What makes urine smell like ammonia

This rare, life-threatening metabolic disorder prevents the body from breaking down specific amino acids found in food. The underlying message here? Check in with your doctor. In most cases, that funk should disappear within a day or so. Does your urine ever smell a little… well, stinky?

Learn more from a urologist. Learn more about vaccine availability. Advertising Policy. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Related Articles. Surprising Facts About Your Nose. The Benefits of Cinnamon. Trending Topics. What Parents Need to Know. Things that can often make your pee smell stronger include: certain types of food and drink, like asparagus or coffee not drinking enough fluids some medicines vitamin B6 supplements Things you can do yourself Try these things to help keep your pee clear and smelling mild.

Do drink plenty of fluids, particularly water, so that you pee regularly during the day and do not feel thirsty drink more in hot weather and when exercising. Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:. Urgent advice: Call or ask for an urgent GP appointment if:. Some possible causes of smelly pee and their common symptoms Symptoms Possible cause Feeling very thirsty and tired, peeing more than usual, sweet-smelling pee type 2 diabetes Pain in the side of your tummy abdomen or groin, severe pain that comes and goes, feeling sick or being sick, blood in pee kidney stones Yellow skin and eyes jaundice , tummy pain, feeling sick or being sick liver failure.

There could be various reasons why the urine smells unpleasant and more intense. Below are some examples of what could cause a strong smell in urine. Food and medication can affect the smell in urine The smell in urine is strongly linked to what we eat. Spicy food can make urine smell stronger, while asparagus, coffee and garlic, for example, give it a more distinctive odour. Medicines like penicillin can also affect the way urine smells. However, this is all completely harmless. The smell in the urine disappears when the food or medicine in question leaves the body.

If urine is dark in colour with a strong smell, this can indicate dehydration. Highly concentrated urine, caused by low fluid intake, is often strong-smelling.

When urine is too concentrated, it also irritates the bladder lining. This can cause urge symptoms, which are characterized by a frequent need to go to the toilet. Conditions that can lead to dehydration include fever, kidney disease, diarrhoea or vomiting.

Anyone can become dehydrated, but some people are at more risk, e. Always make sure you, or those you care for, get enough fluids. Strong smelling urine that is dark and cloudy can be confused with symptoms of a urinary tract infection or so-called Asymptomatic Bacteriuria see below. Bacteria in urine Scientists have recently found that the urinary tract has its own microflora.

This means that most people have small amounts of bacteria in their urine. Research is ongoing to find out the composition of this flora, whether it is stable or not and whether it can help prevent infections caused by other unwanted bacteria.