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Urine odor: Is smelly urine a symptom of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

by — Last updated: 2020-10-05 in Urinary Tract Issues
Reviewed by Medical Team — 2017-06-09

Table of Contents

Urinary tract infections are so common that most women acquire at least one infection in their lives. In fact, an estimated 50% to 80% of women develop urinary tract infections sometime during their lifetime.

It is estimated that 20 to 50 percent of women will have at least one urinary tract infection during their lives, and many will be plagued by UTIs multiple times. [1]

Men can develop UTIs too. However, women are more prone to developing a urinary tract infection because of their anatomy. The distance between the bladder and the urethral opening is relatively short in women, and this opening is in close proximity to the vagina and rectum, which makes it easy for bacteria to move from one place to another. In men, the urethral tube is longer and its opening is further from the rectum. This results in a lower frequency of urinary tract infections.

The characteristics — color and odor — of your urine are an important warning system for UTIs, as well as other serious health problems including kidney stones, infections, kidney problems, metabolic disorders, diabetes, pituitary disorders, and even tumors.

A foul urine odor is a common symptom of urinary tract infections, and because of the frequency of urinary tract infections, it is important to know more about the nature and cause of this smell. The elevated presence of bacteria in the urine affect its smell and color. When a urinary tract infection is present, urine takes on a foul-smelling odor and may appear cloudy or may sometimes even contain blood.  

What is urinary tract infection?

A urinary tract infection, or UTI for short, is any infection along the urinary tract, which includes the urethra, bladder, ureters (tubes that link your kidneys to your bladder), and kidneys. 

Cystitis, an inflammation and infection of the bladder, is most common, but UTIs can spread to other portions of the urinary tract when this is left untreated. When the infection reaches the kidneys, it is also called pyelonephritis. [2]

These infections are not directly transmitted during sexual intercourse, but the chance of developing a UTI increases dramatically if you are sexually active. This increased risk of developing urinary tract infections happens because of the transfer of bacteria during sex between the vagina, rectum, and urethra.

What causes urinary tract infections?

Urinary tract infections occur because bacteria such as Escherichia coli travel into the urethra, bladder, and sometimes the kidneys. Some sexually transmitted infections such as trichomoniasis and Chlamydia can cause urinary tract infections as well.

UTIs often occur after having sexual intercourse with a new partner or with an old partner for the first time in a while; cystitis can be caught from a sexual partner who has a urinary tract infection or from friction on the opening of the urethra during intercourse. This is why urinary tract infections are famously referred as honeymoon cystitis. [3]

You are also more prone to urinary tract infections if you:

  • Experience significant levels of stress,
  • Have a weak immune system,
  • Are eating a poor diet,
  • Are pregnant,  
  • Have experienced a damaged urethra during childbirth or surgery,
  • Are diabetic,
  • Have a medical condition that requires you to use urinary catheters,
  • Have a genetic predisposition to UTIs. [4]
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