What Does It Mean When Your Urine Smells Like Fish
Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder that can be caused by a variety of factors. It is frequently caused by a bacterial infection, such as a urinary tract infection . The bacteria from the illness might cause a strong fish odor to develop in the urine as a result of the infection. Is it necessary to consult a doctor if my pee smells?
What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor
Good questions to ask include:
- Should I abstain from sex during treatment?
- Should my sexual partner be treated at the same time?
- How will the medication for this vaginitis interact with my other medications?
- Should I continue the vaginal cream or suppositories during my period?
- Do I need to be re-examined and if so, when?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Dont be embarrassed to talk to your provider about symptoms youre experiencing that might be vaginitis. Its a common condition thats treatable once you find out whats causing your symptoms. The sooner you and your healthcare provider diagnose whats causing your discomfort, the sooner you can get the treatment needed to bring you relief.
Why Does My Urine Smell Bad As I Get Older
As you get older, your body odor changes naturally.This change in scent is most likely caused by a rise in the quantities of a chemical known as 2-nonenal in the bloodstream of elderly persons.There is no need to flee from these changes, regardless of the reason behind them.What is the source of foul-smelling urine in adults?Urinary tract infections, sometimes known as UTIs, are characterized by the presence of strong odors in the urine.
Read Also: Best Antibiotic For Piercing Infection
Yeast In Urine Treatment
Although most vaginal yeast infections can be treated with over-the-counter medications. A woman should confirm the diagnosis with her doctor to ensure proper treatment. Other conditions may produce symptoms that are similar to those of a vaginal yeast infection, and some yeast infections may have a more serious disease as an underlying cause.
Women who have vaginal yeast infections that recur should seek professional medical help. Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis is a condition defined as four or more proven episodes of vaginal yeast infections per year. Every often urine test should be carried out to rule out any yeast in urine.
What Does Diabetic Urine Smell Like
One warning sign of diabetes or high blood sugar is urine that smells sweet or fruity. The sweetness comes from sugar in your urine and is a sign your body is trying to get rid of extra sugar in your blood. Some people say their pee smells like Cheerios, which might be a sweet smell that you should tell your doctor about.
Recommended Reading: Infection Control Manual For Assisted Living Facilities
What Does It Mean When You Have A Strong Smell Of Pee
Pee is normally transparent or pale yellow in color, and it has a moderate odor. The following are examples of items that can make your pee smell stronger: certain types of food and beverages, such as asparagus or coffee. having a dehydration crisis a number of medications Supplements containing vitamin B6.
You Just Started Taking Certain Meds Or Supplements
Some supplements, vitamins, and medications can cause changes in your urine smell. “These include B1 and B6 , both of which are common in multivitamins and prenatal supplements, as well as sulfa-containing medications, which include antibiotics such as Bactrim, and diabetes medications such as glyburide, says Dr. Pannell.
Sulfonamide antibiotics, diabetic medications, such as Diabeta and Glynase PresTabs, and medications for rheumatoid arthritis, specifically, Azulfidine, may make urine smell like eggs by creating a sulfuric chemical excreted in the urine, adds Dr. Garvey. Calcium supplements and vitamin D may make the urine smell fishy, while iron supplements and kelp may precipitate a metallic smell to the urine.”
Related Story
Also, artificial flavors are put in some pill coatings to make them more palatable, but they can also change the scent of your urine.
What to do about it: The most likely offenders? Pills high in vitamin B6, including some multivitamins, heart, and pregnancy medications. It’s not particularly worrisome, says Dr. Ross, but be sure to mention your urine odor to your doctor if you’re concerned about it, if it changes suddenly, or if you experience other negative side effects along with the smell.
Recommended Reading: What Kind Of Antibiotics For Yeast Infection
Diagnosing The Underlying Cause
When you see a doctor or other healthcare professional, they will likely ask you several questions. This includes any recent health changes youve experienced.
Theyll also want to know when the odor first appeared and what you might have done or consumed that could impact the smell.
A urine culture can check for bacteria or signs of an infection. For this test, you will typically urinate into a cup, and the sample will be sent to a laboratory for testing.
Imaging scans, like a CT scan or MRI, may help your doctor check your urinary tract, liver, or kidneys for signs of problems.
Blood work can also help your doctor find other health issues, like STIs, liver or kidney problems, and chemical imbalances.
When To See A Doctor
A bad smell in the urine often goes away on its own, especially when dehydration or something in the diet causes it.
A person does not need to see a doctor if they can identify a harmless cause of their smelly urine, such as asparagus.
Other causes need medical treatment. While a UTI is relatively harmless, it can progress and cause serious health issues, including kidney infections. With early treatment, a person should feel better in a few days.
Because some people with UTIs have no symptoms, see a doctor if the bad smell lasts longer than a few days. This is especially important for people who are pregnant.
Other health issues that can cause this odor require ongoing treatment. For example, a person with diabetes may need to switch medications or make certain lifestyle changes.
If a person who has any chronic condition finds that the smell of their urine changes significantly, it may be a good idea to flag it with a doctor.
Read Also: Antibiotics For Sinus Infection And Ear Infection
A Uti Or Bladder Infection Could Be To Blame
Bladder and urinary tract infections are common causes of smelly urine, particularly in women, who have shorter urethras than men , says Dr. OLeary. Unfortunately, this is pretty common. Anywhere from 40 to 60 percent of women will have at least one UTI in their lifetimeand 1 in 4 will experience multiple, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Urine should theoretically be a sterile fluid, and the presence of bacteria can affect its odor, Dr. OLeary explains.
When Should I Speak To A Doctor About Vaginal Odour
Its important to recognise if the smell is abnormal for you.
Making simple lifestyle changes like using just water to wash down there and avoiding perfumed products is a good place to start. There are plenty of home remedies for vaginal odour too, like eating pineapple or drinking pineapple juice regularly, but these may not work for everyone.
But if the smell seems to be getting worse or you have other symptoms too, speak to a doctor.
This article has been medically approved by Dr Elisabeth Rosén, a medical doctor at Livi who specialises in gynaecology and obstetrics.
Recommended Reading: Over The Counter Antibiotics For Bladder Infection
What Are The Causes Of A Uti
A UTI is mainly caused by bacteria, though fungi and viruses can also be the reason. UTIs can be of two typeslower tract infection involving the urethra and bladder, and upper tract infection involving the ureters and the kidneys.
Any factor that can irritate the urinary tract can cause a UTI:
- Medical Author: Dan Brennan, MD
Last Editorial Review: 6/15/2020
Your symptoms can be caused by multiple medical causes, including urinary tract and gynecologic infections. Your doctor may need to do some testing to make an accurate diagnosis. If you are concerned about your symptoms, please contact your doctor.
While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:
Food Supplements And Medication Causes
Food or medication can cause bad smelling urine.
- Asparagus: This vegetable is a well-known offender when it comes to causing a strong smell to the urine, due to its high sulfur content.
- Garlic, onions, leafy vegetables, and eggs: These foods all contain sulfur, but like asparagus, they are good for you, and there is no need to avoid them. Any smell they give to the urine is harmless.
- Vitamin B6: Also called pyridoxine, this may cause a strong smell to the urine from doses that exceed 10 mg per day.
Also Check: Can Strep Cause An Ear Infection
Certain Foods Drinks Or Supplements
Compounds in certain foods can be excreted in your pee causing it to have a strong smell and different color.
For example, the journal Chemical Senses reported that asparagus can cause urine to smell like sulfur. Some people say that this makes their pee smell like rotten eggs or cooked cabbage. Scientists noted that the ability to smell sulfur compound in urine isnt common to everyone.2
Other reasons for your diet causing bad smelling urine can include eating a high-protein diet3 or taking vitamin B6 supplements.4
What Makes Urine Smell
For the most part, urine carries very little odor. The reason why is simple: Its about 95% water. The remainder amounts mostly to waste products calcium, nitrogen, potassium and more filtered by your kidneys.
Now if youre dehydrated, the percentage of water in your pee drops and the filtered waste takes a more prominent role. That creates a stronger smell, notes Dr. Bajic.
Its not just drinking, though. What you eat can affect the scent of your bladder output, too.
Asparagus is infamous for giving urine a pretty stinky sulfur smell, for instance. Fast fact: Your body converts an acid in asparagus into sulfur-containing compounds, which creates that pungent result.
Coffee drinkers also may recognize a certain brewed aroma during a bathroom break. Brussels sprouts, onions and garlic also can add a certain zest to urine.
In addition, various medications and supplements can contribute a specific scent to pee.
This is all completely normal, says Dr. Bajic. It reflects the life youre living.
Recommended Reading: Bladder Infection Symptoms In Kids
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Vaginal Discharge
Vaginal discharge may range in color from clear to gray, yellow, greenish, or milky-white and may have an unpleasant smell. The symptoms and character of vaginal discharge depend upon the specific condition that is the cause of the discharge.
What Does Smelly Urine Mean For A Girl
What does a stinky urine signify in a female context? It is possible that the presence of bacteria in the urine, as occurs in the case of a urinary tract infection , will modify the color and smell of urine. When there is an infection in the urinary system, the urine may have a bad odor and be hazy or bloody in appearance, as well as being cloudy or bloody.
Read Also: What Essential Oil Is Good For Tooth Infection
Utis And Yeast Infections Need Very Different Treatments
The issue is not just that these two infections require different medications to relieve you of your symptoms. Its also that if you try to treat what you think is a yeast infection with over-the-counter meds when its really a UTI , you could eventually be at risk for a kidney infection, or at the very least not actually get rid of your UTI. Youre not going to get better, Dr. Minkin says bluntly about using the wrong treatment.
So, first up, yeast infections: Getting rid of yeast infections really comes down to curbing that Candida overgrowth by using antifungal medications. Depending on the severity of your infection, you might only need a single dose of meds, either vaginally or orally. But if your symptoms are intense or you have recurrent yeast infections , you may need multiple oral or vaginal doses over the course of a few weeks, according to the Mayo Clinic.
If you have a urinary tract infection, youll likely receive a prescription for a short course of antibiotics to help your body fight the bacteria, the Mayo Clinic says. If youre also experiencing pain, your provider might prescribe medication to numb your bladder and urethra when you pee, but the Mayo Clinic notes that, more often than not, your pain will lessen when you start taking the antibiotics. And this bears repeating: You should get treated ASAP because untreated lower urinary tract infections can turn into a painful and dangerous kidney infection.
Related:
Should Utis Itch Or Smell
If a vaginal itch is accompanied by redness, swollenness, and a discharge resembling cottage cheese, you may have a vaginal yeast infection. Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of Candida fungus. Yeast infections arent UTIs, but they can easily be mistaken for one, as both can cause a burning sensation during urination.
If you have vaginal itch along with symptoms like burning during urination, urinary frequency, and urinary urgency, you may have both a urinary tract infection and a vaginal infection. Since vaginal itch isnt a common UTI symptom, it may be that you have both infections.
BV is treated with antibiotics, while a yeast infection is treated with antifungals. Sometimes, antibiotics used to treat a UTI may lead to yeast infections because of the loss of protective, healthy bacteria.
The presence of bacteria in the urine during a UTI can definitely affect the appearance and smell of urine. When there is an infection in the urinary tract, the urine may take on a foul-smelling odor as well as appear cloudy or bloody.
If you think you have a urinary tract infection, look out for the following common symptoms:
-
Burning during urination
-
Frequent/intense urge to urinate, with little actual urination
-
Blood-tinged or cloudy urine
Read Also: Hiv Yeast Infection In Mouth
When Should You See A Doctor
You should consult a doctor if:
- The foamy urine doesnt fade in a few days
- You experience other symptoms such as swelling, upset stomach, vomiting, loss of appetite, and you feel sluggish or tired
- Your urine is cloudy or bloody
- You are pregnant and experience foamy urine, severe headaches, blurred vision, abdominal pain, and high blood pressure
Blood tests to measure kidney function, electrolyte levels, and a urinalysis will help determine the underlying causes of foam in the urine.
Pee That Smells Like Ammonia
If you detect a hint of ammonia in your urine, it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. The odor suggests that bacteria may be swimming around in your urinary system, most likely in your urethra, kidneys or bladder.
Urine showing signs of a UTI also may be cloudy or even a bit bloody. Peeing may also become painful a symptom made even worse by the fact that you may feel the need to urinate more often. A fever and mental confusion are other tell-tale accompanying signs.
If you have multiple symptoms, schedule a visit with your healthcare provider.
UTIs are pretty common, sending approximately 10 million Americans to the doctor every year for antibiotic treatment, says Dr. Bajic. Women and older adults are more prone to getting the infection.
Other potential causes of urine that carry the whiff of ammonia include:
- Prostate infection.
- Sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia.
Now an ammonia-like odor also can be linked to dehydration and certain foods and vitamins, as mentioned previously. So if the smell pops up and disappears quickly, theres little reason for concern. If it lingers, though, get checked by a medical professional.
Recommended Reading: I Get A Bladder Infection After Intercourse
Utis And Other Urinary Issues
Vaginal odour: ammonia
If you experience an ammonia-like vaginal odour, urine might be involved. This can happen if you have a urinary tract infection . This is more likely if a UTI is left untreated and you might be leaking, explains Dr Rosén. An infection thats left untreated will also cause a fever, and the smell will be quite distinct and sickly.
Occasionally, an ammonia-like smell can be a sign of an existing incontinence issue that youre unaware of, says Dr Rosén. These issues are very common. A doctor or gynaecologist can advise on treatment options.