The short explanation
Not necessarily. Pus cells (white blood cells) in urine can point towards infection, but a mildly raised count with many epithelial cells often means the sample was contaminated by cells from the skin or vagina during collection. That is very common in women, especially when the sample is not a clean midstream catch or is collected during or near a period. Without symptoms such as burning, frequency or fever, many doctors would repeat the test with a careful midstream sample, or send a urine culture, before deciding on treatment.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- How this is read depends on why the test was done, whether you are pregnant, have diabetes, kidney problems or upcoming urological surgery, and whether bacteria, nitrites or blood were also reported. In pregnancy, bacteria in urine are treated even without symptoms.
- For a better sample, wash the area with water, separate the labia, pass the first part of the urine into the toilet and collect the middle part in the sterile container.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot interpret your full report or decide whether you need treatment. Your clinician will do that with your history and, if needed, a culture.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Could this result be due to contamination of the sample?
- Should I repeat the test or do a urine culture?
- Are nitrites, bacteria or blood also present in my report?
- Does being pregnant or diabetic change what this means?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Get help the same day
- Get care the same day if you develop fever, back pain or vomiting.
Book an appointment soon
- See a clinician within a few days if you get burning, frequent urges or blood in the urine.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Show the report to your doctor at a routine visit and ask whether a repeat or culture is needed.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Urinary tract infection — adults MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Urinary tract infections MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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