Seeing blood in the urine is a frightening experience. So is being told that your presumably clear yellow urine has red blood cells in it. Blood in the urine is called hematuria. Gross hematuria is bloody urine you can see with the naked eye--red urine or brown urine. Microscopic hematuria is blood in the urine that can only be seen under the microscope--the urine is yellow to the naked eye.
If you have seen blood in the urine, have been told that you have microscopic blood in the urine, or have been told that your urinalysis demonstrates blood--don't panic. Go see a urologist. A urologist is specially trained and equipped to investigate the blood in the urine and treat the problem causing it.
But this is still a nerve racking experience. Perhaps, if you had some idea what was going to happen when you go the urologist's office, you would feel calmer. Below are pictures that represent the various aspects of the investigation for hematuria. You can click on them in order, or click on any aspect of the hematuria work up that is of particular interest to you.
History Physical Examination Laboratory Tests
