Why Is There Mucus In My Urine?

 

Mucus is a clear, white, off-white, slimy substance that may have appeared mixed in with your urine if you had ever gone to the bathroom. It may have been clear, white, or off-white. If you notice mucus in your urine, it will be thin and fluid-like in texture and usually does not cause much concern since small amounts of mucus are essential to your overall health.

You may need medical attention if you have excess mucus in your urine.

This article explains when mucus in your urine can be considered normal and when it indicates a more severe condition like a UTI, sexually transmitted infections, ulcerative colitis, or kidney stones.

In addition, I will tell you whether mucus in your urine indicates bladder cancer. In this article, I will explain how doctors test the mucus in your urine and when you should see a doctor.

 

Regular Discharge

 

It is common for urine to contain mucus due to normal vaginal discharge. There is nothing abnormal about women having a small amount of vaginal discharge.

Besides preventing harmful bacteria from entering the body, it is also an essential cleansing agent for the female reproductive system.

As a result of the fluid secreted by the vagina and the cervix, dead cells and bacteria are washed away to keep the area clean.

Usually, this discharge does not have an unpleasant scent but may be soft. The colour and density of the discharge change as a woman goes through her menstrual cycle.

 

The discharge from the vaginal canal also produces lubrication during sexual contact.

Sexually aroused women may produce a more thick, creamy discharge than average. In addition to helping prepare the body for pleasure, it helps cleanse it after a sexual encounter.

The body produces less after menopause and decreases with age. Vaginal discharge can indicate a healthy or unhealthy state or a sign of a potential infection.

Consult a healthcare provider if your vaginal discharge changes without a menstrual cycle.

 

Treatment

 

Warm water and a non-fragranced soap can help clean the vaginal area if it has an unpleasant odour.

You can reduce the itching and discharge associated with a yeast infection by taking over-the-counter antifungal medications.

 

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

 

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is characterised by burning after peeing and frequent urge to pee.

Upon reaching the bathroom, you may not be able to squeeze a drop out, or you may find that the urine is cloudy, bloody, or foul-smelling and that there is too much mucus.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by bacteria infecting various points along the urinary tract, often from the skin or rectum.

Urinary tract infections cause cystitis and kidney infections (pyelonephritis).

More than 50% of women will experience a UTI at least once in their lifetime, especially those with vaginal infections. The UTI rate for people with a penis is one for every eight people with vaginae.

There is always a need for further testing for urinary tract infections in people with penises.

 

Treatment

 

Whenever you suspect that you have a UTI, drink plenty of water. Maintaining a healthy hydration level can also prevent urinary tract infections.

Antibiotics are also commonly prescribed to treat UTIs.

To ensure the effectiveness of the antibiotic, take the medication as prescribed, even if you feel better. Heat pads can be applied to the area to help soothe low back pain and cramping.

Cranberry juice can help those with recurring UTIs prevent them. Infection can be prevented by consuming red berries containing tannins that prevent E.coli bacteria from sticking to bladder walls.

 

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

 

In addition to a change in discharge, pain while urinating and lower back pain are signs of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Testicular pain might occur in people with penises, while vaginal bleeding may occur in people with vaginas.

Those who suffer from chlamydia or gonorrhoea will notice abnormal discharge, including mucus in their urine.

Many people with Chlamydia do not show symptoms, so diagnosing and treating them is difficult. A gonorrhoea infection generally has more apparent symptoms than a chlamydia infection. It can also spread to your mouth, throat, eyes, and nose.

A thick, cloudy, or bloody discharge may form from the penis or vagina within ten days of exposure. In people with penises, it is common for the testicles to swell and become painful and for women to experience heavy menstrual bleeding or bleeding between periods while they have penises.

 

Treatment

The treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhoea is antibiotics since they are bacterial infections. The most common way to treat Chlamydia is to administer azithromycin in one large dose at a time. For approximately a week, your doctor will prescribe oral doxycycline twice a day.

 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

 

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms include gas, bloating, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain. Having mucus in the digestive tract is another possible symptom of IBS.

In this case, the mucus comes from the large intestine or colon. When mucus leaves your body through the anus, it can attach to your stool and mix with urine.

Those with IBS who experience this may have difficulty determining where the mucus comes from and mistake the excess fluid for urine.

Treatment

IBS cannot be cured, but several treatment options relieve symptoms effectively. Identifying the underlying cause of your IBS and the symptoms affecting you the most will determine the right course of treatment.

Psyllium (Metamucil) is a fibre supplement that may assist with constipation if taken with lots of fluids. It may also be beneficial to use over-the-counter (OTC) laxatives.

The anti-diarrheal medication loperamide (Imodium A-D) helps control diarrhoea. A bile acid binder, like cholestyramine (Prevalite), colestipol (Colestid), or colesevelam (Welchol), might also be prescribed by your doctor.

Doctors may prescribe antidepressants for IBS caused by stress and anxiety.

 

Ulcerative Colitis

A condition known as ulcerative colitis causes inflammation of your digestive tract and ulcers (sores). Inflammation and irritation occur in the walls of your large intestine (colon) and rectum when you have ulcerative colitis.

Some of the most acute symptoms include stomach pains or diarrhoea that contain blood or pus. A colon infection can cause excess mucus to be produced by your body.

This can mix with mucus in the toilet and be mistaken for mucus.

Treatment

Depending on its severity, ulcerative colitis can be treated with either drug therapy or surgery. Treatment typically begins with anti-inflammatory medications, while immunosuppressants suppress the immune response that triggers inflammation.

Biologicals are medications that target proteins made by the immune system. If drugs do not work in severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

A proctocolectomy involves removing the entire colon and rectum of the body, also known as an ileoanal anastomosis (J-pouch) surgery.

By creating a pouch utilising the end of your small intestine, your surgeon eliminates the need to carry a bag to collect stools.

Consult your doctor if you think you may have ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones (also referred to as renal calculi, nephrolithiasis, or urolithiasis) are formed when minerals and salts in your kidney crystallise into hard crystals.

A kidney stone can affect any part of the urinary tract, including the bladder, and occurs when urine becomes concentrated and accumulates.

Crystallisation and adhesion of minerals occur.

In addition to poor diet, excessive weight, and some medical conditions, certain supplements and medications can cause kidney stones.

Treatment

It can be excruciating when passing kidney stones, but most of the time, passing them by drinking plenty of water is possible.

You can manage discomfort for a few days with pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), but don't stay on these drugs for too long.

Your doctor may prescribe Flomax dutasteride and tamsulosin (Jalyn) if your kidney stone is severe. However, their effectiveness has yet to be discovered.

The muscles in your ureter are relaxed when you take alpha-blockers. This reduces pain and speeds up the passing of kidney stones. If the pain does not improve 1-2 days after passing a kidney stone, see your doctor for further evaluation.

 

Can Mucus In Urine Be A Sign Of Bladder Cancer?  

 

Urinary changes caused by bladder cancer include a burning sensation when peeing or a greater need to urinate.

The presence of blood in the urine is another indication. It is rare for someone with bladder cancer to have mucus in their urine. In addition to mucus in urine, other cancer symptoms include blood in urine, weight loss, lower back pain, bone pain, and swollen feet. The presence of these signs indicates advanced bladder cancer.

 

Testing for Mucus In Urine

 

By visualising the urine, testing for certain chemicals, and looking for certain types of cells, a urinalysis can determine if you have too much mucus in your urine.

Regular checkups can be used for this purpose.

A urinalysis may be requested if you exhibit any of the following symptoms of a UTI:

• Frequent urge to urinate, even when you have little urine in your bladder
  
  
• Weakness
  
  
• Painful urination
  
  
• Dark, cloudy, or reddish-coloured urine
  
  
• Bad smelling urine
  
  
• Fatigue

 

When To See A Medical Professional

 

Occasionally, passing mucus in your urine is completely normal. However, when this occurs frequently, you may have a more serious underlying condition.

If the underlying cause is left untreated, mucus in the urine can result in more severe health issues. Medication, dietary changes, or other appropriate interventions can treat most causes of mucus in the urine.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Is There A Risk Of Having Mucus Threads In My Urine?

During the passage of mucus, germs that can cause infection are flushed out of your urinary tract. The body naturally expels mucus threads in your urine whenever anything that might threaten your health is present. If your urine contains a lot of mucus threads, you may have a kidney infection, an STI, kidney stones, or some other health problem.

 

During A Cold, Is Mucus In Urine Normal?

That's not right. It is normal to have excess mucus in your nasal passages and throat when you have a cold, but it is not common to have excess mucus in your urine. Infections of the urinary tract or lower abdomen are usually responsible for mucus in the urine.

 

Why Do You Have White Strings In Your Urine?

Urinary tract infections often cause white strings in your urine. Infections of the kidneys, kidney stones, and STIs are also causes of kidney stones. Consult your healthcare provider if you are unsure about the fluid-like discharge.

 

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