{"id":582335,"date":"2026-05-13T20:27:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T20:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/582335\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T20:27:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T20:27:15","slug":"doctors-explain-the-most-common-causes-of-smelly-urine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/582335\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctors Explain the Most Common Causes of Smelly Urine"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Estimated7 min read<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re noticing that your urine smells a little different than usual, you might be wondering if it\u2019s cause for concern. Things like the frequency, color, and yes, the smell of your urine can actually tell you a lot about your health. Doctors explain the most common causes of smelly urine and symptoms that mean it\u2019s time to see a doctor.<\/p>\n

\u201cUrine gives us clues about our hydration status<\/a>, filtration processes, renal (kidney), cardiac, hormonal, and even sleep health,\u201d says Tanaka Dune, M.D.<\/a>, a board-certified urogynecologist and pelvic health expert.<\/p>\n

Meet the Experts: Tanaka Dune, M.D.<\/a>, a board-certified urogynecologist and pelvic health expert; Michael Ingber, M.D.<\/a>, a urogynecologist with the Center for Specialized Women\u2019s Health at Garden State Urology; and Michael O\u2019Leary, M.D.<\/a>, senior urologic surgeon at Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital in Massachusetts and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School.<\/p>\n

The good news is that in many cases, you don\u2019t need to worry too much about your urine smelling strange. \u201cIf odor is present with no symptoms, this is typically benign and no treatment or evaluation is needed,\u201d says Michael Ingber, M.D.<\/a>, a urogynecologist with the Center for Specialized Women\u2019s Health at Garden State Urology. \u201cHowever, if odor is present with symptoms, urinary urgency, peeing frequently, pain, burning, this can be a sign of an infection, and you should consult with a medical professional,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

Below, doctors explain the most common causes of smelly urine and how you can remedy the situation.<\/p>\n

1. You\u2019re simply dehydrated.<\/p>\n

No surprise here, folks: Failing to drink enough water concentrates your urine, which can give it a stronger ammonia-like smell than usual, says Dr. Dune. (Basically, the waste products created in your kidneys don\u2019t have enough fluid available to dilute them as you excrete them.)<\/p>\n

The harsh smell is also typically accompanied by a darker-than-usual color<\/a> (along with these other signs of dehydration<\/a>), which should tip you off that it\u2019s time to grab a giant glass of water, pronto, Michael O\u2019Leary, M.D.<\/a>, senior urologic surgeon at Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital in Massachusetts and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, explains.<\/p>\n

2. A UTI or bladder infection could be to blame.<\/p>\n

Bladder and urinary tract infections<\/a> are common causes of smelly urine, particularly in women, who have shorter urethras than men (and thus less distance for bacteria to travel to impact the bladder), says Dr. O\u2019Leary. Unfortunately, this is pretty common. Anywhere from 40 to 60 percent of women will have at least one UTI<\/a> in their lifetime\u2014and 1 in 4 will experience multiple, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cUrine should theoretically be a sterile fluid, and the presence of bacteria can affect its odor,\u201d Dr. O\u2019Leary explains. (The bacteria in our digestive tracts contribute to the smell of our stool, too.)<\/p>\n

3. You have a yeast infection. <\/p>\n

Yeast infections<\/a>, which occur as a result of fungal overgrowth in the vagina and vulva, will affect most women<\/a> at some point in their lives.<\/p>\n

Though yeast infections themselves don\u2019t directly cause smelly urine<\/a>, they can indirectly have an impact on what you smell when you go.<\/p>\n

Related Stories<\/p>\n

According to Dr. Dune, infection-related bacteria in the vagina can come into contact with your urine while you pee\u2014and the chemical reaction between the two can create a foul smell. Plus, many women might mistake the unusual vaginal odor<\/a> created by the infection for smelly urine itself.<\/p>\n

4. You just drank lots of coffee.<\/p>\n

Coffee<\/a> has a light diuretic effect, meaning it can cause your body to release water, ultimately dehydrating you and contributing to ammonia-like urine, says Dr. Dune.<\/p>\n

Plus, the metabolites (aka by-products) produced as your body breaks down coffee may also influence the smell of your urine, Dr. Dune adds. Nothing to be concerned about\u2014as long as you make the effort to hydrate post latte.<\/p>\n

5. Garlic and onions were the stars of your meal.<\/p>\n

Yep, those pesky (but normal!) metabolites are back again\u2014and messing with the smell of your pee. \u201cDifferent foods produce different metabolites as we break them down,\u201d says Dr. Dune. Depending on how much of these foods\u2014garlic and onions are two common culprits\u2014you ate, you might notice changes in the smell of your urine.<\/p>\n

6. You lack a certain enzyme\u2014and ate some asparagus. <\/p>\n

This nutritious vegetable can also affect the smell of some people\u2019s urine (which is often described as rotting cabbage<\/a>.) \u201cSome people have an enzyme that breaks down compounds in asparagus that can cause smelly urine,\u201d Dr. O\u2019Leary says. People who can break down the smell-inducing compounds in asparagus are called asparagus anosmic.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have that enzyme, though, you end up with smelly urine after eating asparagus. According to research published in the British Medical Journal<\/a>, roughly 40 percent of people notice changes in how their pee smells after eating this veggie.<\/p>\n

\"smelly<\/p>\n

Bjorn Holland\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

7. It could be a sign of diabetes (or prediabetes).<\/p>\n

Changes in how often you urinate\u2014and what\u2019s in that urine\u2014are often the first indicators of diabetes<\/a>, says Dr. O\u2019Leary.<\/p>\n

In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the body\u2019s inability to properly process sugar means some of the sweet stuff (in the form of glucose) ends up in your urine. \u201cMellitus, the term that characterizes these types of diabetes, literally means sweet-tasting,\u201d Dr. O\u2019Leary says.<\/p>\n

Luckily, a quick urine test at the doctor\u2019s office can confirm the presence of glucose in your pee, so you and your doctor can create a treatment plan to regulate your blood sugar. If you\u2019ve already been diagnosed with diabetes and notice sweet-smelling urine, consider it a sign that your condition is no longer under control<\/a>\u2014and make an appointment with your physician.<\/p>\n

8. You loaded up on vitamins. <\/p>\n

We\u2019ve all experienced this one: You take your daily multivitamin (or whatever slew of vitamins and supplements your daily routine involves) and a couple of hours later your urine looks and smells rather terrifying.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be alarmed: \u201cMultiple vitamins\u2014especially vitamin B6\u2014can affect urine color and odor,\u201d says Dr. Dune. In fact, B vitamins are notorious for turning urine a neon yellow-green color<\/a>.
<\/p>\n

9. It\u2019s possible you have an STI. <\/p>\n

Certain STIs\u2014particularly chlamydia<\/a> and trichomoniasis<\/a>\u2014can lead to painful urination and smelly discharge in both men and women, according to the CDC.<\/p>\n

Many women might mistake the abnormal vaginal discharge<\/a> associated with these sexually transmitted infections with smelly urine, says Dr. Dune.<\/p>\n

Because both chlamydia and trichomoniasis (and other STIs) may not present symptoms, but can have a serious lasting impact on the reproductive system, it\u2019s important to get regular screenings and make an appointment with your doctor at the first sign of concern.<\/p>\n

10. Or, you\u2019ve got kidney stones. <\/p>\n

Often caused (at least partially) by dehydration, kidney stones form when chemicals in your urine crystalize together. While small stones may pass without you even noticing, larger stones can lead to pain and a slew of other symptoms, including cloudy, foul-smelling, and even bloody urine, according to the National Kidney Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Since having kidney stones increases risk of developing kidney disease<\/a> (and dealing with more stones in the future), it\u2019s important to stay well hydrated and work with your doctor to make any lifestyle or dietary adjustments that can reduce risk.<\/p>\n

11. It\u2019s a side effect of certain medications.<\/p>\n

Those metabolites are back! According to Dr. Dune, certain medications affect the metabolites created in the body or contribute to pH changes in our urine, both of which can affect our pee\u2019s smell. Certain diabetes medications\u2014and a drug called Methenamine, which is used to address chronic UTIs\u2014can have this effect.<\/p>\n

\"Round<\/p>\n

ironstealth\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

12. You have a bladder fistula.<\/p>\n

Fistulas, openings that form between two organs, often affect the bladder. According to the Urology Care Foundation<\/a>, fistulas of the bladder often connect the organ to either the bowel or vagina\u2014contributing to a number of issues, including changes in urine odor.<\/p>\n

In most cases, bladder fistulas that connect to the bowel are caused by inflammatory bowel diseases, like Crohn\u2019s disease<\/a> or ulcerative colitis, says Dr. O\u2019Leary. However, gynecological and colon cancers<\/a>, along with recent surgeries, can also cause fistulas.<\/p>\n

Since bladder fistulas can allow bacteria from other organs into the bladder, they often manifest as urinary tract infections, urine that looks or smells like stool, and urine that contains gas.<\/p>\n

13. A rare metabolic disorder may be the culprit.<\/p>\n

Though very uncommon, metabolic disorders<\/a> (which affect our body\u2019s ability to convert the food we eat into energy), can impact the smell of our urine.<\/p>\n

One of the most common is maple syrup urine disease, in which a deficiency in enzymes needed to break down certain amino acids causes sweet-smelling urine, explains Dr. Dune. Luckily, this condition is usually caught and treated in infancy.<\/p>\n

Other metabolic disorders, like phenylketonuria<\/a> (also known as PKU), though, can also influence urine smell. In PKU, a defective gene prevents the breakdown of the amino acid phenylalanine, which builds up and causes musty-smelling breath and urine, among other symptoms, like rashes and even seizures.<\/p>\n

\u2757When to see your doctor about smelly urine<\/p>\n

Though stinky pee alone may not always be cause for alarm, strange-smelling urine that\u2019s accompanied by other symptoms may be.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re also noticing cloudy or bloody urine, experience pain during urination, are peeing a lot more or less than usual, or have lower back or abdominal pain, make an appointment with your doctor, says Dr. Dune.<\/p>\n

Just a few days of persistent symptoms warrant a visit, says O\u2019Leary. When in doubt, just get it checked out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"7 min read If you\u2019re noticing that your urine smells a little different than usual, you might be…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":582336,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[2785,199023,381,59,102,190731,380,187182,199022,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-582335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-content-type-how-to-service","tag-contentid-febd7c03-0648-459e-91c7-07c4540f5cef","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-gb","tag-health","tag-issyndicated-false","tag-locale-us","tag-read_time-8","tag-shorttitle-doctors-share-common-causes-of-smelly-urine","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/582335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=582335"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/582335\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/582336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=582335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=582335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=582335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}