Why does my pee smell like a UTI but it's not?

One of the most common reasons for strong-smelling pee is dehydration. Everyone's urine has ammonia in it. The more hydrated you are, the less concentrated the ammonia is. But when you're dehydrated, the ammonia concentration is stronger — and so is the smell.

healthline.com - Foul-Smelling Urine but No Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

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Here, we’ll explore why your urine’s smell can change without accompanying pain.

However, if your urine has a sweet smell — or a foul, fishy, or musty smell — it might be a sign of infection or another health issue. It could also just be the result of something you ate or not drinking enough water. Urine isn’t exactly a sweet-smelling substance in the first place. The liquid waste often has a distinct odor. Some people describe it as ammonia-like . Urine is a waste product, so it can take on all sorts of smells based on what you’re eating, any medications you’re taking, what you’re drinking, and even what you’re doing. While the foul smell may be alarming to your nostrils, it’s rarely a cause for concern. Consider these possible factors the next time you think your pee has a certain smell.

Diet

If you’re in the 40 percent of people who can smell a distinct odor in your pee after eating asparagus, you likely know how food can impact urine. But the spindly stalks aren’t the only food responsible for stinky pee. Garlic and onions have sulfur-containing chemicals, and as they break down, they can taint your pee. Brussels sprouts, fish like salmon, and certain spices can change your urine’s scent, too. If you suspect foods are responsible for the odor, try cutting them out of your diet for a few days to see if the smell goes away. You don’t have to avoid these foods forever. Just know that they may add a certain smell to your pee if you choose to eat them.

Dehydration

Urine is a combination of water and chemicals that leaves your body.

If you are dehydrated, the ratio of water to chemicals in the concentrated urine will be smaller. That gives those chemicals a stronger chance of producing an odor. Water dilutes the smell and chemicals naturally.

Other symptoms of dehydration include:

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dark urine

dry mouth

feeling tired

headache

dry skin

increased thirst

Urinary tract infection

Changes in the smell of your urine may be the first sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Soon after, you may begin to experience pain when you urinate. The smell is caused by bacteria in your urine. The bacteria can grow and spread into other parts of your urinary tract, like your bladder or kidneys. UTIs are more common in people with vulvas because the urethra is short. That increases the odds of bacteria finding their way into the urinary tract and causing an infection.

Sexually transmitted infection

Several sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including chlamydia and trichomoniasis, can cause vaginal discharge. This atypical discharge may change the smell of your pee as it’s passing out of the urethra. Other symptoms, like painful urination and soreness, may develop after the foul-smelling pee appears.

Medications and vitamins

Certain medicines, vitamins, and supplements may alter the smell of urine. Some drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, infections, and diabetes are known to impact the waste’s smell, too. B vitamins, like thiamine and choline, may impact the balance of chemicals in your urine. These extra chemicals and vitamins can change your urine’s smell.

Bacterial vaginosis

A person’s vagina naturally contains different kinds of bacteria. Your body works to maintain balance between different bacteria, preventing specific types from growing out of control. This balance is sometimes altered, resulting in bacterial vaginosis.

One symptom of this condition is fishy-smelling discharge, along with:

gray or white discharge

a burning sensation when peeing

itching or pain in the vulva

Ovulation

Ovulation occurs when an egg is released for fertilization during a menstrual cycle. The hormones estrogen and progesterone are responsible for stimulating that egg release. Those hormones may also be responsible for making your sense of smell stronger. Ovulation itself does not change the smell of urine. But a person’s sense of smell may be heightened at this point in the cycle, and that might make you more aware of the urine’s scent.

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Pregnancy

As with ovulation, hormonal changes may make your nose more sensitive to smells if you’re pregnant. That means everything from your urine to the dinner you’re making may smell stronger to you. Prenatal vitamins also contain some vitamins that may change the smell of urine.

Diabetes and diabetes medications

Specific diabetes medications can impact the smell of your pee. These include sulfonylurea drugs like glyburide, which is sold under the brand names Diabeta and Glynase PresTab. Unmanaged or improperly managed diabetes can affect your urine’s odor, too. If there is too much sugar in your urine, you may notice a smell when you empty your bladder. This smell may seem sweet — that’s the excess sugar in your urine.

Other symptoms of improperly managed diabetes include:

being thirsty often

feeling tired

peeing frequently

Liver or kidney problems

The body’s waste control system runs through your liver and kidneys. If these organs are not functioning properly, they may not be able to filter out waste well. This can lead to a change in the appearance, consistency, and odor of urine.

Trimethylaminuria

This rare metabolic disorder prevents the body from breaking down certain compounds. Specifically, the body cannot process trimethylamine, which is a compound found in meat, fish, and seafood. Instead, your body releases the compound straight into your urine. That can make the urine smell fishy or foul, and it can even cause a strong body odor.

healthline.com - Foul-Smelling Urine but No Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

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