Urine is a liquid secreted by the kidneys after the filtration of the blood and which contains the waste products of the body. It can be smelly after taking certain foods (asparagus, etc.), medications or infections.
Urine is composed of 95% water, urea (the main waste product), creatinine and more than three thousand chemical components. Some medications, drugs and other products are eliminated through urine. In general, if water consumption is sufficient, the urine has no or very little odor, and its color is quite clear. However, its colonization by bacteria in case of infection can give it unusual odors and a cloudy or opaque appearance. She can also release strong and unusual odors like the fish or sulfur odors (when eating asparagus, for example) after the consumption of food, medication or because of a pathology.
What causes urine that smells of ammonia?
Urinary tract infections or yeast infections (sometimes caused by a sexually transmitted disease such as chlamydia) can cause your urine to smell strong (ammonia smell). It is generally accompanied by other symptoms such as vaginal or urinary burning, and pressing and frequent urges to urinate. Infection with coli bacteria can cause urine to smell acrid. A ammonia smell can also be felt in some other infections. Also, with menopause, estrogen levels decrease and the protective vaginal flora weakens, predisposing to urinary tract infections and causing a strong smell of ammonia in the urine. This is also the case during ovulation. During the first trimester of pregnancy, the smell is rather pungent due to pregnancy hormones.
What causes urine that smells of sugar?
Diabetes is a disease that corresponds to too high chronic glycaemia, that is to say too much sugar in the blood. In this case, sugar can be eliminated by the urine, and these then take on a sweet smell. Liver disease and certain metabolic disorders can cause a musty smell.
What causes smelly urine?
Bad odors during urination often result from presence of bacteria that have proliferated inside the urinary tract, in the bladder and/or in the urethra. THE smelly urine are sometimes due to an infection, high temperatures or the consumption of certain foods such as cabbage, garlic and asparagus. It is recommended to consult a doctor at the first odor in order to identify the responsible cause and to follow an appropriate treatment, if necessary.
What causes urine that smells like rotten eggs (sulfur)?
Some foods like asparagus, fish, onion and garlic have the ability to give off a sulfur smell to the urine which lasts the time of their digestion. It is methyl-mercaptan, a sulfur product that gives this particular smell. Soybeans, lentils and beans are at the forefront of vegetable proteins that leave a strong odor in the urine. A high consumption of cow’s milk protein, eggs, meat, fish and seafood can cause an odor similar to ammonia. Moreover, certain dietary supplements containing vitamin B or certain medications such as sulfonamides (oral antidiabetics) may be responsible for a sulfur smell. Good hydration is necessary to reduce this inconvenience.
When to consult?
Changes in urine odor are usually temporary and are not always signs of an illness. Contact your doctor if you have fever, chills, painful urination, or back pain while having a abnormal smell of urine. These can be signs of a urinary tract infection.
The treatment for smelly urine depends on its cause. In case of bacterial infection, an antibiotic relieves symptoms within a few days. Generally good hydration is necessary to avoid the concentration of urine and therefore an abnormally strong smell.