What Does The Smell Of Your Urine Says About Your Health

Normal urine is clear and has a straw-yellow colour. While the odour of urine can vary somewhat, in most cases, it does not have a strong smell. With dehydration, the urine is more concentrated and may have a stronger ammonia scent than normal. Consumption of certain foods, such as asparagus (which can impart a characteristic odour to urine), and taking some medications may be causes for changes in the odour of urine. The presence of bacteria in the urine, such as with a urinary tract infection (UTI), can affect the appearance and smell of urine. When there is an infection in the urinary tract, the urine may take on a foul-smelling odour as well as appear cloudy or bloody. A burning sensation during urination may be a symptom of a UTI. The urine may also have an abnormally sweet odour in uncontrolled diabetes, and some rare genetic conditions can also cause the urine to have an abnormal or strange odour.

Strong or Unusual Smelling Urine

Urine naturally has an odour, but it is usually not very strong smelling. Strong smelling urine is usually not a cause for concern. Sometimes, however, strong or unusual smelling urine is a sign of an underlying medical problem.

Strong Smelling Urine

Diet and Urine Odour

Certain foods may make your urine smell strong.

One food that many people say makes their urine smell strong is the sataw bean (stinky bean or rather call Petai) and asparagus. Some, however, say that asparagus does not change the way their urine smells. John H. McDonald, MS, PhD, of the University of Delaware says that it is possible that your genetics determine if asparagus makes your urine smell strong. McDonald says another possibility is that everyone’s urine smells strong after eating asparagus, but only some people with certain genetic make-ups can detect the change in odour.

Sataw Bean

Other foods that may change the odour of your urine include onions, garlic, and coffee.

If you suspect food is to blame, eliminating the food source should allow your urine to return to a normal smell in less than 12 hours. If you eliminate the food and the odour remains, there is likely another cause.

Underlying Medical Causes of Urine Odour

Several conditions can cause strong or unusual urine odour. The most common causes include:

Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when you do not drink enough fluids. If you are dehydrated, you may notice that your urine is a dark yellow or orange colour and smells like ammonia. Most people only experience minor dehydration and do not require medical treatment. Drinking more fluids, especially water, will generally cause urine odour to return to normal. If you are experiencing mental confusion, weakness, extreme fatigue, or other unusual symptoms, you may have severe dehydration and should get medical treatment right away.

Stay Hydrated

Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections—often called UTIs—commonly cause urine to have a strong or foul smells. A strong urge to urinate and a burning sensation upon urination are the most common symptoms of a UTI. Bacteria in your urine cause urinary tract infections. If your doctor determines you have a UTI, he or she will give you antibiotics to kill the bacteria.

Diabetes

A common symptom of diabetes is sweet-smelling urine. People with untreated diabetes have high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels cause the sweet urine odour. See your doctor as soon as possible if your urine frequently smells sweet. Untreated diabetes is dangerous and can be life threatening.

Diabetes gives the sweet odour of urine

Other less common causes of urine odour include:

Bladder Fistula

A bladder fistula occurs when you have an injury or defect that allows bacteria from your intestines to enter your bladder. Bladder fistulas can occur due to surgical injuries or bowel diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease.

Bladder Fistula

Liver Disease

A strong urine odour can be a sign of liver disease. Other symptoms of liver disease include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, yellow skin or eyes, weakness, bloating, and weight loss. See your doctor right away if you have symptoms of liver disease. Untreated liver disease can be life threatening.

Do a blood Screening Test too

Rare causes of abnormal urine odour include:

Phenylketonuria

Phenylketonuria is an incurable genetic disease that is present at birth. The disease makes you unable to break down an amino acid called phenylalanine. Other symptoms include:

• Decreased skin pigmentation
• A large head
• Mental defects
• Slow-developing social skills

Phenylketonuria

If this disease is not treated early, it can lead to ADHD and severe mental handicaps.

Maple Sugar Urine Disease

Maple sugar urine disease is a rare and incurable genetic disease that causes urine to smell like maple syrup. People with the disease cannot break down the amino acids eucine, isoleucine, and valine. Lack of treatment can lead to neurological (brain) damage and death.

Maple sugar urine disease (M.S.U.D)

When to See a Doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have a strong or abnormal urine odour that lasts for more than two days or if you have additional, unusual symptoms. If you have severe symptoms such as sweet-smelling urine, mental confusion, bloating, nausea, or vomiting, see a medical professional right away. These symptoms may be signs of diabetes, severe dehydration, or liver disease.

Speak to your doctor

You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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