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What Causes Foul Smelling Urine?
Question: What can cause your urine to smell bad? My husband and I both have this problem.
Brief Answer:
Urine foul smell.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM with your medical concerns.
I am sorry to hear that you are having a foul smell to your urine. It is also interesting is that both you and your husband both have the same smell. This makes me wonder if both of you have been drinking enough fluids or taking vitamin supplements. The smell of urine is frequently influenced by the concentration of the urine. By increasing your fluids you may reduce the concentration and reduce the odor. you should be drinking enough water to make your urine clear in color. The more yellow the urine the more concentrated it is.
Also vitamins can be eliminated in the urine. If you are taking vitamin supplements I recommend you stop taking the supplements and observe for any change in the urine.
Urine odor can also change from certain bacterial infections. If your urine burns or is painful then you may have a urinary tract infection and would need additional antibiotics to cure the infection.
In conclusion I recommend the following
1. increase fluids until urine clear in color
2. stop vitamin supplements
3. seek medical attention if it is a urinary tract infection
Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your medical questions and concerns
Urine foul smell.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM with your medical concerns.
I am sorry to hear that you are having a foul smell to your urine. It is also interesting is that both you and your husband both have the same smell. This makes me wonder if both of you have been drinking enough fluids or taking vitamin supplements. The smell of urine is frequently influenced by the concentration of the urine. By increasing your fluids you may reduce the concentration and reduce the odor. you should be drinking enough water to make your urine clear in color. The more yellow the urine the more concentrated it is.
Also vitamins can be eliminated in the urine. If you are taking vitamin supplements I recommend you stop taking the supplements and observe for any change in the urine.
Urine odor can also change from certain bacterial infections. If your urine burns or is painful then you may have a urinary tract infection and would need additional antibiotics to cure the infection.
In conclusion I recommend the following
1. increase fluids until urine clear in color
2. stop vitamin supplements
3. seek medical attention if it is a urinary tract infection
Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your medical questions and concerns
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
What kind of supplements/vitamins can cause this to happen? We do take a lot of vitamin c and a one a day multi vitamin. Sometimes we also include vitamin b 12 in Gummie form. We do stay hydrated as much as possible. I frequently get UTI but have not had one in ages. Granted we both are diabetics, does this have any bearing
Thank you so very much for your time and advise.
Thank you so very much for your time and advise.
Brief Answer:
Any vitamins
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for returning to HCM with your questions.
The short answer to which vitamins can make urine smell is that any of the vitamins. Most commonly it is the B vitamins like B 12 and folate. This is because vitamin supplements are excreted by the urine and when people take large amounts then the body can't use it and excretes it. This is not a bad thing it is just something you should be aware of. I do recommend taking a multivitamin daily but taking extra really does not help.
The UTI issue is partially related to both of you being diabetics. One of the signs of diabetes is frequent urination. I counsel my female patients who have recurrent UTIs is to be sure to wipe from front to back. Because wiping from back to front brings bacteria from the rectum into the urethra and causes UTIs. Also be sure to urinate after sex as the physical aspect of intercourse can introduce bacteria into the urethra. Urinating after sex can then clean out the urethra and prevent UTIs.
Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your medical concerns and questions
Any vitamins
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for returning to HCM with your questions.
The short answer to which vitamins can make urine smell is that any of the vitamins. Most commonly it is the B vitamins like B 12 and folate. This is because vitamin supplements are excreted by the urine and when people take large amounts then the body can't use it and excretes it. This is not a bad thing it is just something you should be aware of. I do recommend taking a multivitamin daily but taking extra really does not help.
The UTI issue is partially related to both of you being diabetics. One of the signs of diabetes is frequent urination. I counsel my female patients who have recurrent UTIs is to be sure to wipe from front to back. Because wiping from back to front brings bacteria from the rectum into the urethra and causes UTIs. Also be sure to urinate after sex as the physical aspect of intercourse can introduce bacteria into the urethra. Urinating after sex can then clean out the urethra and prevent UTIs.
Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your medical concerns and questions
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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