Slime in the smear: causes, norm

Slime in the smear according to the results of the analyzes is not always a cause for concern. It is important to understand in what cases this is the norm, and when it is necessary to begin treatment of pathology. Therefore, it is necessary to find out the cause of such changes, and then only to take the right treatment.

[1], [2]

Causes of the mucus in a smear

To begin with, it must be said that there is a difference in what exactly is a smear - a swab of the vagina, a swab from the cervical canal, a smear from the urethra in men and women. All these species have different characteristics and the amount of mucus in them is normal and with pathology is different.

What does slime mean in a smear? It should be noted that mucus is formed by secretory cells. These cells are located in the male and female sexual and urinary systems in different numbers and proportions. But the secretion and secretion of mucus is still a normal process of vital activity of these secretory cells. Since the number of cells is different, the amount of mucus in different parts of the body may be different. Therefore, before interpreting the results of tests that indicate the presence of mucus, it is necessary to understand what kind of smear it is.

The norm of mucus in the smear also depends on what kind of smear we take into account. But in general, the amount of mucus should not exceed two "pluses".

Slime in the gynecological smear can also be in normal conditions. After all, the vaginal secret is very rich in mucus, which is synthesized by secretory cells and performs many functions. Mucus in the vaginal canal forms a secret that keeps the pH level, keeps the microflora, neutralizes the harmful pathogens that can get there. Therefore, mucus is an integral part of vaginal contents. Slime in the smear from the vagina has a constant composition and quantity. Therefore, the regulatory indices of mucus should not exceed two "pluses".

Slime in the cervical canal in the smear should not be, because it is not typical for these cells. The cervical canal contains a cylindrical epithelium, but there are no secretory cells there. When the doctor takes a swab from the cervical canal, the area of research is limited only by this site, so the mucus should not get into the smear. The appearance of mucus in the cervical canal or an increase in its number indicates a pathology.

If the amount of mucus is increased and there is a doubt that the patient has an infectious pathology, then, together with a smear, the material is examined for flora. This study allows you to identify those bacteria that the network in the vagina or urethra, and allows you to judge the presence or absence of the disease.

The causes of the appearance of mucus in a smear on the flora are more often in bacterial infection. Frequent infectious diseases - gonorrhea, ureaplasmosis, chlamydia - are frequent causes of damage to the genito-urinary organs. Often the cause of the inflammatory process can be bacteria - streptococci, staphylococcus, pneumococcus, diphtheria bacteria and intestinal bacteria. In such cases, there is a purulent or mucopurulent urethral secret. In this case, these bacteria can be detected in the smear itself and immediately talk about a specific disease. Why increase the amount of mucus in these infectious lesions? When a bacterium affects the organs of the genitourinary system, our local immune system immediately begins to actively defend itself. At the same time, those leukocytes, which are in a single quantity in the vaginal secret, begin to actively capture bacteria. In this process, the products of the vital activity of bacteria are actively allocated. This increases the amount of secretion, strengthens the function of secretory cells and forces them to work actively. Therefore, the secretion immediately increases the amount of mucus, but with it increases the number of leukocytes, red blood cells can appear. Therefore, an increase in mucus in a smear is only one of the few symptoms of an infectious system lesion.

In addition to infectious, there may be other causes of increased mucus in the smear. Mucus in a smear from the urethra can be both in men and women, and not always an inflammatory etiology of the disease. The cause of the appearance of mucus can be a chemical burn, metabolic disorders in the body that lead to a violation of the structure of urine. Also, the cause for men may be prostate cancer, urethritis, traumatic, abacterial urethritis in other infectious diseases. All these diseases have characteristic symptoms and features that need to be taken into account before diagnosis.

There are a number of physiological reasons for the appearance of mucus in men. Prostareea is the isolation of the prostate fluid from the external urinary passage, regardless of orgasm. It can be, when the man strains at a stool or at an emiction. This is a clear, slightly sticky glycerin-like whitish secret that is sometimes identified as mucus. But this is not so - it's just an excess of secretion, expressed by pressure on the prostate and seminal vesicles. Usually it does not contain purulent cells, if there is no inflammation.

Urethrorrhoea is the appearance of normal urethral secretion from the external urinary passage without coitus. It's just an excess of secretion from the accessory gonads in the urethra, such as the Cooper glands. His appearance in some quantity during sexual arousal and before ejaculation is absolutely normal event. It is completely transparent viscous mucus without pus cells. It is often taken for mucus and is considered a symptom of gonorrhea, which is not so.

[3], [4], [5], [6], [7]

Symptoms of the mucus in a smear

Slime in a moderate amount in the smear may be present, but this should not exceed two "pluses". So, the mucus in the smear of ++ can be considered a normal result of the analysis. A lot of mucus in the smear testifies to pathology and is more often caused by a bacterial pathogen. If the mucus is in a +++ smear, then this may be a borderline condition - perhaps, hygiene measures were insufficient, or a smear was performed in the post-menstrual period. Therefore, if in the analysis there is only such a slight increase in mucus, and all other indicators are normal, then do not panic immediately, you must first retake the analysis again.

Slime in the smear in women can be increased in one more case - pregnancy. Slime in the smear during pregnancy is detected due to the fact that during this period under the influence of hormones all secretory cells actively function. In pregnant women, the amount of mucus may increase, which is a normal response to the hormonal surge.

What are the symptoms, except mucus in the smear, can indicate a pathology? Everything depends on the pathology that develops. The first signs of an infectious lesion are the appearance of unpleasant sensations, a change in character, smell and quantity of secretions. In this case, the woman immediately turns to the doctor, speaks about the symptoms, and with further research it is possible to identify the pathogen.

If the first study is carried out and an increase in the amount of mucus is detected, attention should be paid to other indicators. It is necessary to estimate the number of leukocytes, epithelium and the presence of bacteria. Leukocytes in large quantities and mucus in the smear testify to a pronounced inflammatory condition. Also, the amount of epithelium may be increased, which indicates active inflammation and cell destruction.

Bacteriological smear will determine the type of pathogen, which is important in targeted treatment.

Important in the study and the nature of mucus, which can push us to the possible cause of its appearance. Homogeneous mucus in a smear is a variant of the norm if its amount is not increased. If the mucus is enlarged, but its characteristics are not changed and it remains homogeneous, then it is possible that there is a benign non-inflammatory process. For example, there may be bacterial vaginosis or a candidal process, which is caused by a violation of the microflora ratio. In such cases, the amount of mucus simply increases, as a compensatory reaction to the process. This happens before ovulation, to ensure the normal passage of the sperm.

Homo-fiber mucus in the smear appears several days after ovulation, when fertilization did not occur. Every day the amount of estrogen decreases and the amount of mucus also decreases, and it becomes viscous. The mucus in the smear may appear immediately after menstruation, which is normal.

If slime changes character, then this is a characteristic sign of a certain infection. Mucus of foamy character is a characteristic sign of gonorrhea.  

Also it is necessary to distinguish between two concepts, which is more a medical issue - slime v in the smear is vaginal mucus. It can be normal for every woman and is part of a vaginal secret if it is in moderation.

Mucus and in a smear from the urethra is just urethral mucus, which should not be detected in large numbers and can be with urethritis or prostatitis in men.

Slime in the smear in men is a symptom of often vague origin; it worries the patient and represents a clinical problem. Inflammatory conditions of the lower urinary tract are sometimes associated with this complaint, which is accompanied by pain in the abdomen. The complaint is so widespread that a man immediately understands what he needs to the doctor. It should be understood that not all cases that are accompanied by this complaint are necessarily victims of gonorrhea, which is easy to guess. On the contrary, most of them often mean something else, such as very acidic or alkaline urine, cystitis, contamination, impotence, infertility.

Various chemicals are often used to prevent sexually transmitted diseases or to prevent conception. In case they are too strong, they leave signs of damage on the penis and can become a risk factor for the development of chemical urethritis in a man or chemical vaginitis in a woman. Urethritis is accompanied by a sharp pain in the urethra, local discomfort, redness, swelling and dysuria. Urine is watery in nature with a dull tint, and contains several cells of pus and a relatively large number of epithelial cells and mucus, which can sometimes be seen with the naked eye.

Urethral pain can occur with a urethral trauma from passing a foreign body to the urethra. Negligent handling of urethral instruments, a urethroscope or a cystoscope can damage the mucous membrane of the urethra and cause symptoms that will be secondarily accompanied by infection. Thus there is not only a mucus in a smear, but also leucocytes, erythrocytes.

Some functional disorders, such as phosphaturia and oxaluria, are sometimes associated with urethritis and the appearance of mucus in the smear. Phosphates are small stones that are common in alkaline urine. Thus urine becomes more alkaline and it causes irritation of the urethra. This leads to secondary urethritis, cystitis and vaginitis. Pathology can be both in women and men. This pathology is suspected when there is an asymptomatic formation of a sediment in the urine, which can easily be dissolved by adding acetic acid to the urine. In severe cases, crystals can cause pain.

Oxalates can also cause slime in the smear. They usually appear after taking certain foods rich in oxalates, such as spinach, rhubarb, tomatoes, beets, black currants, berries, beans, tea, coffee and cocoa. Calcium oxalates lead to the formation of a mucous sediment in the urine. Urine is acidic in the reaction. In the diagnosis of this condition, an acid test of urine is used. The crystals are soluble in strong hydrochloric acid and recrystallized by the addition of ammonia, but insoluble in acetic acid. Microscopically they look like transparent octahedral crystals or small squares intersected by two intersecting diagonals. They have no pathological significance. Their presence in fresh urine, without other symptoms, is not so important.

Cystitis is one of the common causes of the appearance of mucus in the smear of the urethra. In women, pathology is more common. This pain appears as the first symptom, which is often associated with symptoms on the part of the bladder, such as frequency, imperative desires, dysuria and cloudy or even blood-stained urine. Cystitis can be caused by defects in the emptying of the bladder, either due to nervous damage to the spinal cord, dorsalysis tablets, or from obstruction caused by an enlarged prostate, urethral stricture or bladder stone.

Symptoms of cystitis are caused by irritation of the bladder and are represented by frequency, urgency and intense dysuria. There is a constant desire for urination (strangury) and a constant fear of going because of the pain felt during this. Urine is alkaline, it has pus and mucus and can contain red blood cells or even threads of blood. The stone in the bladder causes an exacerbation of the symptoms during physical exertion and causes pain and hematuria at the end.

Abacterial pyuria is cystitis, which is often associated with urethritis, in which bacteria, as a cause, have been carefully excluded. It is recognized that the primary focus of infection may follow changes in other organs at a distance from the initial focus of infection. The focus of the infection does not require special attention to create long-term effects. The urogenital tract may suffer from toxins or bacteria scattered from the focus located anywhere in the body. When the focus of the infection is very active, the connection between the primary infection and its secondary expression is easily recognized, and the two together form a symptom complex. But in chronic infections, the association between focal infection and symptoms that depend on it is often difficult to determine. Therefore, focal infection, apparently, is sometimes associated with the problem of the appearance of mucus in the smear.

Another common disease that can cause changes in the tests, in particular, an increase in mucus and leukocytes without other symptoms, is Reiter's disease. Reiter's disease is a symptomatic triad consisting of polyarthritis, urethritis and conjunctivitis. Etiology and pathology are still unknown. The virus is usually taken as a cause. The first sign is non-gonococcal urethritis, which does not respond to treatment. At the same time, or soon afterwards, conjunctivitis of both eyes develops. After a few days or weeks, joints are involved. There are different degrees of severity of this condition. Fever, the fleeting and recurrent nature of joint pain, the sterile nature of urethral discharge, mucus can only be increased - all these are permanent signs of the disease.

Complications and consequences

The consequences of untreated pathology, which causes a change in the analysis in the form of mucus and leukocytes, can be very serious. Untreated infectious pathology in women can further cause infertility. Complications can also occur if untimely treatment is started. When it comes to mucus from the urethral swab, then men and women have urethritis - this is a very serious infection. It can quickly lead to complications in the form of cystitis and pyelonephritis, and in men to secondary stricture of the urethra.

[8], [9], [10], [11], [12]

Treatment of the mucus in a smear

If an increased amount of mucus in the smear is found, the correct diagnosis must be made before a specific treatment begins. You can not immediately regard this symptom as gonorrhea and infection. It can not be said that it is necessary to wait for the results of labor-intensive laboratory studies, but I would like to emphasize the importance of a reasonable assessment of the site of infection, the type of organism, the use of safe non-toxic drugs for several days to test the therapeutic response and contact a specialist.

So, if in the analysis there is an increased amount of mucus and white blood cells, then it is possible that it is an infectious lesion. In this case, an integral part of the treatment should be an antibiotic. The choice of an antibiotic should match the intended infection, so you need to select an antibiotic from less aggressive to more effective.

1. Amoxiclav is an antibacterial agent of the first line, which can be used as a first-choice drug. It can be used to treat nonspecific cystitis, urethritis, colpitis. Dosage of the drug for adults is 500 milligrams three times a day. The route of administration is oral, but with a pronounced inflammatory process, parenteral use of this antibiotic group is possible. Treatment should not last less than five days. Side effects on this drug can be in the form of allergic manifestations, dyspepsia.  
2. Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic of a wide spectrum of activity, which is effective in infections of the genitourinary system. Women and men can be used in cases of nonspecific infections of different locations. The dosage of the drug is 500 milligrams twice a day. This group of drugs can cause side effects in the form of dizziness, abdominal pain, hemopoiesis.
3. Metronidazole is an antibacterial agent that is used to treat specific infections of the genitourinary system in combination with another antibiotic. The drug acts on anaerobic forms of the pathogen and in complex treatment shows high efficiency. Dosage of the drug - 250 milligrams twice a day, the method of application is oral. It is also more effective to use vaginal suppositories together with the treatment of tablets. In this case, you can add two suppositories of 500 milligrams intravaginally to two metronidazole tablets. Side effects can be in the form of nausea, headache, allergic rash.
4. Clotrimazole is a drug that has antifungal activity, therefore it is used to treat any type of fungal vaginal pathology. The method of application of the preparation can be in the form of a vaginal tablet. Dosage - one vaginal tablet is 100 milligrams twice a day. There is also a tablet form of the drug, which can be used orally with significant local reactions. The course of treatment for three days is the time for which the elimination of fungal infection is possible. Also, there are 10 vaginal tablets, in which case, if the three-day course is ineffective, you can use a five-day course. Adverse reactions can be in the form of allergic reactions, effects on the liver and an eating disorder.

Vitamins can be used in complex therapy for the treatment of any infection. You can use any multivitamin funds that provide the body with a daily requirement for the main vitamins.

Alternative treatment

Alternative therapies can be used in all cases in combination with medication methods. If it is an infection, then you can use different antiseptic baths, and if it is a question of other causes of the appearance of mucus in smears, then antiseptic measures definitely will not harm.

1. You can use baths to wash out on the basis of tea tree oil. This oil has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. To prepare the solution, take ten drops of oil and dissolve them in warm boiled water. This solution can be washed twice a day.
2. Bearberry is an alternative treatment for the pathology of the genitourinary system. The herb contains tannins, which have astringent effects, helping to compress and tighten the mucous membranes in the body. In turn, it helps reduce inflammation and fight infection. To make a brew, you need to take one packet of herbs and insist on it in a glass of water. Take need instead of tea twice a day, but not more than five days.
3.  Garlic extract can be an effective weapon against multiple drug-resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria associated with urinary tract infections. To prepare the medicine, you need to take five young cloves of garlic, grind it on a grater and dilute it with a liter of water. This water should be washed once a night, then rinse with plain water.

Herbal treatment is also widely used. Here are some recipes using herbs.

1. The extract of blueberry leaves contains antifungal and antibacterial substances and is very effective in treating pathologies caused by bacteria. To prepare the infusion, take 40 grams of blueberry leaves and boil them in a cup of water. Let it brew for 30 minutes and use this solution for the bath after it has cooled twice a day.
2. The sequence is an antiseptic herb that has antimicrobial properties and is soothing. To prepare the infusion, take 1 tablespoon of a turn or 1 tea bag. Boil 1 glass of water and add the turn, let it boil for another 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it brew for an hour. When the solution cools, you can use it for hygienic procedures.
3. Oak bark has antiseptic properties. Using this tool will reduce discomfort and fight infection. To prepare the medicine, take three or four dried bark and add them to a pan with three cups of water. Stir the infusion and let it cool. Use as a bath 2 times a day.

Homeopathic remedies are very effective in the treatment of many infections of the genito-urinary organs. Even with the treatment of specific infections, the use of homeopathy removes local symptoms. In addition, the use of homeopathy in the detection of mucus in strokes, allows you to normalize the hormonal background, which improves the effect of other means.

1. Gammamelis is one of the effective homeopathic remedies for the treatment of pathologies, which are accompanied by mucous secretions, as well as with fungal concomitant infection. Gammamelis is a natural remedy that reduces the function of secretory cells and has antibacterial properties that prevents secondary infection. Method of application - in granules two granules every four hours in an acute period. Then you can reduce the dose to one pellet four times a day. Adverse events are very rare.
2. Argentum nitrikum is a homeopathic remedy for the treatment of recurring recurrent pathologies, which are accompanied by persistent discharge of mucus. Also, the drug is especially effective if the constant detection of mucus in smears is accompanied by severe pain syndrome. The drug is administered on three granules, which must be taken twice a day, and when the pain decreases, it is possible to switch to a one-time administration of three pellets in the morning.
3. Berberis is the best homeopathic remedy that is effective in mucus and changes in color of urine. If the appearance of mucus is caused by phosphaturia or oxaluria, then the use of this homeopathic remedy may be the best method of treatment. Along with these features, a woman or a man can feel pain in the back. Method of application of the drug in granules - one granule five times a day between meals. Side effects can be the first application in the form of a change in the color of urine, but after the day of application of the drug, these phenomena must pass.

[13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19]

Prevention

Prevention of any infection is a healthy lifestyle and avoiding contacts on the side. If mucus in smears occurs due to recurrent cystitis, then you should avoid hypothermia.

[20], [21]

Forecast

The prognosis can be favorable in case of timely determination of the cause and the treatment started.

Slime in the smear can be a normal indicator if its amount does not exceed the norm. An increase in its number often occurs against the background of infection, but there may also be other physiological causes. Despite the fact that mucus is detected in a woman or a man, it is necessary to exclude the infectious factor, and then carry out treatment.

[22], [23], [24]