Understanding Urinary Test Results: A Personal Journey
As a 33-year-old married woman, I recently experienced some concerning urinary symptoms after a week of vigorous intimacy with my husband. I began to notice signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI) including blood in my urine and a painful burning sensation during urination; however, I did not develop a fever. Seeking medical advice, I underwent my initial urine examination, which revealed the following findings: - Leukocytes: 70 - Red Blood Cells (RBCs): 8-10 - White Blood Cells (WBCs): too numerous to count - Epithelial cells: moderate The remainder of the results came back negative or within normal limits. The physician prescribed a week-long course of antibiotics, and fortunately, I started to feel better within just a few days – the pain subsided and my urine became clear. Once I completed the medication, I moved on and put the issue behind me. However, a month later, we decided to conduct another urine test to ensure everything had returned to normal. Here are the findings from the recent test: - Leukocytes: negative - RBCs: 0-2 - WBCs: 2-4 - Epithelial cells: moderate - Bacteria: rare All other parameters, including glucose and ketones, appeared normal or negative. While the levels of red blood cells are now reduced to 2-4 and the epithelial cells remain moderate, I have not experienced any further symptoms since the initial days of discomfort. However, I can't help but feel a bit anxious about these test results. Any insights or reassurance would be greatly appreciated.
Answers (1)
7/5/2025, 7:30:53 AM
OpenHealth AI
Your recent urine test results show significant improvement compared to your initial findings, which is encouraging. The absence of leukocytes and a decrease in red blood cells indicate that your urinary tract has likely healed from the infection. While the presence of moderate epithelial cells and rare bacteria is noted, these results alone are not typically alarming, especially since you have not experienced any symptoms since your first test.
Explanation
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Leukocytes: These are white blood cells that indicate inflammation or infection. A negative result means there is no current infection.
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Red Blood Cells (RBCs): Your latest count of 0-2 RBCs is a normal and healthy range, showing improvement from your earlier test where you had 8-10 RBCs.
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White Blood Cells (WBCs): The reduction to 2-4 WBCs suggests that inflammation has decreased, which is a positive sign.
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Epithelial Cells: Moderate levels are common and can result from a variety of benign conditions, such as recent irritation or the normal sloughing of cells from the urinary tract.
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Bacteria: Finding rare bacteria in the absence of symptoms is often not concerning.
Next Steps
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Monitor Your Symptoms: Continue to pay attention to your body. If you experience any return of symptoms like pain, burning, or blood in your urine, take note of when these occur.
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Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, particularly water, to help flush out your urinary system.
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Preventive Care: Consider incorporating practices that may help prevent UTIs in the future, such as:
- Urinating before and after intimacy to help clear out bacteria.
- Wiping from front to back after using the restroom.
- Wearing breathable cotton underwear.
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Follow-Up Testing: If you find any new symptoms or if your anxiety about these results persists, consider discussing with a healthcare provider the option of a follow-up urine test for reassurance.
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Reassurance: Given your current lack of symptoms and the improvements in your test results, the situation appears to be largely resolved. However, it's completely normal to feel a bit anxious about health matters, so don't hesitate to reach out for support if needed.
Remember, you're not alone in your journey, and most urinary issues can be managed effectively with the right care.
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Concerns Regarding Persistent Epithelial Cells and RBCs in Urine Post-UTI Treatment
At 33 years of age and married, I experienced concerning symptoms following a week of vigorous intimacy with my husband. Shortly thereafter, I began noticing signs consistent with a urinary tract infection (UTI), including blood in my urine and a burning sensation while urinating, although I did not have a fever. Concerned, I consulted a physician and underwent my first urine analysis, revealing: - Leukocytes: 70 - RBC: 8-10 - WBC: Count so high that it was unquantifiable - Epithelial Cells: Moderate - All other parameters were either normal or negative. The doctor prescribed a week-long course of antibiotics. A few days into the treatment, I started to feel much better, with no pain and clear urine. Once I completed the medication, we didn’t give it much thought. However, after a month, we decided to have another urine test to confirm that everything had returned to normal. Here are the results from that latest test: - Leukocytes: Negative - RBC: 0-2 - WBC: 2-4 - Epithelial Cells: Moderate - Bacteria: Rare All other readings, such as glucose and ketones, were within normal limits. Despite the RBC count being between 2-4 and the presence of moderate epithelial cells, I haven’t experienced any more symptoms since the initial days. This lingering issue has me feeling a bit anxious. I would appreciate any advice or insights on what this all means.
Assessment of Blood Test Results
A 22-year-old male has been committed to a structured weightlifting regimen for approximately three to four years. This marks the first instance of his evaluating his blood parameters. Here's a consolidated overview of the findings: --- - **Total Testosterone**: 33.4 nmol/L (Reference Range: 8.3 – 29.0) - **Free Testosterone (Calculated)**: 493.3 pmol/L (Reference Range: 255 – 725) - **Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)**: 63 nmol/L (Reference Range: 11 – 71) - **Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA-S)**: 8.3 µmol/L (Reference Range: 3.0 – 10.0) - **Estradiol (E2)**: 135 pmol/L (Reference Range: <150) - **Luteinizing Hormone (LH)**: 7.3 IU/L (Reference Range: <7) - **Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)**: 3 IU/L (Reference Range: <7) - **Progesterone**: 2.0 nmol/L (Reference Range: <3.0) - **Prolactin**: 226 mIU/L (Reference Range: 40 – 450) - **Cortisol (Morning)**: 569 nmol/L (Reference Range: 133 – 537) - **Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)**: 21 nmol/L (Reference Range: 20 – 58) --- - **Sodium**: 143 mmol/L (Reference Range: 135 – 145) - **Potassium**: 4.3 mmol/L (Reference Range: 3.5 – 5.2) - **Chloride**: 105 mmol/L (Reference Range: 98 – 110) - **Bicarbonate**: 28 mmol/L (Reference Range: 22 – 32) - **Urea**: 5.0 mmol/L (Reference Range: 2.7 – 8.0) - **Creatinine**: 105 µmol/L (Reference Range: 60 – 110) - **Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) | CKD-EPI**: 86 mL/min/1.73m² (Reference Range: >60) - **Urate**: 0.39 mmol/L (Reference Range: 0.14 – 0.48) - **Corrected Calcium**: 2.43 mmol/L (Reference Range: 2.10 – 2.60) - **Phosphate**: 1.22 mmol/L (Reference Range: 0.75 – 1.50) - **Magnesium**: 0.79 mmol/L (Reference Range: 0.70 – 1.10) - **High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP)**: 0.15 mg/L (Reference Range: <1 = Low Risk) --- **Liver Function Tests** - **Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)**: 20 U/L (Reference Range: <55) - **Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)**: 23 U/L (Reference Range: <45) - **Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)**: 20 U/L (Reference Range: <60) - **Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)**: 77 U/L (Reference Range: 30 – 110) - **Total Bilirubin**: 11 µmol/L (Reference Range: <20) - **Albumin**: 46 g/L (Reference Range: 35 – 50) - **Total Protein**: 72 g/L (Reference Range: 60 – 80) --- **Lipid Profile** - **Total Cholesterol**: 3.5 mmol/L (Reference Range: <5.5) - **HDL Cholesterol**: 1.2 mmol/L (Reference Range: >1.0) - **LDL Cholesterol**: 1.8 mmol/L (Reference Range: <3.0) - **Triglycerides**: 1.0 mmol/L (Reference Range: <2.0) - **Cholesterol to HDL Ratio**: 2.9 (Reference Range: <4.5) --- - **Fasting Glucose**: 4.9 mmol/L (Reference Range: 3.4 – 5.4) --- **Complete Blood Count (CBC)** - **Hemoglobin (Hb)**: 156 g/L (Reference Range: 135 – 180) - **Red Blood Cell Count (RBC)**: 5.1 x10¹²/L (Reference Range: 4.2 – 6.0) - **Hematocrit**: 0.47 (Reference Range: 0.40 – 0.54) - **Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)**: 92 fL (Reference Range: 80 – 100) - **Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)**: 30.6 pg (Reference Range: 27 – 33) - **Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)**: 330 g/L (Reference Range: 320 – 360) - **Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)**: 12.9% (Reference Range: 11.5 – 14.5) - **White Blood Cell Count (WBC)**: 6.4 x10⁹/L (Reference Range: 4.0 – 11.0) - **Platelet Count**: 258 x10⁹/L (Reference Range: 150 – 450) - **Neutrophils**: 3.2 x10⁹/L (Reference Range: 2.0 – 7.5) - **Lymphocytes**: 2.0 x10⁹/L (Reference Range: 1.0 – 4.0) - **Monocytes**: 0.5 x10⁹/L (Reference Range: 0.2 – 1.0) - **Eosinophils**: 0.5 x10⁹/L (Reference Range: 0.0 – 0.5) - **Basophils**: 0.1 x10⁹/L (Reference Range: 0.0 – 0.2) Based on this assessment, the results appear to establish a solid baseline. Are there any abnormalities or concerns that stand out?