When Is Mucus in Urine Normal and Abnormal
A urinalysis is often part of a routine checkup. Your provider may include a mucus in urine test in your urinalysis if you have symptoms of a UTI. These include:
Mucus in Urine
Mucus is a thick, slippery fluid that coats and moistens certain parts of the body, including the nose, mouth, throat, and urinary tract. A small amount of mucus in your urine (pee) is normal. Having too much mucus may be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other medical condition. A test called urinalysis can detect whether there is too much mucus in your urine.
Other names: microscopic urine analysis, microscopic examination of urine, urine test, urine analysis, UA
What is it used for?
A mucus in urine test may be part of a urinalysis. A urinalysis may be done during a regular check-up, or your health care provider may order the test if you have signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other condition that can cause mucus in urine.
A urinalysis may include a visual check of your urine sample, tests for certain chemicals, and an examination under a microscope to look for certain types of cells. A mucus in urine test is part of a microscopic exam of urine.
Why do I need a mucus in urine test?
A urinalysis is often part of a routine checkup. Your provider may include a mucus in urine test in your urinalysis if you have symptoms of a UTI. These include:
- Frequent urge to urinate, even when you have little urine in your bladder
- Painful urination
- Dark, cloudy, or reddish-colored urine
- Bad smelling urine
- Weakness
- Fatigue
What happens during a mucus in urine test?
You will need to give a urine sample for the test. A health care professional may give you a cleansing wipe, a small container, and instructions for how to use the “clean catch” method to collect your urine sample. It’s important to follow these instructions so that germs from your skin don’t get into the sample:
- Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them.
- Open the container being careful not to touch the inside.
- Clean your genital area with the cleansing wipe:
- For a penis, wipe the entire head (end) of the penis. If you have a foreskin, pull it back first.
- For a vagina, the labia (the folds of skin around the vagina) should be separated and wiped from front to back on the inner sides.
- Urinate into the toilet for a few seconds, then stop the flow. Start urinating again, this time into the container. Don’t let the container touch your body.
- Collect at least an ounce or two of urine into the container. The container should have markings to show how much urine is needed.
- Finish urinating into the toilet.
- Put the cap on the and return it as instructed.
If you have hemorrhoids that bleed or are having your menstrual period, tell your provider before your test.
Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?
You don’t need any special preparations for this test. If your provider has ordered other urine or blood tests, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
Are there any risks to the test?
There is no known risk to having a urinalysis or a test for mucus in urine.
What do the results mean?
A normal test result usually shows a small or moderate amount of mucus in your urine. A large amount of mucus may be a sign of a medical problem, including:
- A urinary tract infection (UTI)
- A sexually transmitted disease (STD)
- Kidney stones
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Bladder cancer
To learn what your results mean, talk with your provider.
Is there anything else I need to know about a mucus in urine test?
If a urinalysis is part of your regular checkup, your urine will be tested for a variety of substances along with mucus. These include red and white blood cells, proteins, acid and sugar levels, and the concentration of particles in your urine.
If you get frequent UTIs, your provider may recommend more testing, as well as steps that may help prevent future infections.
References
- ClinLabNavigator. [Internet]. ClinLabNavigator; c2022. Urinalysis; [cited 2022 Mar 3]; [about 20 screens]. Available from: https://www.clinlabnavigator.com/index.php/test-interpretations/test-interpretations-1/urinalysis
- Hinkle J, Cheever K. Brunner and Suddarth’s Handbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. 2nd Ed, Kindle. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; c2014. Urinalysis p. 508–9.
- Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1998–2022. Urinalysis [cited 2022 Mar 3]; [about 7screens]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/urinalysis/about/pac-20384907
- Merck Manual Consumer Version [Internet]. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck and Co., Inc.; c2022. Urinalysis and Urine Culture [cited 2017 Mar 3]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/kidney-and-urinary-tract-disorders/diagnosis-of-kidney-and-urinary-tract-disorders/urinalysis-and-urine-culture
- National Cancer Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: mucus; [cited 2022 Mar 3]; [about 1 screen]. Available from: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/mucus
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Bladder Infection (Urinary Tract Infections –UTI) in Adults; [reviewed 2017; Mar; cited 2022 Mar 3]; [about 13 screens]. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults
- Saint Francis Health System [Internet]. Tulsa (OK): Saint Francis Health System; c2010. Patient Information: Collecting a Clean Catch Urine Sample; [cited 2022 Mar 3]; [about 1 screen]. Available from: https://www.saintfrancis.com/assets/documents/lab/collecting-a-clean-catch-urine.pdf
- Testing.com [Internet]. OneCare Media; c2022. Urinalysis; [modified 2022 Jan 21; cited 2022 Mar 3]; [about 13 screens]. Available from: https://www.testing.com/tests/urinalysis/
- University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital [Internet]. Iowa City (IA): University of Iowa; c2022. Urinary Tract Infections in Children; [reviewed 2011 Apr; cited 2022 May 3]; [about 7 screens]. Available from: https://uichildrens.org/health-library/urinary-tract-infections-children
- University of Rochester Medical Center [Internet]. Rochester (NY): University of Rochester Medical Center; c2022. Health Encyclopedia: Microscopic Urinalysis; [cited 2022 Mar 3]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid;=urinanalysis_microscopic_exam
- University of Rochester Medical Center [Internet]. Rochester (NY): University of Rochester Medical Center; c2022. Health Encyclopedia: Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs); [cited 2022 Mar 3]; [about 6 screens]. Available from: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=85&contentid;=P01497
Related Health Topics
- Urinalysis
- Urinary Tract Infections
When Is Mucus in Urine Normal and Abnormal?
Urinary mucus is constantly produced by mucous membrane cells in the urinary tract to flush out bacteria that might cause infection. Having small amounts of mucus in urine is normal and healthy. If you notice “stringy” material after urination or urine that is sticky, it’s possible that you’re experiencing an abnormal increase of mucus caused by a number of factors.
Read on to learn what you need to know about the normal and abnormal causes of mucus in urine for women and men, when to get a urinalysis (urine test) to see if you have too much mucus in your urine, how cervical mucus can throw off a urinary mucus diagnosis, and treatment options.
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Causes of Mucus in Urine
The body produces more mucus as a first line of defense when it needs to trap unwanted allergens, flush away bacteria, or get rid of a virus. The gelatinous consistency of mucus creates a vehicle for sweeping trapped infectious material or foreign particles out of the body.
In the same way your body constantly produces nasal mucus to keep your nose and respiratory tract healthy, it also perpetually produces mucus in the urethra, a part of the urinary tract that drains urine from the bladder, to keep these areas healthy.
It’s completely healthy and normal for small amounts of this urethral mucus to be present in urine; large amounts aren’t normal.
Abnormally excessive mucus in urine may be caused by the following:
- UTI
- STI
- Kidney stones
- Bladder cancer (in rare cases)
In Women
Pregnancy, menstruation, ovulation, and birth control pills can all increase the thickness of urinary mucus in women, which makes it easier to see. It’s also not uncommon for women to confuse cervical mucus coming from the vagina for urinary mucus.
UTIs, also called bladder infections, can create abnormal amounts of mucus in urine for both women and men. However, women get UTIs about 30 times more frequently than men. One reason women get more urinary tract infections is because their urethra is shorter, which makes it easier for bacteria to make its way into the bladder and cause infection.
Bacterial vaginosis (when bacteria in the vagina becomes imbalanced) and vaginal yeast infections (a fungal infection in the vagina) can also cause excess mucus production that mixes with urine.
In Men
Sexually transmitted infections can cause excessive urinary mucus in both women and men. However, excess mucus in urine from STIs like gonorrhea or chlamydia is often more easily perceived when men pee.
Inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis) can cause urethral discharge that makes urine look cloudy, and it may contain mucus.
Kidney stones can also cause excess mucus in urine. Although women and men can both get kidney stones, men are slightly more likely to experience kidney stone disease (KSD).
Retrograde ejaculation pushes semen into the bladder instead of exiting from the penis during a man’s orgasm. Because semen that’s trapped in the bladder can mix with urine, the sticky discharge when peeing for the first time after sex can be mistaken for an problem with the urine.
Signs of Mucus in Urine
Normal mucus in urine is a clear, gelatinous fluid that’s usually thin and odorless. It’s not abnormal, though, to see some mucus threads in your pee that have a slightly off-white color or cloudiness.
Large amounts of mucus, however, may indicate an infection of the urinary tract, the reproductive tract, or the gastrointestinal tract. See your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
See a healthcare provider if there’s an abnormal amount of mucus threads in your urine or if your urine seems thicker and stickier than usual, have a yellowish-green color, or give off a foul odor.
What Is a Urinalysis?
A urinalysis is a test of the urine. Urinalysis is the gold standard for determining if someone has excessive mucus in their urine. This easy-to-do test, which only requires a urine sample, is usually administered in a medical setting. If initial results show abnormalities, more testing is usually needed to determine the underlying cause of unusual mucus production.
How to Treat Unusual Mucus in Urine
Antibiotics are used to treat unusual mucus in urine that’s caused by a bacterial infection in the urinary tract. If abnormal urinary mucus is caused by a sexually transmitted infection, successful treatment of the STI will clear up the excess mucus. Similarly, if excess urinary mucus is caused by kidney stones, treating this condition should return mucus production to normal.
Complications of Untreated Symptoms and Delayed Testing
Excess mucus in urine is often a warning sign of an underlying condition that should be treated promptly. If you’re experiencing abnormal amounts of urinary mucus, don’t delay speaking to a healthcare provider and getting a urinalysis. Complications of untreated symptoms could include a urinary tract infection starting in the bladder and spreading to the kidneys, causing acute pyelonephritis (kidney infection).
Summary
Having small amounts of mucus in the urine is not abnormal. Mucus keeps your urinary tract healthy. It helps flush away bacteria that can cause bladder infections. Having small amounts of clear or slightly cloudy mucus threads in your urine is normal.
Seeing greenish-yellow mucus or an abundance of cloudy threads in the toilet bowl or wall urinal after peeing may be a sign of a urinary tract infection. Other causes like sexually transmitted infections and kidney stones can also create excessive urinary mucus. Speak to a healthcare provider if you notice abnormal amounts of mucus in your urine or if it’s discolored, looks stickier than usual, or smells bad.
17 Sources
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By Christopher Bergland
Bergland is a retired ultra-endurance athlete turned medical writer and science reporter. He is based in Massachusetts.