Urine tests are used to detect a variety of illnesses or conditions including gynecological disorders. Analysis from urine tests can detect various substances that are eliminated in the urine, including bacteria, protein and blood cells.

Depending on the type of test, they may be conducted at home, in a physician’s office or at a clinic. For urinalysis, patients obtain their own sample of urine in a provided container and give it to a physician or other healthcare worker. It is then analyzed either on site or sent to a laboratory for analysis. Other tests, such as glucose testing or home pregnancy tests, can be conducted at home by the patient. 

Urine tests may be used to diagnose gynecological conditions and disorders such as:

• Urinary disorders. Urine samples can be tested for blood cells and abnormal substances such as protein, glucose or bacteria. If a urinary tract infection is suspected, the urine will be sent for a culture to test for white blood cells. If red blood cells are detected in a urinalysis, the urine sample will be sent for a urine cytology. This test can help detect cancer of the urinary tract by revealing malignant cells that have been passed into the urine.
  
  
• Sexually transmitted diseases. Sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can be detected through urine tests.
  
  
• Menopause. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a home urine test kit that measures follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in a woman’s urine. This may indicate that the woman is in menopause or the period leading up to menopause, known as perimenopause.
  
  
• Pregnancy and 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. There are three different types of home pregnancy tests:
  
• • Dipstick test
  • Collection cup test
  • Chemical mixing test
    
    
  Urine tests are also frequently used during prenatal care to diagnose conditions related to pregnancy. These include:
  
• • Preeclampsia. Sometimes called “toxemia” and “pregnancy-induced hypertension,” it is a potentially serious condition that affects all bodily organs and often can be detected by the presence of excess protein in the urine.
    
    
  • Gestational diabetes. A type of diabetes that occurs only in pregnant women with no previous history of diabetes. Urine tests can be used to detect high levels of blood sugar (glucose), which are characteristic of diabetes.

Samples of urine may be taken in several ways:

• Spot sample (also called dipstick method). A single urine sample.
  
  
• 24-hour urine sample. A collection of all urine for a 24-hour period.
  
  
• Overnight urine sample. A collection of all urine voided between going to bed in the evening and rising in the morning.
  
  
• Timed urine sample. A collection of all urine voided in a specific period (e.g., four hours).

Spot samples provided in a physician’s office should be tested within 15 minutes of collection. Immediately after the sample is taken, the cup is labeled with the date and the patient’s name. Twenty-four-hour samples need to be refrigerated throughout the day and are tested once given to the physician’s office or lab.

Different urine tests may require different methods of analysis. Urinalysis may include:

• Visual examination. The technician visually examines the color and clearness of the urine sample. Blood may make the urine appear red or brown. An infection may cause the sample to appear cloudy.
  
  
• Test strip examination. The examiner uses a chemically coated test strip to measure the amount of certain substances in the urine including blood, glucose, creatinine, protein, pH, nitrite, ketones and bilirubin. The test strip is dipped in the urine sample. A chemically coated test pad on the strip will react with the urine and change color accordingly. The test pad is then compared to a color chart of possible results. Test times vary, but most test strips provide results in under a minute.
  
  
• Microscopic examination. A pathologist examines a small amount of urine under a microscope. Cells, bacteria, casts (protein substances that can indicate kidney disorders), crystals and other matter are counted and reported as either the number observed or as estimates (e.g., few, moderate or many).
  
  
• Culture. When the presence of bacteria is suspected in the urine, a urine culture may be ordered. A sample of urine is streaked across the surface of one or more lab dishes (Petri dish). The sample is then placed in an incubator that keeps the urine at body temperature. Bacteria will be allowed to grow in the dish so the type of bacteria can be determined. If there is no growth on the dish at the end of 24 hours, the test is considered negative for infection. If yeast or bacteria is present, the organisms are identified and counted. Further testing may be done to determine which antibiotics are likely to be effective in treating the infection.