Urine tests are used to help diagnose many different conditions, including gynecological conditions and disorders. Urinalysis is a physical, chemical and microscopic examination of urine using a battery of tests. It is commonly used to evaluate substances that are eliminated in the urine and can help identify a number of conditions, disorders or diseases. 

Patients can collect a sample of urine either at home, at a physician’s office or at a clinic. The procedure for obtaining the sample is easy and painless. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis by a pathologist. In some physician offices and facilities, simple urinalysis can be completed on site. For more complex analysis, such as for tumor markers for cancer, the sample may need to go to a specified laboratory. 

In terms of a woman’s gynecological health, urine tests are most frequently used to diagnose urinary disorders, especially urinary tract infections. Blood cells or bacteria in a urine sample often indicate this condition. Some sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia can also be detected with urinalysis.

Urine tests are also frequently used to diagnose pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions. All home pregnancy tests measure the level of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in urine. These tests can usually detect pregnancy about two weeks after conception. Urine tests can also detect conditions related to pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia.