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What to do if…
you have new urinary pain and see blood in your urine

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Call a healthcare professional or go to urgent care today for new urinary pain with visible blood in your urine. If you cannot urinate, are passing clots, have severe side or back pain, have fever or chills, feel confused or faint, or feel very unwell, go to the emergency department or call 911.

Do not do these things

  • Do not ignore visible blood in your urine, even if it only happened once.
  • Do not take leftover antibiotics or someone else’s antibiotics.
  • Do not try to “flush it out” by quickly drinking very large amounts of water; drink normally.
  • Do not hold your urine to “save a sample” if you are in pain or urgently need to go.
  • Do not take extra or repeated doses of pain medicine because you are panicking.
  • Do not stop prescribed medicines, including blood thinners, unless a clinician tells you to.
  • Do not assume it is only a simple UTI if you are pregnant, male, immunocompromised, have kidney disease, have a single kidney, or your symptoms are severe.

What to do now

  1. Check for emergency signs first.
    Go to the emergency department or call 911 now if any of these are happening:

    • You cannot urinate, or only a few drops come out.
    • You are passing blood clots.
    • The bleeding is rapidly getting worse.
    • You have severe one-sided back or flank pain, especially with nausea or vomiting.
    • You have fever, chills, shaking, confusion, fainting, or severe weakness.
    • You recently had a significant injury to your abdomen, back, or side.

  2. If there are no emergency signs, get same-day care.
    Call your primary care clinician for an urgent appointment today, or go to an urgent care that can check your urine and start treatment if needed. If you cannot be seen today, symptoms are getting worse, or you feel unsafe waiting, go to the emergency department.

  3. Help the clinician assess you without delaying care.
    If you are comfortable and do not urgently need to urinate, try not to empty your bladder right before you leave in case they need a urine sample. If you need to pee, go; do not stay in pain to save a sample.

  4. Write down the details you can remember.
    Note when it started; whether the urine looked pink, red, brown, or cola-coloured; whether you saw clots; where the pain is; whether you have urgency, frequent urination, lower belly pain, side or back pain, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or a possible pregnancy.

  5. Bring medication and health details.
    Bring a medication list or the bottles, especially blood thinners such as warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, or clopidogrel. Also mention recent antibiotics, kidney disease, a single kidney, recent urologic procedures, immune suppression, pregnancy, or recent injury.

  6. Use safer comfort steps while you are waiting.
    Drink normal fluids and avoid alcohol until you are assessed. For pain, acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, is often a common option for many people if they can take it; follow the package directions and avoid taking more than one product containing acetaminophen. If you have liver disease, heavy alcohol use, are pregnant, or are unsure what is safe, ask a clinician or pharmacist.

  7. Be cautious with ibuprofen or naproxen.
    Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen if you have kidney disease, a history of stomach ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding, take blood thinners, are pregnant, or are unsure whether they are safe for you.

What can wait

  • You do not need to figure out the cause right now.
  • You do not need to decide whether this is a UTI, kidney stone, injury, medication effect, or something else before getting checked.
  • You do not need to start cranberry products, supplements, or “detox” routines today.
  • You do not need to decide about imaging, specialist referral, or longer-term tests right now; focus on being assessed and following the next instruction you are given.

Important reassurance

Seeing blood in urine can be frightening, especially with pain. There are several possible causes, including treatable ones, and getting assessed promptly is the safest way to reduce risk and avoid guessing.

Scope note

These are first steps for the next few hours only. Later decisions, including antibiotics, pain control, imaging, urine culture, or urology follow-up, may need help from a healthcare professional.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, medical, financial, therapeutic, or other professional advice. It is not a diagnosis. If you develop fever, chills, severe pain, clots, trouble urinating, confusion, fainting, or rapidly worsening symptoms, use emergency services.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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