Seeing blood in the toilet bowl after you pee can be distressing. But it's important not to panic. 

You should also be careful about the sources you consult online. Turning to "Dr. Google" might cause more harm than good if you encounter myths disguised as facts about seeing blood in your urine (the medical term is hematuria).

We wrote a post about the basics of hematuria here. Today, we've asked one of our nurse practitioners, Urline Gregoire, to clarify common myths about hematuria. 

Like all content on our site, the following is meant to be educational, not medical advice. Always consult a doctor about your specific situation.

Myth #1: Seeing blood in the urine is usually due to over-exercising.

URLINE SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT: Although strenuous exercise can cause hematuria, you should never assume that it is the cause. Other causes include urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones, menstruation, an enlarged prostate, and certain medications. Medical procedures, such as cystoscopy and placement of a new Foley catheter, can also cause hematuria.

If you ever notice blood in your urine, call your doctor, and they will advise you about further workups and testing. 

Myth #2: If athletes suffer from exercise-induced hematuria, there's nothing they can do about it. They just have to "live with it."

URLINE SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT: Exercise-induced hematuria is very common in athletes. It usually occurs after an intense workout and disappears once the athlete recovers. To help prevent it, athletes should drink plenty of water during their exercises. 

However, if the blood in the urine persists for more than 72 hours or you notice a decrease or lack of urine output, you should seek medical care immediately. 

Myth #3: Blood in the urine always indicates something serious, like cancer.

URLINE SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT: Blood in the urine does not always indicate cancer. While blood in the urine can be a sign of bladder cancer, as mentioned earlier, hematuria can also indicate other conditions, such as UTIs or kidney stones.  

Don't panic if you notice blood in your urine, but do take it seriously and seek medical care, especially if other symptoms, such as flank pain, nausea/vomiting, and fever, accompany the blood. 

Myth #4: Red urine is always caused by blood.

URLINE SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT: Red urine is not always caused by blood. Other causes can be certain medications, such as Pyridium, which can turn your urine red. Certain foods, such as beets or foods with red dye, can also cause your urine to look red. 

Myth #5: The more blood in your urine, the more serious the condition.

URLINE SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT: Gross hematuria is when you can visibly see blood in the urine. Again, the cause of gross hematuria isn't necessarily something serious like cancer. Keep in mind that hematuria might be invisible to the naked eye and only detectable when examining the urine using a microscope. 

If you notice blood in your urine—whether in small or large amounts—the best thing to do is contact your doctor. 

Myth #6: Hematuria is always painful.

URLINE SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT: In most cases, blood in the urine does not cause pain. However, hematuria can sometimes be accompanied by pain due to conditions such as kidney stones or blood clots, which can be very painful to pass during urination. 

Myth #7: Hematuria is always visible.

URLINE SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT: As mentioned earlier, there are two types of hematuria: gross hematuria, in which the blood can be seen visibly with the naked eye, and microscopic hematuria, which can only be seen under a microscope. Microscopic hematuria is the most common and is usually spotted during a health exam when a patient has a urine test.

Myth #8: Hematuria only happens to older people.

URLINE SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT: Although older age is considered one of the risk factors, hematuria can affect all age groups, including children and young adults. Again, if you see blood in your urine, call your doctor so they can investigate the cause. 

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