Urine Smells Like Ammonia: Causes and Treatments

Pregnancy is a time of immense joy and excitement for many women, but it can also come with some significant changes and surprises. One such surprise is the particularly strong smell of ammonia often associated with pregnant women’s urine. This strange odor is common and may be alarming at first, and it’s important that pregnant women are aware of the causes and potential dangers of urine that smells like ammonia. In this blog post titled “Pee Smells Like Ammonia Pregnant”, we’ll explore the possible causes and the potential effects of ammonia-smelling urine during pregnancy. We’ll provide information about how to identify the smell, the potential health risks associated with ammonia-smelling urine, and what you can do to address the issue. We’ll also discuss potential treatments and preventive measures that pregnant women can take to ensure their urine is free of any concerning odors. Ultimately, our goal is to help expecting mothers better understand why their

Q:

Could ammonia-smelling urine indicate pregnancy? — Unidentified patient

A:

Because the makeup of urine doesn’t significantly change during pregnancy, it shouldn’t have an ammonia-like odor. However, routine urine testing is common and advised throughout pregnancy to help spot any potential problems. For instance, elevated urine sugar levels may signal a risk for gestational diabetes. Ketones in the urine are a sign that you are not consuming enough carbohydrates for your body. An elevated protein level could indicate kidney damage or a urinary tract infection. Ammonia-smelling urine is a symptom of some of these conditions, but it is not common during pregnancy.

Your doctor might recommend antibiotics if an underlying infection is the cause of ammonia-smelling urine. These can lessen bacterial overgrowth and incidence in the urinary tract.

Additionally, you should take steps to maintain good bladder health, which can lower your risk of dehydration and a UTI.

Examples include drinking at least six 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Drinking a glass of cranberry juice a day or adding lemon to your water changes the urine’s acidity. This could be beneficial to your bladder health if you experience a lot of infections.

The majority of times, fluids or antibiotics can treat urine that smells like ammonia.

Ideally, your urine should be pale yellow to straw-colored. Consult a doctor if it continues to be darker than usual for more than 24 hours. Additionally, you must always seek medical attention if you suspect an underlying infection or other medical issue.

When urine becomes concentrated with waste products, it may smell like ammonia. Waste products can accumulate in urine due to a number of conditions, including urinary tract infections, dehydration, and bladder stones. Most of the time, fluids or antibiotic medications can be used to treat urine that has an ammonia odor.

Last medically reviewed on August 24, 2017

Causes Of Smelly Urine During Pregnancy

The following are typical reasons why pregnant women’s urine may smell.

Heightened sense of smell: It is believed that pregnancy might increase sensitivity to odors, also known as hyperosmia. Ammonia is naturally present in urine, but the smell is usually not strong. Due to the increased sense of smell in pregnancy, you can notice a bad odor. However, there is no medical evidence to establish a connection between increased olfactory response and pregnancy (1).

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Urinary infections: Urinary tract infection is a bacterial inflammation in the urinary tract and is common in pregnancy. Urinary tract infections can cause cloudy urine, which smells foul or unusual (2).

Bacterial infections: Bacterial vaginosis or vaginitis is a vaginal infection caused by the overgrowth of bacteria. It may lead to a burning sensation and foul smell while peeing (3).

Diet: You may have weird food cravings in pregnancy. Certain foods, including cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, garlic, coffee, and beer, can give the urine a temporary, strong odor (4).

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Supplements: Certain medications, vitamins, minerals, etc., can cause an unpleasant urine odor. However, do not stop the medicines without consulting your doctor (4).

Dehydration: You should consume enough water for both your and the baby’s well-being. Otherwise, dehydration in pregnancy may lead to foul-smelling urine (5).

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FAQ

Why does my pee smell weird while pregnant?

Why does my pee smell strongly like ammonia?

What does amniotic fluid smell like ammonia?

9 Causes of Smelly Urine | How to Fix Urine Odor | #DeepDives