Why Does My Urine Smell Fishy?

How do you get rid of the fishy smell when I pee?

What you can do – You can avoid foods known to cause fishy-smelling urine, but this can be difficult to do. Instead, make sure you drink plenty of water — especially when drinking caffeine — to help dilute the scent and stay hydrated. A UTI can cause bacteria from the infection to contaminate the urine, resulting in a distinct fishy smell.

urine that is cloudy or bloodypain or burning during urinationfeeling the need to urinate urgently or frequentlylower abdominal or back painmild fever

What does fishy-smelling urine indicate?

Asparagus might be the most common reason for stinky pee. The harmless odor is caused by a breakdown of asparagusic acid. Your genes affect whether you can smell these sulfur byproducts. If you can’t, that’s called asparagus anosmia. Your pee may also have a strong smell after you drink coffee, or eat fish, onions, or garlic. Fluids help water down, or dilute, your pee. While there’s always waste in your urine, like ammonia, the smell is stronger if you’re dehydrated. That doesn’t mean you’re unhealthy. But a lack of fluids does raise your chances of getting kidney stones and urinary tract infections. That’s why it’s important to drink water when you’re thirsty. Fruits and vegetables can help hydrate you, too. You may go to the bathroom a lot if you have a UTI. While you’re in there, you might get a whiff of something that doesn’t smell good. That’s because bacteria can build up in your urine and make it stink. Talk to your doctor if it hurts to pee and you have a fever. You may need to take antibiotics to get better. These make your pee smell for a few reasons. They can stop or slow urine flow, leading to a buildup of salt and ammonia. They can also make infections more likely. Some stones are made from cystine, a substance with sulfur in it. If cystine is in your urine, it may smell like rotten eggs. Your pee or breath may smell fruity if you don’t treat high blood sugar. The sweet smell is from ketonuria, or a buildup of ketones. Those are chemicals your body makes when you burn fat, instead of glucose, for energy. Tell your doctor right away if you vomit, have trouble breathing, or feel confused. People born with this condition can’t break down certain amino acids. When these amino acids build up, their pee or earwax starts to smell sweet. If your baby has the disease, you may notice this syrupy odor a day or two after they’re born. They’ll need to follow a special diet. Your doctor can help you figure out ways to manage your child’s condition. Some STIs can lead to a smelly discharge in males and females. You may notice the smell as the fluid mixes with your pee. You may not have other symptoms. Or your genitals may itch, and it might burn when you pee. Bacterial infections like chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics. You’ll need another kind of medicine for viral infections. Your body gets rid of nutrients you don’t need through peeing. Extra vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) can give it a strong odor. Too much vitamin B1 (thiamine) can make your pee smell like fish. B vitamins can also make your pee look a bright greenish-yellow. Talk to a doctor about what vitamin doses are right for you. Sulfa drugs can give your pee a bit of stench. That includes sulfonamide antibiotics. They’re commonly used to treat UTIs and other infections. Medicines for diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis also can affect the way your pee smells. If the stinky scent bothers you, tell your doctor about it. They might want to make sure nothing else is causing the odor. Morning sickness may leave you dehydrated. And prenatal vitamins might change the way your pee smells. Pregnancy also raises your chances of urinary tract infections and ketonuria. You could just be super sensitive to scents. That’s called hyperosmia. Experts think hormones may change your perception of smells. Liver disease can make your pee and breath smell musty. The odor is caused by the buildup and release of toxins in your urine. If you have kidney failure, you may smell a lot of ammonia when you go to the bathroom. Let your vagina clean itself. Washing inside of it could upset the balance of good and bad bacteria. That can lead to infections and discharge, which can smell bad when you pee. Health issues linked to douching include yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. A fistula is an extra opening that forms between two organs. If you get one between your bladder and bowels, poop or gas may come out when you pee. You might get this kind of fistula if you have cancer or an inflammatory condition, like Crohn’s disease or diverticulitis. If you’re female, it may happen after you give birth or have a certain kind of operation. Surgery can fix fistulas. Some babies are born with a condition called tyrosinemia type 1. It means they don’t have the right enzyme to break down the amino acid tyrosine. Too much of this compound can give body fluids, like urine, a rotten odor. It may smell like cabbage. Tyrosinemia is treated with medicine and a low-tyrosine diet. Also called trimethylaminuria, this genetic condition can give your pee a fishy smell. It happens when your body can’t break down trimethylamine. You end up getting rid of the compound through your pee, sweat, breath, and other fluids. It doesn’t mean you’re unhealthy. But your doctor can help you manage the smell. They may give you antibiotics, special soap, or suggest eating certain foods. Your urine might smell funky if it hangs out in your bladder for a while. That may also raise your chances of getting a UTI. This may happen more often in children who don’t pee when they feel the urge. That’s why it’s always a good idea to remind kids to take bathroom breaks.

What causes fishy smell in woman?

Abnormal vaginal odors – An imbalance in your vaginal bacterial levels can lead to infection and inflammation, a condition called vaginitis, The most common types of vaginitis that cause unpleasant vaginal odors produce other symptoms, too, like an abnormal vaginal discharge. The most common causes of unpleasant vaginal odor are:

Bacterial vaginosis (BV): An infection that’s caused by an imbalance in your vagina’s flora. BV is responsible for the fishy smell most commonly associated with unpleasant vaginal odors. The fishy smell may be especially strong after sex. Another common symptom to look out for with BV is a gray or grayish-white discharge. Trichomoniasis : A sexually transmitted infection caused by a parasite. Trich doesn’t always cause symptoms. When it does, it can cause a fishy odor, similar to BV, or a musty smell. Another common symptom of Trich is a greenish-yellow discharge.

Rarely, vaginal odor is a symptom of:

Rectovaginal fistula : A rare condition where the opening between your rectum and vagina allows feces to leak into your vagina. The leakage causes a foul-smelling discharge. Vaginal cancer : Symptoms include heavy vaginal discharge with a strong odor. Cervical cancer : Symptoms can include a strong, bad-smelling discharge.

If you forget to remove a tampon, you may eventually notice an odor like rotten meat. The smell goes away once you or a healthcare provider removes the tampon.

What does UTI pee smell like?

Pee that smells like ammonia – If you detect a hint of ammonia in your urine, it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI). The odor suggests that bacteria may be swimming around in your urinary system, most likely in your urethra, kidneys or bladder.

1. Urine showing signs of a UTI also may be cloudy or even a bit bloody.
2. Peeing may also become painful — a symptom made even worse by the fact that you may feel the need to urinate more often.
3. A fever and mental confusion are other tell-tale accompanying signs.
4. If you have multiple symptoms, schedule a visit with a healthcare provider.

UTIs are pretty common, sending approximately 10 million Americans to the doctor every year for antibiotic treatment, says Dr. Bajic. Women and people assigned female at birth and older adults are more prone to getting the infection, Other potential causes of urine that carry the whiff of ammonia include:

Kidney stones or kidney disease, Liver disease, Menopause, Prostate infection,Sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, (The symptoms here are similar to a UTI, with one noticeable difference: The addition of a pus discharge.)

An ammonia-like odor can also be linked to dehydration and certain foods and vitamins, as mentioned previously. So, if the smell pops up and disappears quickly, there’s little reason for concern. If it lingers, though, get checked by a medical professional.

Does fishy odor go away by itself?

Can bacterial vaginosis go away on its own? – Although BV can sometimes go away on its own, it’s best to seek treatment to prevent the risk of more serious health issues like PID and fertility problems. Remember that infections like BV can often be asymptomatic, so you might still have BV even if you don’t have fishy-smelling discharge anymore.

Should I be worried if my pee smells like fish?

A fishy smell in pee can result from dietary factors, an infection, and other health issues. It can also be a sign of trimethylaminuria (“fish odor syndrome”) which often has a genetic cause. If fishy-smelling urine is the only symptom, a person may want to wait for a couple of days to see if it clears up. Share on Pinterest Vitamins and supplements can cause a fishy smell in urine, but this is not a cause for concern. A fishy smell is uncommon in urine. Many of the causes are not serious, but it can sometimes indicate a severe condition, such as damage to the kidneys or liver.

• In many cases, the culprit responsible for the smell of fish is a chemical called trimethylamine oxide.
• When a fish dies and bacteria begin to decompose the tissue, this chemical is released and converted to trimethylamine (TMA), which causes the fishy odor.
• A fishy smell in urine may be caused by the presence of bacteria, TMA, or an interaction between them.

According to a study from 2013, most healthy people produce chemicals that break down TMA, which stops them from smelling like fish, even when they have eaten fish recently or have a lot of bacteria in their systems. If a person suspects that any of the following causes are responsible for the fishy smell, it is usually safe to wait a few days and see if the smell clears up without treatment.

1. Pregnancy Pregnancy can make the urine more concentrated.
2. This can lead to a stronger smell, and it may make a fishy smell more noticeable.
3. See a doctor if the smell does not disappear in a day or two.
4. Dehydration during pregnancy can make the urine look darker or smell worse.
5. A person who is pregnant and noticing these symptoms should ensure that they are drinking enough water.

Vitamins and supplements Some of these can make the urine smell fishy, especially supplements of calcium, vitamin B6, and vitamin D, The odor may be more noticeable when a person is dehydrated. If an individual stops taking these supplements and their urine still smells fishy, they should contact a doctor.

Diet Certain foods, including asparagus and fish, can make the urine smell. If foods are responsible, the smell should go away after a few hours. Fishy-smelling urine may be the first indication of a mild or severe health problem. Some people may have no other symptoms or several. In either case, a person should contact a doctor if they cannot identify the cause of a fishy odor.

The following causes often require medical attention: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) A UTI occurs when too much harmful bacteria grow in the urinary tract. This can make the urine smell. In some people, a UTI causes no symptoms. When symptoms are present, they often include:

pain when urinatingan intense need to urinatefrequently needing to urinate, even immediately after using the bathroomblood in the urine

Most UTIs can be treated with antibiotics, If left untreated, a UTI may spread to the kidneys. Anyone who suspects that they have a UTI should see a doctor. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) This bacterial infection in the vagina causes fishy, foul-smelling discharge.

burning in or around the vaginapain during sexual intercoursegray or frothy vaginal discharge

BV is common in sexually active women. Some sexually transmitted infections may also cause an unusual odor, and it is important to see a doctor for testing. Fish odor syndrome Trimethylaminuria, better known as fish odor syndrome, is a rare disorder that causes a person’s bodily emissions to smell like fish.

1. The odor can arise from the saliva, sweat, or urine.
2. A person develops this condition when they are not able to break down TMA.
3. In many cases, the disorder is passed genetically and causes no other symptoms.
4. Less often, a person who has a diet very high in TMA and unusual bacteria in the gut can develop the syndrome.

A person emitting a fishy odor that persists, in spite of good hygiene, should see a doctor. Dietary changes, antibiotics, and nutritional supplements may help. Kidney problems The kidneys filter the urine, which helps to remove toxins from the body. When the urine smells, it may indicate that the kidneys are not functioning correctly, often due to infections or kidney stones,

difficulty urinating, or painful urinationa UTI that gets worsepain in the lower backa high fever blood in the urine

Kidney infections may require hospitalization, though some can be managed at home with antibiotics. Anyone with symptoms of a kidney infection should see a doctor right away. Kidney stones are mineral deposits that collect in the kidneys. They can be as small as a grain of rice or grow to resemble pebbles and small rocks.

Passing a kidney stone can be painful. Sometimes they become stuck. A person who is first experiencing symptoms, or who notices bleeding when trying to pass a kidney stone, should see a doctor. Drinking plenty of water can help the stone to pass more quickly. Prostatitis Prostatitis describes swelling and inflammation of the prostate, and it is often the result of an infection.

People with prostatitis may notice changes in urination, including a fishy smell. Symptoms of prostatitis are similar to those of a UTI. People with prostatitis may also experience:

pain in the anus, perineum, or scrotumlower back pain chills and body achesa weak urine stream

Treatment depends on the cause of the inflammation. A doctor may prescribe medication, such as antibiotics and pain relievers, or they may recommend surgery. Warm sitz baths can help with managing the pain at home. Liver failure Like the kidneys, the liver helps the body to filter out toxins.

unexplained nausea or vomitingloss of appetiteyellow skin, nails, or eyesitchingretaining fluidswollen anklesexhaustion diarrhea

Some people are more susceptible to liver failure than others. Anyone with one or more of the following conditions should contact a doctor immediately if they suspect that their liver is failing:

hepatitis fatty liver diseaseany autoimmune disease cirrhosis bile duct diseasemetabolic disorders

Treatment will depend on the extent of the liver failure, but it may include medication, hospitalization, or a liver transplant. Fishy-smelling urine is not often a medical emergency. However, people who experience pain, a fever, or signs of kidney or liver problems should call a doctor or visit the emergency room.

When no other symptoms are present, the smell may disappear without treatment in a few days. If this does not happen, a person should consult a doctor. It is easy to overlook urine as an indicator of health, but it can provide important information about how well the body is functioning. While fishy-smelling urine may be alarming, the causes are usually minor.

A doctor can provide a diagnosis and recommend the quickest path to recovery. A fishy smell in the urine will often go away without treatment in a few days. If the smell does not improve, seek medical attention. Serious conditions can occasionally be responsible for this odor, and prompt treatment can be vital.

Should I be worried about smelly urine?

See a GP if: You have smelly pee and: you need to pee suddenly, more often than usual, or during the night. you have pain or a burning sensation when peeing.

Why does my urine smell foul but no infection?

Urine normally has a slight smell, but some unusual and strong smells may also be noticed. Odd smells along with feeling sick, pain, or bloody urine are a sign you should see your doctor. Urine is mostly waste products and water and normally has a mild smell and a light yellow color.

If you have more waste than water in your urine, it can smell more strongly. In most cases, a strong smell isn’t a sign of disease. It’s usually from your diet and medications, or it means you need to drink more water. Certain urine smells can be a sign of some conditions, but your doctor might not consider that to be the case unless you have other symptoms.

Your food, vitamins, and medications are the most common cause of a bad urine smell, Foods. Some foods have compounds that naturally have a strong odor and can make your urine smell. These include:

Asparagus Coffee Dried fruitHoney Alcohol FennelBrussel sproutsGarlic Onion

Vitamins. B vitamins are water soluble, which means your body doesn’t store them, and whatever you don’t need is removed in your urine. B vitamins in your multivitamin are often the culprit of smelly urine. Medications. Some medicines like antibiotics can make your urine stink.

Some antibiotics are made from mold and can make your urine smell yeasty. Drinking lots of water throughout the day can help with these smells and keep your urine clear. One warning sign of diabetes or high blood sugar is urine that smells sweet or fruity. The sweetness comes from sugar in your urine and is a sign your body is trying to get rid of extra sugar in your blood.

Some people say their pee smells like Cheerios, which might be a sweet smell that you should tell your doctor about. Fruity-smelling urine can be a sign of other diseases and complications. Diabetic ketoacidosis, Ketoacidosis is a dangerous complication of diabetes that happens when ketones build up in your blood.

It causes symptoms like fruity breath, sweet-smelling urine, excessive thirst, and tiredness. Maple syrup urine disease. This rare, life-threatening genetic condition prevents the body from breaking down some amino acids. It affects babies and children. When these build up in your blood, a compound called a branched-chain alpha-keto acid shows up in your urine and makes it, along with your earwax, smell like maple syrup.

The disease can cause other serious symptoms like seizures, sleepiness, irritability, and poor feeding. Foods that convert to sulfur compounds in your body can make your urine smell rotten. This smell is commonly compared to rotten cabbage or rotten eggs and can come from eating asparagus, garlic, and onions.

There are rare conditions that create a rotten smell, too. Trimethylaminuria. In this condition, your body can’t break down a compound called trimethylamine, This chemical on its own smells like rotten eggs, rotting fish, or garbage. As trimethylamine collects in your body, your sweat, breath, and urine will smell rotten or fishy.

Tyrosinemia. There are 3 types of tyrosinemia, which cause problems breaking down the amino acid tyrosine, Byproducts build up and cause breath, sweat, and urine to smell like boiled cabbage. Strong, ammonia-like urine is a sign that you’re a little dehydrated,

Burning when you urinate Needing to urinate a lotBloody urine Cloudy urine Pelvis pain

Liver disease. A problem with your liver can make your skin and eyes yellow and your urine dark and smelly. It can also cause stomach pain, throwing up, and feeling sick. Kidney stones, Crystals made of waste products and minerals can build up in your kidneys and form hard stones, which can cause strong-smelling urine.

1. You might also feel sick, have pain that comes and goes, and have bloody urine.
2. In most cases, a strong urine smell is caused by your food or is a sign that you need more fluids,
3. If your urine smells sweet, you feel unwell, or you have other symptoms along with foul-smelling urine, though, talk to your doctor.

Treatment for an unusual urine smell depends on the cause.

Why do I smell fishy but I don’t have an STD?

Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common causes of a smelly vagina, affecting 15% to 50% of women of reproductive age. ‘It’s a condition where there’s an imbalance in the vaginal flora,’ Dr Rosén explains. ‘The first symptom is often a fishy smell, which can progress to a frothy, grey or green-ish discharge.

Is a fishy smell ever normal?

Vaginal odor is any odor that comes from the vagina. The vagina usually has only a mild odor or sometimes no odor at all. A “fishy” smell or other strong vaginal odor might mean there’s a problem. Conditions that cause a strong vaginal odor might also cause other vaginal symptoms such as itching, burning, irritation or discharge.

What does unhealthy urine smell like?

Is smelly urine anything to worry about? – Food, drink, and our body’s metabolism can affect the composition of our urine as well as its odor. One of the most common causes of an abnormal urine odor is asparagus. After eating asparagus, many people report having a sulfur-like odor to their urine.

The cause of this is unknown but may be related to the presence of VOC’s, including dimethyl sulfoxide, methanethiol, or carbon disulfide, which are present in the urine of people who eat asparagus. Interestingly, some individuals are unable to smell the pungent urine odor associated with asparagus consumption.

Urinary odors can be associated with certain medical conditions, so if odor persists or occurs on a regular basis it is important to see a doctor for further evaluation. Urinary tract infections involve the presence of mucus, bacteria, and white blood cells in urine.

Many of the bacterial species that cause urinary tract infections can also break down urea, a natural waste product that is commonly excreted in urine. These bacteria cause urea to break down into ammonia, which imparts a strong, pungent odor to affected patients’ urine. Another cause of an abnormal urine smell is diabetes, which may be associated with sweet-smelling urine due to the presence of excess glucose or sugar in the urine.

Some genetic conditions are also associated with an abnormal urine smell. In maple syrup urine disease, affected patients’ urine typically smells sweet. Patients with kidney disease or dehydration may have concentrated urine that contains an abnormally high level of waste products and smells like ammonia.

Does smelly urine mean kidney problems?

Kidney disease – Kidney disease causes chemicals in urine to become concentrated and to cause a smell resembling ammonia. Kidney dysfunction can also cause high bacteria and protein levels in the urine, which will contribute to a foul ammonia smell.

Why do I smell when I open my legs?

What Causes Strong Body Odor? – Sweat itself doesn’t have a smell. Body odor comes from the bacteria that live on sweaty parts of your body, like your armpits. When you sweat, these bacteria break down certain proteins in your sweat into acids, causing an odor.

1. Whether your sweat causes body odor depends on the glands releasing it.
2. You’re more likely to have body odor when your sweat comes from apocrine glands, which release sweat from hair follicles found in the armpits, groin, and pubic area.
3. Sweat from these glands, produced when you’re hot or stressed, contain fats and other compounds that smell when broken down by bacteria.

Eccrine glands, on the other hand, are found all over your skin and squeeze out sweat through a duct to regulate your body temperature. This sweat lacks the fats and other compounds that can smell when broken down by bacteria. Additional external factors can also contribute to how you smell.

How can a woman get rid of fishy odor in VAG naturally?

4. White Vinegar and Sea Salt – While apple cider vinegar seems to get all the glory when it comes to home remedies, let’s not forget white vinegar, White vinegar can help neutralize odors by breaking down odor proteins, and a white vinegar bath may help eliminate vaginal odor and help restore pH levels in the vagina.

What’s the best thing to get rid of fishy smell?

Seafood is by far the worst offender. This one-two punch is best: After cooking, leave a bowl of white vinegar on your countertop overnight (to absorb stubborn odors). In the a.m., simmer cinnamon sticks, lemon peels and ground ginger in water on the stove (at least 15 minutes) to take care of any lingering stench.