What should you know about blood in dark urine?

Dark yellow urine is often concentrated, while tea, cola, or reddish-brown urine may reflect blood or another pigment. A urinary tract infection can present with blood and burning, urgency, or frequent small urinations. Kidney stones can present with blood and strong, cramping pain in the side or groin. A kidney infection can present with blood, fever, chills, and back pain. Prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia can present with bleeding or difficulty emptying the bladder. Bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and sickle cell disease can also present with blood in urine. These possibilities explain why the symptom needs assessment; the appearance itself does not diagnose a condition.

Contact a clinician for advice about visible dark or bloody urine, even when there is no pain. Note whether the change followed strenuous activity, a new medicine, a supplement, or a food with strong colouring. Mention menstrual or vaginal bleeding, recent injury, and any urinary symptoms. A clinician may check a urine sample for blood and infection and decide whether more tests are appropriate. Do not rely on water alone to treat a suspected infection, and do not take antibiotics without advice.

Seek urgent care for severe pain, fever with chills, vomiting, fainting, confusion, inability to urinate, clots, or a clear fall in urine output. Contact a clinician promptly if you are pregnant, take anticoagulants, or have kidney disease, because the context changes how quickly the symptom should be assessed.

Is the colour more consistent with blood or concentration? Which medicines or foods could contribute? What urine testing is needed? Do I need follow-up if the urine becomes clear?