Causes of bad smelling urine in women

The unpleasant smell of urine in women can manifest itself in different forms and be a symptom of illness and pathological processes, or a consequence of a violation of the diet and drinking.

What is considered normal

The urine of a healthy woman has a subtle smell of ammonia, which is greatly enhanced by the contact of urine with oxygen, which is why urine in women smells especially strong, even if it stands in a closed container.

If the urine has acquired a different strange or bad smell, or a strong smell of ammonia is felt immediately after urination, it is necessary to identify the root cause of this condition.

Factors that provoke a change in the physical parameters of urine, including its aroma, include:

• inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs;
• venereal diseases;
• excessive consumption of certain foods (garlic, alcohol, asparagus, etc.);
• dehydration;
• genetic diseases;
• metabolic disease;
• the use of certain groups of drugs (for example, antibiotics);
• diseases of the digestive system, including the liver.

Many common seasonings can also affect both the smell and color of urine.

This is an incomplete list of causes that cause similar symptoms. This is due to the fact that urine indicators, as the end product of metabolic processes in the body, directly respond to all problems and malfunctions in the internal organs.

The smell of acetone

In a small amount, acetone compounds are constantly excreted from the body by the kidneys along with urine. But if after urination a specific smell of acetone is caught, then its indicators have exceeded the permissible threshold.

Such a manifestation may be one of the symptoms:

• diabetes;
• stomach cancer;
• depletion of the body (with diets in women, starvation, excessive physical exertion, etc.);
• violations in the diet (the predominance of protein and fat-containing foods);
• prolonged increase in body temperature;
• poisoning, including alcohol;
• prolonged vomiting (intestinal poisoning, toxicosis of pregnant women, eclampsia);
• thyroid disease.

In most cases, in addition to changing the smell of urine to acetone, there are additional manifestations of diseases.

But even the appearance of such an aroma, as a single symptom, indicates the need to see a doctor. This is due to the fact that the presence of a high number of ketone bodies in urine can lead to a state of coma or serious health problems (especially at the time of bearing a baby).

If present, its smell can change not only to a sharp acetone, but also to a soft one with the aroma of rotten or rotting apples.

Treatment usually consists of eliminating the cause that caused the change in the physical parameters of the urine and adjusting the diet.

Strong smell of ammonia

Compounds and derivatives of ammonia are always present in the urine.

But an increase in the smell, reminiscent of ammonia, may indicate the presence of such pathologies and physiological conditions as:

• excessive use of medicines containing calcium and iron;
• abuse of protein foods (ammonia is a breakdown product of amino acids);
• in rare cases, the smell of ammonia appears in inflammatory processes of the urinary system (cystitis, pyelonephritis);
• congestion of urine (prolonged urination, for example, in the morning, squeezing of the ureter when a stone exits or the uterus during pregnancy, etc.);
• dehydration (the concentration of all substances in the urine, including ammonia, increases several times);
• liver disease (in this case, free ammonia molecules appear in the urine, giving a sharp urine flavor).

If the change in the smell of urine is caused by physical causes (dehydration, malnutrition, forced prolonged lack of urination), then you can bring everything back to normal simply by eliminating these causes - restoring the drinking regimen and emptying the bladder.

Compliance with the drinking regime is one of the ways to prevent diseases of the urinary system

If such measures are ineffective and the bad smell persists for more than 3 days, then the matter is most likely a violation of the internal organs. In this case, additional diagnostic methods are needed to determine the tactics of treatment.

Sour smell

Urine may begin to smell like sour cabbage or sour milk. The main reason for the appearance of such an aroma is a fungal infection of the organs of the genitourinary sphere (vaginal candidiasis, candidal urethritis).

In addition, there are other manifestations:

• cloudy urine;
• white discharge from the genitals and urethra in the form of flakes and suspensions;
• constant itching;
• white coating on the mucous membranes of the vagina and labia.

For treatment, both topical agents in the form of vaginal suppositories, suppositories and ointments, as well as drugs with systemic action (tablets for oral administration) can be used.

Also, urine in women can also acquire a sour smell in case of problems in the functioning of the digestive organs (intestinal dysbacteriosis, increased acidity of gastric juice, etc.).

Taking certain medications, in particular antibiotics, can cause an imbalance in the internal microflora

Violation of the balance of the microflora of the vagina due to its bacterial damage or due to prolonged use of antibiotics leads to vaginal dysbacteriosis, vaginitis and other diseases of the genital organs of the female body. At the same time, in addition to the characteristic discharge from the vagina, the smell of urine can change and acquire sour notes.

Taking funds to restore intestinal microflora in the form of capsules and suspensions, as well as vaginal tablets with a similar composition, will help solve the problem of dysbacteriosis. If pathogenic bacteria were to blame, then it is impossible to do without the appointment of antibacterial agents.

fishy smell

It is extremely rare that the urine itself has such a smell, but in some conditions, the discharge from the vagina, getting into the urine during urination, gives it the smell of fish (usually rotten).

So, trichomoniasis, being a sexually transmitted sexually transmitted disease, causes damage to the internal genital organs and urethra by Trichomonas.

Barrier methods of contraception are one of the most reliable ways to protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

In the process of reproduction and vital activity of the pathogen, yellow secretions are actively formed, which have a specific smell of fish.

In addition, a woman may notice:

• pain during urination;
• yellowish-brown discharge;
• redness and swelling of the mucous membranes of the vagina and urethra.

Also, the fishy smell of urine can also accompany vaginal dysbacteriosis, in the case when the balance of microflora is disturbed and opportunistic bacteria, gardnerella, begin to predominate in it.

The condition is characterized by the presence of copious greenish vaginal discharge with a pungent smell of fish, inflammation of the mucous membranes, discomfort during urination (if urethritis develops in parallel).

Trimethylaminuria is a disease in which all fluids released by the body have an unpleasant odor of rotting fish. This genetic disease is expressed in the complete or partial lack of regulation of the production process of one of the liver enzymes, which is responsible for the conversion of the active compound trimethylamine released during digestion.

Unpleasant odor comes not only from urine, but also from sweat, saliva and vaginal discharge.

Usually the disease is detected in early childhood (at the time of weaning), but there are cases when a genetic disorder manifests itself in adulthood.

Of the therapeutic measures, only the observance of a low-protein diet and the intake of certain adsorbents are considered.

Sweet smell of maple syrup

The cause of the smell is leucinosis - a hereditary disease with a violation of the production of enzymes for the breakdown of certain amino acids. They begin to accumulate in the internal tissues, poisoning the body.

It is diagnosed in early childhood (starting from infancy), but with an intermediate and intermittent form, the onset of manifestations may be delayed to a later date.

Periods of exacerbation appear during stress, during a decrease in immunity, in case of strong physical exertion

Symptoms of the disease are also:

• disorders in coordination of movements;
• vomit;
• convulsions.

Treatment consists of a lifelong diet that excludes foods containing certain amino acids and constant monitoring of clinical tests.
In the absence of treatment, the prognosis is poor.

Moldy smell (urine smells like mice)

This is another of the congenital diseases, in which the liver fermentation system is inactive and is not able to break down phenylalanine, which determines the level of its accumulation in tissues.

In this case, sweat, saliva, human urine smells bad of mold or mice. The disease is diagnosed in early childhood.

Additionally present:

• convulsions;
• lethargy;
• lag in physical and mental development.

It is possible to treat the disease only by strict adherence to certain nutritional rules, usually the restrictions are lifelong and only help to contain the manifestations of the disease.

If you neglect the selected diet, then the damage to the central nervous system and the brain is inevitable with the development of severe consequences (idiocy, imbecility).

Smell of rotten eggs or rotting

Urine that smells like rotten eggs may appear if the genitals or urination area is affected by Escherichia coli. Especially often such manifestations are observed in pyelonephritis or rectal cancer.

In girls, this smell is the first symptom of infectious diseases of the kidneys and bladder.

Most diseases of the urinary system, in addition, are characterized by the appearance of cloudy urine with various inclusions (suspension, pus, etc.).
Eating large amounts of asparagus can also cause a pungent odor of rotten eggs in the urine, which resolves on its own within a maximum of 6 hours.

Non-specific odors

Usually, urine acquires the smell of garlic, ampicillin, sulfur and other not very pleasant shades due to ordinary foods.

So, the smell of drugs appears when using antibiotics and some other drugs.

And sulfur compounds, for example in cabbage, cause deterioration and intensification of the unpleasant smell of urine in women.

Many spices (curry, garlic, cumin, cardamom) can also change the flavor of the fluid.

Changing the smell of urine during pregnancy

During the period of bearing a baby, the smell of urine can be influenced by the same reasons as before. The appearance of a sweetish hue, the aroma of rotting apples or acetone is considered especially dangerous. This may indicate the occurrence of diabetes mellitus in pregnant women, nephropathy or eclampsia.

During pregnancy, various inflammatory reactions of the kidneys and bladder are especially common, which leads to the release of urine with a sour or purulent odor.

In the last trimester, the enlarged uterus is more likely to occlude the ureter, which can lead to stagnation of urine and increased ammonia odor.

Another reason for the deterioration of the aroma of urine may be an increase in the blood supply to all the mucous membranes of the body, including in the nose, due to which even ordinary odors during pregnancy can seem fetid and strong.

Smell of urine and vaginal discharge

Due to the proximity of the entrance to the vagina and the urethra, often a woman is not able to distinguish the difference in the change in the smell of urine or discharge.

So, discharge with the smell of urine can be the result of insufficient hygiene of the genital organs, cystitis, partial urinary incontinence, etc.

In this case, the panties smell strongly of urine, even a short time after taking a shower.

After the root cause is eliminated, the smell usually goes away on its own. If this is not possible (for example, temporary incontinence often occurs during pregnancy), it is necessary to use special urological pads to eliminate external inconveniences.

Such a physical indicator of urine as smell can be assessed independently without the use of any instruments. The information received can be the first signal about the presence of problems in the body.