Why does my pee smell?

Author: Kathryn Wilkinson Sr.  |  Last update: Saturday, September 6, 2025

Strong-smelling urine could happen when you have had foods like asparagus, garlic, and onions or have conditions like a UTI, liver diseases, or kidney stones. Why does my urine smell bad? Your urine might smell bad if you're dehydrated or eat foods that can cause it to have a bad odor.

What can smelly urine indicate?

Foul-smelling urine may be due to bacteria. Sweet-smelling urine may be a sign of uncontrolled diabetes or a rare disease of metabolism. Liver disease and certain metabolic disorders may cause musty-smelling urine.

How can I get my pee to stop smelling?

Things you can do if you have smelly pee
  1. do not drink a lot of sugary fizzy drinks, coffee or alcohol.
  2. do not eat a lot of garlic or asparagus – they contain strong-smelling chemicals that can pass into your pee.
  3. do not take more than 10mg of vitamin B6 a day.

Why is my pee so yellow and smelly?

Sometimes these changes are temporary and harmless. They may be the result of eating certain foods or taking some medicines or vitamins. For example, asparagus or beets can harmlessly change the odor and color of urine. Other times, a serious medical condition can cause changes in urine.

What does STD urine smell like?

That can give your urine a yeasty or fungus-like funk, but it should dissipate once you run through your antibiotic course. There are some sexually transmitted infections that are known to cause malodorous urine, Dr. Movassaghi says. These include trichomoniasis, chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Why does my pee smell? Experts explain

What does chlamydia pee look like?

Chlamydia infections may cause your urine to look cloudy. It can also lead to painful urination, or make you feel like you need to pee more often.

What does diabetes pee smell like?

A person with uncontrolled diabetes may have high blood glucose levels. The body tries to get rid of the extra glucose through urine, which can cause it to have a sweet smell, similar to honey. People with sweet-smelling urine due to diabetes may notice other symptoms, including: exhaustion.

What does dehydration pee smell like?

When you're healthy and hydrated, your urine usually has a mild or unnoticeable odor. If you are dehydrated, your urine may smell like ammonia.

What color is diabetic pee?

If you urinate often, and your pee is very light-colored or even clear, it could be a sign of diabetes.

Why do I smell like pee even after I wipe?

There are quite a few reasons why your pants might smell like urine (ammonia), such as: Bacterial Vaginosis. Urinary Tract Infection. Menopause.

What drink is good for smelly urine?

Stick to drinking six to eight glasses of water a day or by having a glass of fruit juice that is noncitrus to dilute the odor. Cranberry juice is a great juice to reduce the acidity in your urine. If you cannot drink that much, ask your doctor if you can try taking deodorizing tablets or supplements.

Does cranberry juice help your pee smell better?

There may be a reduction in urinary odour after the administration of cranberry juice [6–8].

What smell is urine when your kidneys are failing?

But it also has waste in it that comes from the kidneys. What is in the waste and how much there is causes urine odor. Urine with a lot of water and little waste has little to no odor. If urine has a lot of waste with little water, also called concentrated, it might have a strong odor from a gas called ammonia.

Why do I have a strong urine smell down there?

Sometimes, after using the restroom, small amounts of urine can remain on the outside of the vagina, causing it to take on the smell of urine. Some infections, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), can also cause the vagina to smell odd or unpleasant.

What are 10 warning signs of diabetes?

If you have any of the following diabetes symptoms, see your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested:
  • Urinate (pee) a lot, often at night.
  • Are very thirsty.
  • Lose weight without trying.
  • Are very hungry.
  • Have blurry vision.
  • Have numb or tingling hands or feet.
  • Feel very tired.
  • Have very dry skin.

How many times a day should you pee?

This also applies to normal urinary frequency. For most people, the normal number of times to urinate per day is between 6 – 7 in a 24 hour period. Between 4 and 10 times a day can also be normal if that person is healthy and happy with the number of times they visit the toilet.

Why does my pee suddenly smell so bad?

Strong-smelling urine could happen when you have had foods like asparagus, garlic, and onions or have conditions like a UTI, liver diseases, or kidney stones. Why does my urine smell bad? Your urine might smell bad if you're dehydrated or eat foods that can cause it to have a bad odor.

What does estrogen smell like?

Estrogen doesn't have a scent, but hormonal changes during menopause can alter body odor.

What does chlamydia urine smell like?

Chlamydia discharge may not always have a noticeable odor. Sometimes, chlamydia doesn't cause any symptoms, so you might not notice any changes in discharge at all. However, when unusual discharge does happen, it might have a mild to unpleasant smell, which could be described as foul, musty, or even fishy.

What is a diabetic belly?

But that doesn't mean abdominal weight gain should be ignored. It can be an early sign of so-called "diabetic belly," a build-up of visceral fat in your abdomen which may be a symptom of type 2 diabetes and can increase your chances of developing other serious medical conditions.

Does smelly pee mean liver failure?

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.

Why do I smell bad even with good hygiene?

Still, it's possible that things like diet, medical conditions or a bacterial buildup on the skin could be causing odor, Kopelman says. Hyperhidrosis, the medical term for excessive sweating, could also contribute, because bacteria thrives in moist environments.

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