Question
A pregnant woman has discovered blood in her urine and wants to know the possible causes.
Answer
The presence of hematuria (blood in urine) detected during a urine test may be due to a urinary tract infection. The main symptoms include urinary irritation, such as frequent urination, urgency, dysuria, and discomfort during urination. When these symptoms recur and there is a suspicion of recurrent urinary tract infection, it is advisable to first retain a urine sample (for bacterial culture) before beginning treatment. If antibiotics are taken before collecting the urine sample, it may be difficult for the bacteria to grow due to inhibition, leading to a false-negative result.