Smelly Urine Causes

Generally, the smell that the urine produces is tolerable. Doctors say that a healthy person excretes a clear and nearly odorless urine. But a pungent or fishy smelly urine is embarrassing and can be the onset of an infection. A strong odor emanating from urine (smelly urine symptoms) can be a sign of a serious illness.

Smelly Urine Causes
A number of factors can influence the smell of urine. Consuming less water than required can negatively affect the smell in urine. Formation of kidney stones is also linked to change in urine odor. Other smelly urine causes are given below:

Urinary Tract Infections: This is a common cause of smelly urine in females. Studies have shown that 50 - 80% women suffer from urinary tract infection (UTI). In this condition, the bacteria infects the bladder and kidneys, and damages the tissues. In fact, it is found that women are more susceptible to recurrent UTI. Approximately 20 - 50% of women have frequent urinary tract infections. Smelly urine in males also occurs due to this reason. However, considering the anatomy of men, they are less likely to develop this form of infection frequently. In general, odor in urine is likely to result from urinary tract infections.

Having sexual intercourse after a long gap can also lead to urinary tract infections. People having multiple sexual partners or those who are sexually active are at great risk of developing UTI. This is because, during sex, the bacteria can travel to another body through the vagina, urethra or rectum. Read more on urinary tract infections home remedies.

Dehydration:Insufficient fluid intake decreases volume of urine and makes it highly concentrated. When intake of water is less, there is a drastic change in the color and smell of urine. Concentrated urine has a strong smell similar to ammonia. A strong ammonia smell from the urine is an indication that the person is not drinking sufficient water.

Disease:In rare cases, a liver disorder is one of the smelly urine causes. People diagnosed with a liver disease excrete a musty smelling urine. Another medical condition that is known to cause smelly urine is phenylketonuria (a rare inherited fault of metabolism).

Smelly Urine and Diabetes
Health problems too can lead to foul smell in urine. More specifically, people suffering from diabetes excrete urine that has an abnormal smell. This is because diabetics, as well all know, have high blood sugar levels. This excess sugar often gets passed down to the urine, giving it a characteristic sweet smell. Smelly urine is often regarded as a symptom of diabetes.

Smelly Urine and Asparagus
Including certain foodstuffs in the diet can also cause smelly urine. Although asparagus is rich in nutrients and a healthy choice, including this vegetable in the diet can result into foul smelling urine. Asparagus passes in the urine through the kidneys, that gives a distinctive odor to the urine. Doctors often prescribe dietary vitamin supplements for various medical conditions. However, these medications can actually bring about a change in the urine odor.

Smelly Urine During Pregnancy
Many a times, it is observed that pregnant women suffer from "smelly urine", the main reason being urinary tract infections. Pregnancy is one of the primary factors responsible for causing UTI in women. No wonder when pregnant women pee, their urine smells bad.

Smelly Urine Treatment
Determining the cause behind unusual odor in urine is necessary to get rid of abnormal smell. Urinary tract infections, being the common cause, one will have to take prescribed medications to eliminate the condition. Drinking plenty of water (8 - 10 glasses) daily will also help to clear off foul smell associated with urine.

To know more about smelly urine causes, read:

• Urine Color and What it Means
• Ammonia Smelling Urine in Women
• Dark Yellow Urine Causes

Smelly urine causes need to diagnosed as early as possible to know whether the person is suffering from any disease. In most cases, foul smell in urine lasts for a short period and is not a cause of worry.