Mucus in Urine
Reviewed
Also called: microscopic urine analysis, microscopic examination of urine, urine test, urine analysis, UA
A urinalysis test checks a sample of your urine. It can find out if there is too much mucus in your urine.
Specimen: urine
Why this test may be ordered
- As part of a routine checkup to check general health or monitor a medical condition.
- If you have symptoms of a UTI, such as frequent urge to urinate, pain or burning while urinating, dark/cloudy/reddish urine, bad-smelling urine, lower abdominal discomfort, weakness, or fatigue.
Preparation and collection
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.
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. If you have hemorrhoids that bleed or are having your menstrual period, tell your provider before your test.
There is no known risk to having a urinalysis or a test for mucus in urine.
Understanding results
A small amount of mucus in your urine (pee) is normal. Too much mucus may be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other medical condition.
- Small or moderate amount of mucus: A normal test result usually shows a small or moderate amount of mucus in your urine. Limitation: If a urinalysis is part of your regular checkup, your urine will be tested for various substances along with mucus. Next step: To learn what your results mean, talk with your provider.
- Large amount of mucus: A large amount of mucus may be a sign of a medical condition, including: A urinary tract infection (UTI), A sexually transmitted infection (STI), Kidney stones, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Bladder cancer. Limitation: Too much mucus may be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other medical condition. Next step: If your test shows a large amount of mucus in your urine, you may need more tests to find out why.
- A large amount of mucus may be a sign of various conditions, but this test alone does not diagnose any specific disease.
- Contamination of the urine sample with skin germs can affect results; following the clean catch instructions is important.
- If you have hemorrhoids that bleed or are having your menstrual period, tell your provider before the test, as these can affect results.
What to do next
To learn what your results mean, talk with your provider. If you get frequent UTIs, your provider may recommend more testing and steps to help prevent future infections.
- What does the amount of mucus in my urine mean for my health?
- If my result shows a large amount of mucus, what additional tests might I need?
- Could any medications or supplements I take affect this test?
- How should I prepare for any follow-up tests you recommend?
Evidence source
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Practices and reference ranges may differ in your country.