Pregnancy is a period when many changes occur. Distinguishing between normal and pathological changes requires responsibility from the pregnant woman, and knowledge and expertise from the doctor. One such problem is the presence of blood in the urine during pregnancy.
If you are pregnant and see blood in your urine, or if your doctor detects blood in a urine test, it may be a sign of an inflammatory disease of the urinary tract. Urinary tract inflammation is typically the result of an infection in the urinary tract caused by bacteria.
This condition is common during pregnancy because the growing fetus can put pressure on the bladder and urinary tract. This leads to the retention of bacteria or urine leakage.
What are the symptoms of urinary tract inflammation?
The symptoms of urinary tract inflammatory disease include:
- a persistent urge to urinate;
- frequent urination in small amounts;
- a burning sensation when urinating;
- fever;
- pelvic discomfort;
- back pain;
- urine with an unpleasant odor;
- blood in the urine (hematuria);
- cloudy urine.
What causes urinary tract inflammation during pregnancy?
There are 3 main types of this condition during pregnancy, each with different causes:
Asymptomatic bacteriuria
Asymptomatic bacteriuria is often caused by bacteria that were present in the woman's body before pregnancy. This type of urinary tract condition does not cause noticeable symptoms. If left untreated, asymptomatic bacteriuria can lead to a kidney infection or an acute bladder infection. This infection occurs in approximately 1.9-9.5% of pregnant women.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 45% of pregnant women with untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria develop pyelonephritis.*
Acute urethritis or cystitis
Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra, and cystitis is inflammation of the bladder. These 2 conditions are both caused by a bacterial infection (often E. coli).
Pyelonephritis
Pyelonephritis is a kidney infection. It can be caused by bacteria that enter your kidneys from your bloodstream or other parts of the urinary tract. Along with blood in the urine, a pregnant woman may experience symptoms such as fever, pain during urination, and pain in the back, sides, lower abdomen, or abdomen.
Treatment of urinary tract infections during pregnancy
Doctors usually use antibiotics to treat this condition during pregnancy. The doctor will prescribe antibiotics that are safe to use during pregnancy, and, of course, these antibiotics will be effective in killing the bacteria in your body.
What else can cause blood in the urine during pregnancy?
Regardless of whether you are pregnant, blood in the urine can be due to several conditions. These include:
- presence of stones in the bladder or kidneys;
- glomerulonephritis, inflammation of the kidneys' filtering system;
- urinary or bladder cancer;
- kidney injury, for example, as a result of a fall or a car accident;
- sickle cell anemia or Alport syndrome.
Identifying the factors causing such hematuria (blood in the urine) is sometimes difficult even for a doctor.
For this reason, if a woman experiences blood mixed in her urine during pregnancy, she must definitely consult a doctor.
Although hematuria is usually harmless, it can also be one of the early signs of a serious illness.
If you are pregnant and experience blood in your urine, contact your doctor. Regular screening for urinary tract problems should be part of prenatal care.
Consult your doctor or gynecologist for urine tests and examinations.
