White Blood Cells in Urine during Pregnancy: STD, No Infection & Normal Range

Are you experiencing an elevated concentration of white blood cells in urine but no infection? Read this article to learn more about leukocytes in urine and how to treat the condition. I will also examine the normal range of these cells in a urine sample collected from a healthy person.

What does ‘White Blood Cells in Urine’ mean?

Well, for the sake of the readers who don’t know, white blood cell in urine means a notable presence of leukocytes in the urine which is generally considered a sterile liquid. The concentrations have to be above certain levels/ranges to be considered abnormal.

It should be noted that this can only be determined through urinalysis, or urine test. This has been described in the next section

White Blood Cells in Urine Tests & Normal Range

Urinalysis is a typical test which can be carried out in many healthcare settings. It is simply an analysis or test of the urine. It can be performed in many places such as urgent care facilities doctors’ offices, hospitals, laboratories, or within homes.

How is urinalysis performed? The test is performed by collecting a small urine sample from the affected person in a sample container also known as a specimen cup. Usually, only small amounts (35-55 milliliters) are usually necessary for urinalysis testing.

The sample can be either examined within the healthcare facility or transferred to a research laboratory to accomplish the tests.

WBC in Urine Normal Range

What is the normal range of the white blood cells in urine? Research reports that the normal range of the white blood cells in urine is 2-5 WBCs/hpf.

In some excess lower amounts are also considered to be within the healthy range. Anything above 5 WBCs/hpf is considered an indication of a possible infection

White blood cells in Urine no Infection or UTI

Is it possible to have WBCs in the urine, but without suffering from any of the UTIs? Well, that is very much possible. While this condition may make some patients nervous and anxious, it is generally ‘normal.’

While being reportedly rare, it is very much possible to experience this situation. The common causes of WBCs in the urine without infection are;

1. Urethral Syndrome, and
2. Sterile Pyuria

White Blood Cells in Urine during Pregnancy

Urinalysis is sometimes required during pregnancy. It may be used to determine any infections the expectant mother may be suffering from. The elevated WBCs in the urine may be caused by some factors similar to those which cause it in non-pregnant mothers.

Causes of WBC in urine During Pregnancy

There are a number of causes of the raised levels of leukocytes in your pee. Livestrong.com reports the major causes of such infections to be:

#1 Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

These are widespread in ladies capable of having children, along with a somewhat greater risk in pregnancy. While the Urinary tract infection generally is a comparatively small issue for any non-pregnant woman, development of a Urinary tract infection while carrying a child is a bit more concerning due to possible issues for the mother and her developing fetus.

The presence of the WBC, as well as bacteria in the urine, is standard findings in an expectant mother having a Urinary tract infection that may take various forms.

#2 Asymptomatic Bacteriuria

This refers to the appearance of bacteria in the urine, typically together with leukocytes. However, it may be with no signs and symptoms associated with the lower or upper UTI.

Even though this condition is usually harmless in nonpregnant ladies, it often advances to pyelonephritis in expectant women if it is not dealt with.

#3 Upper UTI

Being pregnant results in a change in a woman’s urinary system which raises the possibility that microbes within the bladder may move upward and invade either kidney.

This problem, referred to as pyelonephritis or an upper Bladder infection, usually leads to bladder infection signs or symptoms

#4 Lower UTI

Unlike the Upper UTI discussed here above, the lower UTI is the term for an infection restricted to the actual bladder. It is popularly known as cystitis or a bladder infection.

The signs or symptoms associated with cystitis are generally restricted to elevated urinary urgency as well as frequency (which mean regular visits to the toilet), in addition to discomfort with urinating.

#5 Infection in Genitalia

A genital infection may occur while carrying a child — this may include conditions transmitted through both sexual and nonsexual contact. In fact, they can possibly result in the appearance of leukocytes within the urine.

Whenever a number of these types of bacterial infections exist, the vaginal as well as exterior genital secretions that contain WBC oftentimes blend together with the urine when you are collecting a sample for the test.

Treatment of WBC in urine

If you have a highly elevated concentration of the white blood cells in your urine you may consider some the following approaches to treating it.

However, it is important to note that the particular treatment approach embraced will depend on the actual cause of the increased number if white blood cells in the urine. The two main remedies according to Healthline.com are:

#1: Obstructions

When obstructions, for instance, a kidney stone or tumor, cause the increased levels of leukocyte in urine, one may have to have surgery.

For people with small kidney stones, boosting the quantity of drinking water can aid in flushing them outside of one’s body system.

#2. Treatment for UTIs

In the event that you’re clinically determined to have any kind of infection (bacterial), a physician will probably inform you to have prescription antibiotics.

If it is the 1st time you have suffered from a Urinary tract infection or you suffer from UTIs rarely, a short-term duration of medication is acceptable.

Besides antibiotics, improving your fluid intake may help get rid of some UTIs. It can also help accelerate the actual recovery process.

Recurrent UTIs may necessitate doctors prescribing a longer duration of medications. They may also do more tests to find out the causes of recurring bacterial infections.

Taking prescription antibiotics soon after making love could be beneficial for women. However one must only consider medications as advised by the physician.

White Blood Cells in Urine Cancer – Leukemia

Can I find white blood cells in urine in blood leukemia? Yes, Leukemia is blood cancer that is characterized by the abnormal production of the white blood cells.

Patients suffering from both leukemia and lymphoma may be diagnosed with elevated leukocytes in the urine.

There are cases reported of increased white blood cells in urine in ovarian cancer patients. This, therefore, means excessive leukocytes in the urine may be appointed to a possibly cancerous growth.

White Blood Cells in Urine STD

Can an increased number of WBCs in urine indicate a possible STD infection? Yes, actually studies show that when one suffers from STDs, such s as Gonorrhea or chlamydia, traces of white blood cells can be found in their blood in elevated quantities.

References to White Blood Cells in Urine

1. MEDSCAPE: Urinalysis: Reference Range, Interpretation, Collection and Panels
2. MedicineNet: Urinalysis Test Results and Interpretation of Urine Test
3. LIVESTRONG: Leukocytes in Children Urine
4. BabyCenter: Urine Problems in Pregnancy
5. HEALTHLINE: Leukocytes in Urine: What you should know