Cloudy Urine

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Published: October 8, 2014
Last reviewed: December 31, 2022

What does cloudy urine mean?

Cloudy urine means opaque urine. Cloudy urine can be white (hazy, foggy, smoky, murky, milky) or dark (yellow, orange, brown or red) and can be caused by physical stress or various foods, supplements, drugs or diseases.

Cloudy urine may indicate the presence of protein, fat, phosphate or urate crystals, bilirubin, mucus, epithelial cells, pus (white blood cells) or blood (red blood cells) in the urine [2,3].

The medical term for cloudy urine is turbid or nebulous urine [35].

How does normal urine look and smell?

In a well hydrated healthy individual, urine is clear, like water, or slightly yellow. Normal urine can have some odor, which can depend on the food consumed; for example, beer, garlic and coffee can give urine a strong but usually not “foul” odor.

Clear urine at drug test does not mean that the urine has been diluted.

Cloudy and WHITE Urine

HAZY but NOT Foamy Urine

  • Increased phosphate excretion in the urine (phosphaturia) can be caused by [32]:
    • Eating large amounts of milk, cheese, organ meats, fish or fast food
    • Phosphate supplements
    • Hyperparathyroidism
    • Vitamin D intoxication
  • Increased excretion of oxalic acid in the urine (hyperoxaluria) [7,26]:
    • Foods rich in oxalate (chocolate, nuts, spinach, beets, purslane, tea, rhubarb, wheat bran), animal fat or vitamin C
    • Low calcium intake or impaired calcium absorption
    • Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) deficiency
    • Genetic disorders with increased oxalic acid production (primary hyperoxaluria)
    • Intestinal diseases with increased oxalate absorption: Crohn’s disease, chronic pancreatitis, bowel resection, intestinal bypass surgery, cystic fibrosis
  • Increased amount of leukocytes in the urine, with no bacteria (sterile pyuria):
    • Tuberculosis, strep infections, Kawasaki disease (vasculitis in children), kidney toxins, sepsis (infection of the blood) [4]

FOAMY Urine

Semen makes urine frothy.

Cloudy and foamy urine can be caused by increased protein excretion in the urine (proteinuria) [5,6]:

  • Strenuous exercise, fever, emotional stress, exposure to cold or heat, orthostatic proteinuria that occurs when a person is upright (a harmless condition in children and adolescent boys or girls, rarely after 30; morning urine is usually clear, cloudy urine comes and goes)
  • Heart failure with increased blood flow through the kidneys
  • Kidney disease (glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis) with nephrotic syndrome, in which increased amounts of protein and fat appear in the urine (proteinuria and lipiduria) [40]
  • Diseases with increased protein production: rheumatoid arthritis, pericarditis, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, infections (hepatitis, syphilis, HIV/AIDS), multiple myeloma (a type of bone cancer), leukemia, lymphoma (night sweats), severe muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis)
  • Chyluria–very thick, milky and, sometimes, foamy urine due to presence of chyle (a mixture of lymph, chylomicrons, proteins and fats from the intestine) in the urine [27]. Chyluria is extremely rare in Europe; parasitic chyluria occurs mainly in India, Taiwan, China, Japan, western parts of Africa and in Central and South America [11,12]. Causes include [11,12]:
    • A connection (fistula) between lymphatic vessels and the urinary tract, which results in leakage of the lymph into the urine, can occur in parasitic infestations, such as filariasis (groin pain and swelling), schistosomiasis and ascariasis, tuberculosis, malaria, congenital disorders of the lymphatic vessels, cancers in or around the kidneys, kidney trauma, aortic aneurysm, surgical kidney removal
    • Excessive excretion of fats into the urine can occur in nephrotic syndrome, hypertriglyceridemia
  • Heavy metal poisoning
  • Drugs: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen, indomethacin), antibiotics, penicillamine, gold, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.

Other causes of foamy urine:

  • Abnormal connection (fistula) between the bowel and bladder, which can occur in Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or diverticulitis [38]. A connection between the vagina and bladder can develop after gynecological surgery. Fistulas are associated with common urinary tract infections.

Cloudy and COLORED Urine

DARK YELLOW, AMBER or ORANGE Urine

  • Dehydration, usually due to insufficient water drinking, is the most common cause of dark yellow, orange or brown but not foamy urine. Having cloudy and dark urine every morning can speak for chronic dehydration. Cloudy urine only at night and in the morning can speak for mild dehydration.
  • Foods high in beta-carotene: carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash (butternut), pumpkin, sweet peppers, kale, spinach, collards; vitamin C: “juicing” with acerola, guava, peach, black currants, kiwifruit, orange or lemon juice; artificial colors in candies [25]
  • Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) or gallbladder disease with gallstones or pancreatitis that result in impaired bile flow (cholestasis) and yellow, itchy skin (jaundice), upper abdominal pain, upset stomach, dark, foamy urine (due to increased bilirubin content) with a musty odor [28] and very pale stools (due to decreased bilirubin content) [9,13,14]
  • Increased uric acid excretion in the urine (hyperuricosuria) caused by [25,29,30]: :
    • Eating foods high in purines: certain fish (anchovies, cod, haddock, herring, mackerel, mussels, sardines, scallops, tuna), organ meats (brain, heart, kidneys, liver, sweetbreads), goose and duck meat, meat extracts, gravies, mincemeat, beer, whisky, liquers and other alcoholic beverages, legumes (beans, peas), mushrooms, asparagus, spinach, cauliflower.
    • Yeast extract supplements
    • Gout. Allopurinol, the drug that reduces the amount of blood uric acid in gout, can cause cloudy urine [24].
    • Intestinal bypass surgery
    • Chemotherapy
  • Gonorrhea [22]
  • In newborn infants: neonatal jaundice, and breast milk jaundice, a benign disorder that usually spontaneously disappear in several weeks [31]
  • Drugs and supplements: alprazolam [36], beta carotene, chlorpromazine, ethoxazene, methyldopa, phenacetin, senna (laxative), sulfasalazine, tetracycline, vitamin B2 or riboflavin (energy drinks, liver, spirulina, whey, cereals ready-to-eat), which can make urine bright, fluorescent yellow; vitamin C, warfarin [25]

PINK, RED or BROWN Urine

  • Foods causing tea-colored urine: aloe vera, beets, blackberries, fava beans, rhubarb [9,17,18]
  • Blood in urine (hematuria) from any cause [8,19,39]: contamination from menstruation, strenuous exercise (marathon), urinary tract infection, kidney stones, trauma, injury of the testicles, low platelet count, blood clotting abnormalities, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, hemochromatosis (bronze skin, fatigue, impotence), polycystic kidney disease, bacterial endocarditis (fatigue, joint and muscle pain, rash, night sweets), vasculitis, cancer, hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, vitamin C deficiency (scurvy); drugs: aspirin, heparin, penicillin, cyclophosphamide, chemotherapy treatment of lymphoma or leukemia resulting in tumor lysis syndrome
  • Exposure to cold (hypothermia) or heat (heatstroke)
  • Muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis) with myoglobin (a muscle protein) in the urine:
    • After distance running (marathon, triathlon), prolonged immobilization, compression of the limb due to prolonged lying after severe alcohol intoxication, muscle tremor, seizures, severe trauma, burns
    • Medications: antidepressants (tricyclic: amitriptyline, doxepin; SSRIs: citalopram, sertraline), barbiturates, caffeine, ketamine, methadone, propofol infusion, protease inhibitors (to treat AIDS), salicylates, statins and other cholesterol-lowering drugs (clofibrate, gemfibrozil), steroids, theophylline
    • Illegal drugs: amphetamine, barbiturates, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methadone, phencyclidine (PCP)
    • Low blood phosphate levels
    • Infections: influenza (fever, headache, fatigue), HIV/AIDS, infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein Barr virus (headache, fever, rash, enlarged lymph nodes), citomegalovirus infection, herpes genitalis (burning blisters on genitals), food poisoning with diarrhea (Salmonella, Shigella, E.coli), dengue fever
  • Porphyria [20]
  • Drugs: acetaminophen (paracetamol) overdose, antibiotics (furazolidone, metronidazole, nitrofurantoin, rifampin), drugs to treat malaria (chloroquine, primaquine), laxatives containing cascara or senna, methocarbamol, phenazopyridine, propofol, sorbitol and sulfasalazine
  • Urinary catheter
  • Acute poisoning with ethanol, ethylene glycol, isopropanol, methanol, phenol; chronic poisoning with copper, lead, mercury
  • Other references: [9,17,18,20,33]

BLACK Urine

In individuals with alkaptonuria (a rare metabolic disease) and melanoma (malignant skin cancer), urine can turn black after sitting for a while in the toilet bowl.

Cloudy Urine With Strong Odor

Individuals with ketosis (high blood ketone levels) who are fasting, starving or are on a low-carb diet or have poorly controlled diabetes mellitus can excrete ketones with urine, which can give a sweet, acetone-like odor to urine.

Dehydration

In dehydration the urine can be cloudy, yellow, orange or brown and can have an ammonia-like odor. The frequency of urination and the amount of urine are decreased. Other typical symptoms and signs of dehydration include thirst, dry mouth, fatigue, decreased skin turgor and loss of body weight.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Apart of cloudy and foul smelling urine, UTI symptoms may include: frequent urination, uncomfortable, burning or painful urination (dysuria), blood in urine, kidney pain (flank pain), fever, nausea, fatigue and loose stools (diarrhea) [1].

Typical symptoms of the infection of various parts of the urinary tract:

  • Kidneys (pyelonephritis): right or left flank pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, blood in urine, diarrhea, skin rash
  • Ureter (ureteritis): right or left side abdominal pain
  • Bladder (cystitis): pelvis pain or pressure, fever, nausea, blood in urine, urine leakage
  • Urethra (urethritis): burning feeling in the urethra, usually only during urination

Kidney disease, high blood pressure including  multiple myeloma.

Autoimmune Diseases: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Typical symptoms include painful and swollen joints in fingers and other joints.

Cloudy Urine and Lower Back (Kidney) Pain

  • Kidney stones can cause severe lower back or side abdominal pain (colic) at any time.
  • Urinary tract infection can cause kidney pain, which can be constant, and pain in the urethra, usually only during urination.
  • Prostate infection or cancer can cause pain upon pressure in the perineum (behind the shaft of the penis)

Cloudy Urine in Men

  • After sex, sperm that has remained in the urethra (or in the bladder in retrograde ejaculation) can cause bubbles in the form of froth on the surface of the urine in the toilet bowl when urinating after sex. In healthy men, sperm can find its way into urethra during the night even without sex and cause frothy urine, which usually clears within a minute.
  • Enlarged prostate in men after 40: difficulty starting urinating, dribbling on the end, possible blood in urine [33]
  • Prostate infection (prostatitis): constant urge to urinate, urinating at night, pelvic pain, fever [33]
  • Prostate cancer: chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, difficulty starting urinating, blood in urine, unintentional weight loss [33]
  • Epididymitis (infection of the epididymis): swelling of the scrotum, fever, groin pain, blood in the urine [33]
  • Urethral stricture after trauma, sexually transmitted diseases, urinary tract infections, surgery or endoscopic procedures can be associated with frequent urination and occasional dark urine due to blood in the urine [23].
  • Infection with chlamydia can cause frequent urination and cloudy urine and abnormal discharge from the penis [21]. Gonorrhea can cause cloudy, yellow or green urine [22].

Cloudy Urine in Women

Cloudy Urine and Discharge

  • Yeast (Candida) infection of the vagina (vaginitis) or gonorrhea can cause discharge, which can contaminate a urine sample and make it cloudy.
  • A sexually transmitted disease (STD), like infection with chlamydia or gonorrhea can cause cloudy urine and thick vaginal discharge [21,22].
  • Endometriosis (uterine tissue in the bladder) can, rarely, result in blood in the urine [10].

During Pregnancy

In preeclampsia and eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy, usually in the 3rd trimester) the blood can appear in the urine and make it cloudy [37].

Diagnosis

To find a cause of cloudy urine a doctor can order urine culture, tests for blood and white blood cells and urinalysis to check for minerals.

If the urine is cloudy due to increased phosphates, a drop of vinegar (acetic acid) will clear it immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can taking milk of magnesia cause cloudy urine?

There seems to be no reliable sources that would list cloudy urine as a side effect of milk of magnesia.

2. Does increased glucose excretion in urine in diabetes cause cloudy urine?

No. Glucose excretion with urine (glycosuria) is typically associated with excessive excretion of diluted and hence clear urine (polyuria)

3. Is cloudy urine a sign of ovulation?

Some mucus produced by the neck of the uterus (cervix) after ovulation may contaminate urine, which appears as white flakes in the urine.

4. Is cloudy urine an early sign of pregnancy?

No. Pregnancy as such does not cause cloudy urine.

5. Is there any remedy to cure cloudy urine?

To cure cloudy urine you need to treat the underlying cause. To cure foggy urine caused by dehydration or high phosphate or purine intake (milk, fish), you can drink water, which dilutes urine. Drinking water will likely clear cloudy urine from other causes but will not cure the underlying diseases.

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85 Responses to Cloudy Urine

  1. Steve says:

    I am a 40ish male, my problem is when I urinate, there is stringy particles in my urine and am in a lot of pain. I’ve been to doctor twice and have had test done and everything is normal, went to emergency and the same thing. My doctor even said I was in perfect health, but this pain goes away when I drink alcohol.

  2. Dave says:

    Urine cloudy when i sit.
    Clear when i stand?
    Anything helps

  3. Bilal says:

    I have frequent urination from months but my urine complete test comes normal some thing white and sticky comes out and more often when I come back after playing physical games I go to doctors but nothing happen yet one thing more pop is also come more than usual I am 17 years of age plz help sir

    • Bilal says:

      And urine not cloudy it’s yellow and clear in 2 same test

      • Bilal says:

        And some oily thing floating in the flush when I urinate more when I urinate after playing physical games plz tell what I should do

        • Jan Modric says:

          It could be semen.

          • Bilal says:

            How can I treat it sir

          • Jan Modric says:

            I do not actually know what is the exact problem, so I can’t suggest any treatment. Some semen in the urine is normal in the morning. Frequent urination can result from urinary tract infections (urine culture test can reveal that) or urinary stones, for example (there are tests for this, too). As long as you feel that something is not normal, I encourage you to insist and ask a doctor for additional investigations.

          • Bilal says:

            No bacteria show in urine complete test

          • Jan Modric says:

            If all urine tests are normal, then there may be no organic problem. You can check for causes of frequent urination.

  4. Alex G says:

    Hello,
    I have noticed that my urine is cloudy at least once or twice a week lately. It only happens one time out of the three to five time that I pee in that day. It is usually clear in the morning, then cloudy and clear once again the time after.
    I have increased my water intake, started drinking cranberry juice and ginger tea daily and did a course of antibiotics a week ago. But it continues happening at the same rate.
    Also, I have a weird sensation on my lower left back that I would not describe it as pain but it is still there lingering. Ive felt it for a couple of weeks now with maybe one or two days where the sensation went away. I dont have any other syntom than that one.
    Considering all that, I would love to hear your opinion of what could be causing this to happen.
    I appreciate your help in advance.

    • Jan Modric says:

      You can check for kidney location here. In some kidney conditions, hitting the area with a fist gently can trigger pain.

      If you think, the pain comes from a kidney, I suggest you to visit a doctor who will likely order some urine tests. Cloudy urine can appear in kidney inflammation, for example.

      Common causes of cloudy (foggy) urine are drinking a lot of milk, especially along with calcium supplements, and consuming whey protein or other foods high in phosphates.

      In urinary tract infection, urine is usually obviously cloudy and smelly and you can experience burning urination. There is no firm evidence that cranberry juice treats urinary infections. Antibiotics can make the urine test false negative for bacteria, if you decide to have an urine culture test.

      In dehydration, the urine becomes more yellow, not just cloudy. So, maybe there is no need to drink excessive amounts of water.

    • Rich says:

      Have you solved your issue please? Because I have same

  5. Sara ali says:

    Hello.. i noticed some last drops of my urine to be cloudy(some powdery type). there is a slight pain in my urinary wall.. though the rest of the urine color is white.. what can it be?

  6. Sumiran Subba says:

    Hello, I’m 17 years old and I exercise a lot probably, 6 times a week. I go to the gym on the morning and do 30 mins intense callisthenics in the evening. I eat proteins moderately. Now, I’ve been having Cloudy urine from the past 1 month. I noticed the cloudy urine Disappeared for about 1 week and has returned again. It’s cloudy every time I pee. I drink a lot of water, nearly 2 and a Half litres daily. Only the morning pee doesn’t seem cloudy but I’m quite not sure. I don’t experience any problem whatsoever during urinating. And I also had my serum creatinine checked about 1 months ago, It was 1.01. Doctors said it was normal because of my muscle mass and oh yeah I weigh 60 kilograms but I didn’t have my muscle mass checked. Any ideas for what could be causing the cloudy urine, should I go see a doctor anytime soon, thank you.

    • Jan Modric says:

      Did you change a diet a month ago? A common cause of cloudy urine are foods high in phosphates, such as protein foods, milk, cheese, fish with bones and cola. In this case, a drop of vinegar would clear the urine immediately.

      Urinary tract infection is usually associated with burning urination and smelly and cloudy urine.

      To be sure what it is, you may want to have an urine test.

      • Sumiran Subba says:

        I don’t remember Changing my diet. But yeah, I used to eat protein (like fish, chicken or eggs) only a few times (2-3 times) a week. But I remember I had began to have 4 egg whites a day excluding the yolk about 3 weeks ago. But I think the urine started to get cloudy much ahead of the egg intake. I remember having cough cold when I didn’t had the cloudy urine. Could it be because of the cough? I’m having my exams right now which are too important to neglect. I can’t do urine tests right now cause I’m away from my hometown. But I’ll make it as fast as time allows me. Till then could you Enlighten me on some causes and remedies for cloudy urine? I don’t have any symptoms at all except for the cloudy urine. I’m feeling scared as to what may cause it. Please help me. Will be looking forward to your reply ?

        • Jan Modric says:

          The most common cause of cloudy urine is probably an increased concentration of phosphate crystals in the urine. They are always some phosphate crystals in the urine, but under certain circumstances (a lot of foods high in phosphates – check the link in my previous comment– and heavy exercise), the concentration of the phosphates in the urine increases and make it cloudy. There’s a simple test – you can collect some urine in the glass and put a drop of vinegar in it. If the urine is cloudy due to phosphates, it should clear immediately.

          Then you can decrease the amount of protein you eat and maybe stop the exercises for few days and see if it helps. You also drink enough water – just as much as needed to maintain the urine clear (not yellow).

          Cloudy urine is not a disease, but a symptom, so it can only help if you remove an underlying cause (which might be the food and exercise).

          In an urinary tract infection, the urine would be likely smelly and in a kidney disease it would be likely foamy.

          I can’t exclude any cause, so you do as you think it’s right.

  7. gaza says:

    anyone that can help?

    • Jan Modric says:

      According to these reference ranges, WBC is increased and protein is within a normal range. It is your doctor who can explain the results of the urine test to you and tell you the possible causes and if you need more investigations.

  8. gaza says:

    hello i found my wbc to be 25, protein 100 mg/dl and have blood in urine

  9. Lars Eriksen says:

    Interesting finding discovered accidentally is that my clear pale yellow urine turns cloudy if chilled to 10dgrees celsius in cold area. there is sediment when cold. All dissolves clear again if reheated. No other symptoms or changes don’t know how long this happened because accidental finding, it doesn’t always occur and I don’t see pattern with foods or drinking. What makes urine turn cloudy only when it is chilled?

    • Jan Modric says:

      When cooled, the urine most likely becomes cloudy due to phosphate crystals that are less soluble at low temperatures. A certain amount of phosphates in the urine is normal. Phosphates in the urine come from foods high in phosphates (milk, soda, canned fish with bones) or protein (meat, fish, cheese, eggs, seeds, soybeans…).

      Alkaline urine, for example after eating certain foods (citrus fruits, legumes) or supplements containing citrate, like potassium citrate, makes phosphates even less soluble, so this can contribute to cloudiness of cooled urine.

      • Lars Eriksen says:

        Thank you. I see another person added acid to cloudy urine from phosphates and it went clear, I tryed this but no change. Is it phosphates still?

        • Jan Modric says:

          There are other substances that can crystallize in cooled urine:

          a rise in urinary sediment crystals proportional to the cooling period was observed during the qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis, especially calcium oxalate, urate and amorphous phosphate crystals

          (http://www.scielo.br/pdf/jbpml/v49n6/a06v49n6.pdf)

          You may want to have an urinanalysis, which can tell if you are at increased risk of kidney stones.

          • Lars Eriksen says:

            Thank you very much. I had once a bladder stone that looked like google pictures of calcium oxalate dihydrate stone so may be I am at risk of kidney stones. I will drink more water! Thank you

  10. Suber says:

    Many thanks for the reply.
    But here i see some conflict.In your post you mentioned cloudy urine can be due to semen mix in that
    Your post-Urine can also appear cloudy due to presence of mucus, vaginal discharge, semen, epithelial cells or pus (white blood cells) [2,3].

    But above while replying your saying
    Semen appears separately and does not mix with the urine in the way that it would make it milky.

    I am confused here I request you to clear my confusion over here.

    Many Many thanks in advance

    • Jan Modric says:

      Semen would appear in the urine similarly as, for example, raw egg white, slime or mucus. It would make the urine cloudy, but it would not *completely* mix with it.

  11. Suber says:

    Adding one more question to previous one.

    is there any difference between milky urine and milky white urine?

    • Jan Modric says:

      Semen appears separately and does not mix with the urine in the way that it would make it milky. Milky and white milky urine is the same. You may want to see a doctor.

  12. Suber says:

    I am getting milky /cloudy urine when i get up in the morning and also during the days many times but not always.But there is no pain while urinating.But my body mass is shrinking.Is this the semen which is coming out.I am confused.
    Please explain.

    Thanks in advance

  13. Indranil says:

    Hi. Yesterday i got moderate scrotal pain and right flank pain the whole day. In the evening i had cola coloured urine. After that i drank water and the colour was still light pink/red in the toilet bowl. Then i had mild chills. I have a history of kidney stones so thought it might be it. So took mephenamic acid plus drotaverin combination tab. In the morning i again had cola coloured urine. So i went for a check up. Usg says changes of cystitis and no renal colic. Also urine analysis revealed +2 sugar and nothing else. Not even rbc. Now today whole day I didn’t have any episode of cola coloured or red coloured urine. Nasically no hematuria today. So myccquestion is, is it possible to have gross hematuria for only one day in cystitis? Can there be any other thing that i should get checked out.

    • Jan Modric says:

      Coloa-colored urine can be from IgA nephropathy. The following is a copy-paste from my other article about kidney pain:

      IgA nephropathy is a type of kidney inflammation (glomerulonephritis). Symptoms appear within 72 hours after the onset of a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection and may last for up to 3 days:

      Brown, cola- or tea-colored urine

      Spasms or dull pain in both flanks

      So, one thing you can discuss with a doctor is IgA nephropathy.

      In cystitis, the urine would be probably red for more than just one day and you would likely have fever. Kidney infection would also not likely resolve in one day and you would again probably have fever. In a simple urinary tract infection (infection of the urethra), the urine would not likely be red.

      A kidney stone can cause temporary bleeding and red urine.

      • Indranil says:

        Thanks. One thing i forgot to mention was that i had acute tonsillitis on 18th jan. And after that am still having occassional cough with greenish sputum till now.

      • Indranil says:

        So in case of igA nephropathy, hematuria is intermittent? What test will confirm the igA diagnosis?

        • Jan Modric says:

          It is only a kidney biopsy that confirms IgA nephropathy. I should say, that with your history of kidney stones, bleeding from a kidney stone is still more likely. But ask a doctor.

  14. Garry Hunjan says:

    Hello Dr. Modric, i am 17 years old, i got a little bit milky urine just for 1-2 second when i pee, happens 1 time in a day & only 2-3 days in a week, some time i got panic about it. is it normal ?

    • Jan Modric says:

      Garry, I have studied medicine but I am not a doctor. Is the urine evenly cloudy our is something floating in it like mucus – in which case it could be semen (especially in the morning). Also, note that if the urine has a strong yellow or dark yellow color, this is probably from dehydration.

  15. Maria says:

    Im on Dialysis and about 2 weeks ago I was having bad pain on y right side and back.well I went to use the bathroom and I had this urge to pee and I don’t pee any more.I know something came out of me but don’t know what it was because it was very cloudy and ever since then I have had no more pain. ever since then I still have an urge to pee but some type of substance with a very strong smell like grayish in color that goes to bottom of toilet and cluody on top what can it be my doctor says I mayby I passed a kidney stone and I already had a CT scan

  16. Rebecca says:

    I have been getting milky/cloudy urine on and off the last couple of weeks. I have some urinalysis sticks at home which are all NAD. I have also had my urine sent off to microbiology last week and it was normal?
    Could this just be to do with normal vaginal discharge as I have noticed and increase in this? Also I do feel like my bladder is going to burst in a morning and it aches for an hour or so afterwards then goes away (I’ve had this acheyness on and off for years and seem to relate it to my cycle? However I have the implant in and don’t really have periods) have had a bit of right sided flank (above hip) pain, and seem to be a bit constipated? Could I have a uti/bladder infection even though tests said NaD?

    • Jan Modric says:

      Milky urine is not normal, especially when it is associated with pain. I encourage you to insist in additional tests, which will show what exactly causes the cloudiness.

      • Rebecca says:

        It is only milky every now and then. I am at a urologist on Monday. Could it be serious? I have health anxiety and worry about cancer all the time.

        • Jan Modric says:

          It is blood in urine that can be caused by cancer; cloudy urine is not very suspicious for cancer. It would certainly help if the urine sample you give to the lab would be cloudy at the time.

  17. Arif says:

    I have the condition of milky urine. it doesn’t happen everyday but happens most of the days, normally after the first meal I eat. if I do running in the morning after I wakeup I don’t have this condition. After pee I feel less energy in my body. I got ultrasound of kidney but it was normal. I ate medicines for prostatitis but no difference. Ate antibiotics but also no change. Can you explain the condition. Its been happening for few years

    • Jan Modric says:

      Arif, an urine analysis can tell what makes the urine milky. One possible cause is increased phosphate excretion in the urine (phosphaturia) due to:
      – Eating large amounts of milk, cheese, organ meats, fish or fast food
      – Phosphate supplements
      – Hyperparathyroidism
      – Vitamin D intoxication

      • Arif says:

        When I do exercise, mostly running this condition becomes ok. so can exercise effect urine? milkiness is finished mostly because of running in the morning, does it have any connection?
        Normally I got urine test two times, but it was normal, and that time the sample was without milky substance, so I will get it checked again. Thanks for your answers

        • Jan Modric says:

          I can’t explain, how running would prevent milky urine. You can try to arrange the test once when your urine will actually appear milky and ask the laboratory to specifically test for “phosphates” and “chyluria”.

  18. emily says:

    My urine smells like bleach, I’ve been having cramps in my lower back on each side and hard #2’s that are strong in the odor department. No burning during urination just bloated and generally feeling like crap. What could it be?

    • Jan Modric says:

      Emily, this sounds like it could be a potentially serious kidney condition. Please, see a doctor as soon as you can.

  19. Darlington says:

    I always observe whitish substance in my urine or pass milky urine anytime i eat beans. What does it mean?

  20. Beth fields says:

    I have been having pain while urinating for the past few weeks with cloudy urine. My urine is usually just yellow . Can you tell me what is wrong ?

    • Jan Modric says:

      Beth, one possible cause is urinary tract infection (UTI): I suggest you to visit a doctor to prevent eventual kidney damage.

  21. Rahul says:

    From 2 months my urine is yellow. I consulted doctor. I had blood test & urine test.wbc couny was increased.& yaa urine test was also not ok i had medicine but still it is yellow. I usually skip my lunch or break fast also. I have less water everday.please suggest me what to do.

    Importance high

    • Jan Modric says:

      Rahul, the most common reason for yellow urine is dehydration. Unless your doctor specifically said to you to drink less water, you should need to drink enough. Other than that, it’s probably the best if you continue to do what the doctor said. Medicines may not show effect immediately. If you think that something is still not right, visit the doctor again.

  22. I am in absolute agony all up my left side it hurts when I talk eat and cough I have never experienced so much pain childbirth was less painful and my urine is thick and brown the doctor called and give me strong pain killers and said I if I am still like this in a couple of days she will call again but I can’t take anymore I keep a cushion held to my side

    • Jan Modric says:

      Julie, to me it seems to be reasonable to go to emergency room IMMEDIATELY. The brown color can mean bleeding in the urinary tract or severe kidney impairment. Do not wait the doctor calls you, but you call him, or better, just go to the emergency.

  23. Terrence Greaves says:

    Dr Modric, My urine is occasionally quite turbid, especially after a meal with much protein and fat. It is yellow, has no pronounced odor, no foaming, and the turbidity clears within seconds after I add acid such as HCl or acetic acid. This has been happening only for the past year, and I have no other symptoms. I am 58 year old white male in good health w/o recent changes in diet or lifestyle. Thank you in advance for your time!

    • Jan Modric says:

      Terrence, I am not a doctor. The urine that becomes turbid but not foamy after foods high in protein and clears immediately after adding acid strongly suggests the increased concentrations of phosphates in the urine. This could occur due to diet high in phosphate (protein foods) but if this occurs without a change in diet it can suggest a kidney disease. If worried, you may want to visit a doctor.

  24. beth davis says:

    my sons pee turns color after its been sitting in the toilet bowl. He takes Lialda and fluoxitine. Its an odd color in the bowl. because it gets darker the longer it sits there. turns very dark. Thought maybe it might be the bleach thingy you stick in the water to keep the bowl clean. so i did a test. put 1/8 tsp of bleach in his pee and in mine. His turned purple/red and mine did nothing. I dont get it. I took him to ER and Kidney ultrasound was fine as well as urinalysis. He had bad stomach pain from time to time and goes away with morphine or anesthesia when scoped. So is it his meds with the bleach or something else? he also has ulcerative colitis but thats under control. But his pee keeps changing if he forgot to flush…its crazy

    • Jan Modric says:

      Beth, a doctor can say if any of the medicines he is taking can cause such urine color change. You may want to put a certain crushed tablet directly into urine and observe eventual color change.

  25. Alfonso says:

    sometimes my urine is thick, white, and clumpy. When I feel the urge to urinate this way, I’m only able to by getting an erection and stimulating it for 5-7 minutes, either by myself or with the help of a partner. Do I need to see a doctor?

  26. Dan Smith says:

    I’m 51, male. My urine is almost always a light yellow color or clear. I drink about 64-80 oz of water daily and have a diet soda now and then. After sitting for an hour or so, the urine is still yellow but the water has become somewhat cloudy. It is clear not cloudy or foamy when I’m urinating. Is this the same as cloudy even though it occurs AFTER sitting a bit?

    • Jan Modric says:

      Dan, the only way I can answer this is: If you think that what you have observed lately is different from what it was weeks or months ago, then it could be a problem. Urine can change when sitting for a while, but I can’t make any specific conclusions from this alone.

  27. saeed says:

    I have milky urine only during defecation of hard stool
    what is differential diagnosis ?
    what is the best workup for diagnosis

    • Jan Modric says:

      Saeed, this is very specific question. An abscess (pus collection) near the rectum or an abnormal canal (fistula) between the rectum and bladder could theoretically cause milky urine. The presence of bacteria (urine culture) would reveal infection. An MRI of the pelvis would be needed to show an eventual abscess.

  28. Chené says:

    My fiancé went to the Dr after seeing milky urine, he’s been complaining about his back pain (Where his kidneys are), bladder pain, the need to urinate.. he only complained about that for one day and also pain in his testicular area, the milkyness come and go and it only hurt once when he urinated. The Dr says.. he has a flu and I have been telling my fiancé his Dr doesn’t know what he is doing because now he’s only given him pain medication and apparently it helps for mild inflammation as well.

    Please let me know if you agree with me and what you think it might be. I honestly believe it’s kidney infection.

    • Jan Modric says:

      Chené, milky urine is never normal and is not caused by flu. It can be caused by a kidney infection or inflammation. I strongly suggest him to visit a doctor he can trust.

  29. mohammed Abdul says:

    From the past 2 weeks I had burning sensation while passing urine but today suddenly my urine was a bit thick which is like semen but color is partially red. Is this normal?? I smoke everyday. Thank u

    • Jan Modric says:

      Mohamed, it’s not normal, please go to the doctor — whatever it is, an early treatment is often much more effective than the late one.

  30. Isabel says:

    I have cloudy urine it always comes out like a circle I don’t drink that much water im a teen girl I’ve been having it for a week or so . I feel like I kinda have frequent urination but no burning I r anything like that

    • Jan Modric says:

      Isabel, if the urine is yellowish, it can be from dehydration. If it’s actually cloudy, you may want to ask a doctor for urine test to check for eventual kidney disease.

  31. Michelle says:

    Lately I’ve had brown smelly urin every morning. It will last for the first few trips to the bathroom every day. I also have swollen lymph nodes. Then yesterday i was running a low grade fever. I’ve also been sleeping a lot. Have even fallen asleep waiting at traffic lights.

  32. Unknown says:

    Had urinary infection past few days … I apply Virginia cream .. It stopped a bit .. But today morning I noticed the milky white urine… Is that normal or any serious issue ?? I am worried

    • Jan Modric says:

      Unknown, milky white urine is never normal and it also does not sound to me to be just from UTI. Please visit a doctor and take a sample of urine with you.

  33. Robert Mitchell Bellis says:

    Hi i had blood in my urine also clots & this morning at 6:30am i whent to toilet urinated in the _pecement bottel and it was light cloudey withe blood cot i put it on my bed side cabenot i whent back to sleep at 8:am i woke up the cloude in my urine seteld doune at the bottom and ther was white bit flowting i have took it to the doctors but i have to waite so i just want to no whoat is this could you please let me nasap i am 49 years of age thank you

    • Jan Modric says:

      Robert, the test first needs to officialy confirm tat you have blood in urine. Then you may need further tests to find out where does the blood come from: the urethra, bladder, ureter or kidneys. Common causes are kidney stones and urinary tract infection, more rare cause is cancer in the bladder or the kidney.

  34. arthur says:

    I noticed my urine was mliky one early morning and i got scared. It has never happened to me before. What might have been the cause and how do i go about it. I’m in in mid 30s.

    • Jan Modric says:

      arthur, I suggest you to visit a doctor and discuss about blood and urine tests. A thick milky urine can occur in chyluria. Cloudy urine can occur in kidney inflammation due to proteins in urine.

  35. Wasim says:

    i have little bit sperm spot in urine during urine especially at time of stole pressure…is it normal

  36. alex says:

    That`s a nice one

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