, but do not assume this explanation when uncertain. Colour alone does not diagnose infection or kidney stones.
Details
Useful information for assessment
Describe timing, burning, pain, fever, menstruation or vaginal bleeding, and medicines including anticoagulants. Urinalysis may clarify the finding; culture or additional tests depend on age and symptoms.
When to seek emergency care
Blood clots with difficulty or inability to urinate, heavy bleeding with dizziness, or severe pain with fever and feeling very unwell require urgent care. Do not wait for a routine appointment if deteriorating.
A possible explanation still needs follow-up
Persistent or recurrent blood may need reassessment after a confirmed infection is treated. Anticoagulant use does not remove the need for investigation; do not stop it yourself. Evaluation identifies the bleeding source and checks important causes without automatically assuming cancer.
Related reading: Does flank pain moving downward mean a kidney stone?.