Mucus in Urine

Mucus is a viscous colloid, yellow in color, which occurs in various organs of the body, including the lungs and the large intestine. The mucous membrane is responsible for mucus production.

The mucus protects the inner wall of the intestine and lubricates the passage of stool for easy elimination. Normally urine is a clear fluid, however the presence of mucus in urine can make it cloudy.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): A bacterial infection involving the urinary system can cause mucus in urine. The kidneys, bladder, urethra, and the ureters are the components of a urinary system.

Although any organ can get affected, usually the bacteria invades the bladder first and then slowly spread to the other parts of the urinary system. Discomfort while urinating is the most common symptom of UTI.

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD): This is an infection caused by the bacteria gonorrhea or chlamydia, in which mucus discharge in urine from urethra (a tube like passage that provides a way for the urine to move out of the body) is detected. As a result, the urine appears yellow and is not at all clear.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder that causes temporary damage to the large intestine. In this condition, increased mucus production by the mucous membrane located in the intestine is observed. Excess mucus may trickle down to the urethra, which will be eventually visible in the urine.

Ulcerative Colitis: In this condition, the mucous membranes of the intestine are damaged which causes abnormal mucus production. Inflammation of the mucous membrane that distinctly shows the formation of ulcers, is observed in people suffering from ulcerative colitis.

These ulcers, that develop on the mucous membrane, vomit yellowish mucus that gets accumulated in the urethra, leading to mucus in urine.

Urachal Cancer: Urachal cancer, also referred to as bladder cancer, involves unrestricted growth of abnormal cells in the bladder. This malignant growth, noticed in the urinary bladder, is a rare form of cancer that can also cause abnormal urine output.

Urine samples of people diagnosed with urachal cancer have been tested. The test detected presence of mucus, and hence today doctors regard occasional mucus in urine as a symptom of urachal cancer.

Kidney Stones: A recent report, where urinalysis was conducted on a group of people with kidney stones showed presence of mucus. Also, the urine displayed dark yellow color and was foul-smelling.

Thus, cloudy urine due to mucus can be a sign of kidney stone or similar types of obstruction. This bowel obstruction causes abdominal pain and severe cramps. In some cases, surgery is required to remove kidney stones.

In most cases, cloudy urine causes indicate something wrong with the urinary system. Whatever may be the case, one should not forget to drink plenty of water. Water inadequacy can worsen the symptoms associated with urological conditions.

On the other hand, adequate water intake cleanses the urinary system and moreover helps to eliminate the infection. Drinking 1.5 to 2 liters of water everyday, increases urine output, which may contribute immensely to get rid of the infection.

Be it UTI or a common cold, to combat any infection successfully, it is necessary to strengthen the immune system. This can be easily achieved by following a healthy diet and avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption.

So, make sure to include plenty of fruits and vegetables in the diet to drive away the infection at the earliest. Having salads made from green leafy vegetables and fruits like oranges, apples, and cranberries boost your defense mechanism, thereby playing a major role to clear the infection.

Also, as long as results show the presence of mucus, sex without use of condom is a strict no-no. Ignoring this precautionary measure while having sex is likely to transfer the infection to your partner.