Why urine is red in women and men

Urine color can tell a lot about our state of health. Quite often, diseases are diagnosed precisely for this feature. If the urine is amber-yellow without impurities and abnormal odors, then the person is healthy. But what does urine say in red? This sign should encourage you to see a doctor.

The role of food, drugs and sports

Before you start to panic and look for the pathological reasons for the appearance of red-colored urine, you should ask yourself a few questions:

• What did you eat the day before the appearance of abnormal urine color?
• Did you endure heavy sports, did you practice any sports?
• How long has this symptom appeared?
• What drugs are used?

For example, some foods that contain a red colored pigment in their composition can easily change the shade of feces. If a day before the onset of such a symptom you ate beets, rhubarb, blackberries, raspberries, then there is nothing to worry about.

But the transfer of weights and strong physical exertion can cause the appearance of blood in the urine, especially with insufficient drinking and dehydration of the body. Such disorders are most common among runners and triathletes. A similar situation may occur when taking certain medications, such as:

• laxatives, especially with senna content;
• antibiotics - Rifampicin and Metronidazole;
• antipsychotics - Chlorpromazine and Thioridazine;
• anesthetics - "Propofol";
• anticoagulants - "Warfarin";
• metals lead and mercury.

If the cause of urine with blood is the side effects of drugs, you should consult with your doctor about the possibility of replacing them with the means of a similar principle of action.

Pathological changes: diseases and urine color

In addition to food, sports, and medication, changes in urine color can still be the result of a therapeutic or surgical pathology. Among the therapeutic factors, the following are distinguished:

• urinary tract infections, such as urethritis, as well as cystitis and prostatitis;
• glomerulonephritis;
• pyelonephritis;
• blood diseases;
• genital pathology;
• porphyria;
• hypercalciuria;
• diabetic nephropathy.

Surgical diseases include:

• tumors in the kidneys and urethra;
• polycystic;
• inflammation of the prostate;
• injury of the pelvic organs and urinary tract;
• stones in the kidneys;
• vascular anomalies.

However, it is worth noting that hematuria (this is a medical term characterizing red urine) is not in itself a disease, but only a symptom. In addition to the characteristic shade of discharge of the urethra, other signs may indicate the presence of pathology:

• pain in the perineum, abdominal or lateral abdomen;
• burning and pain while urinating;
• unpleasant smell;
• frothy or turbid urine;
• frequent urging to the toilet.

In some cases, in addition to a change in urine color, you can detect other symptoms associated with the underlying disease, such as:

• fever;
• swelling of the hands and feet;
• skin discoloration;
• labored breathing;
• lethargy and loss of appetite.

If there is even the slightest sign, you should immediately consult a doctor, undergo examination and testing. Accurate diagnosis at home is impossible.

Redness of urine in men and women: what is the difference?

The pathological changes in urine color mentioned above affect both men and women. However, for each sex, there are other specific factors that affect urine redness. So, there are the following causes of red urine in men:

• prostate cancer;
• prostatitis;
• sexually transmitted infections;
• balanitis - inflammation of the foreskin;
• injuries to the scrotum and penis.

According to the swelling of the urethra, the doctor can judge the degree of the disease and its complications. If there are blood clots in the urine, it is therefore excreted from the lower part of the urinary canal or from the genitals. Dark red-red urine speaks of pathologies of internal organs, such as the kidneys.

Why is urine red in women? There are also reasons for this, for example:

• "female" urinary tract infections;
• sexually transmitted diseases;
• cancer of the cervical uterus and other organs of the female reproductive system;
• endometriosis;
• ectopic pregnancy;
• erosion;
• intermenstrual uterine bleeding.

In addition, red urine can also occur during menstruation, when blood from the vagina is mixed with normal urethral secretions. Such a phenomenon is considered normal if the menstrual cycle comes in due time. Changes in urine color can also be caused by cystitis. This disease is also characteristic of men, but according to statistics, 80% of patients with a similar diagnosis of the female sex.

If you find yourself in the urine of a reddish color, do not immediately sound the alarm. This symptom may not always be a sign of any complication. Easy assess the situation, pass a medical examination and take the tests. Only with the help of a correct diagnosis can one judge the presence of a particular pathology. And even when a disease is detected, it is worth knowing that many pathologies respond well to therapeutic treatment. Be healthy!