Why is urine cloudy and what to do about it

1. Vaginal discharge in women

The opening of the urethra is located 1–2 centimeters above the vagina, so if hygiene is not observed, natural secretions can enter the urine, making it cloudy.

If a woman has an inflammation of the vagina, then the Vaginal discharge / Mayo Clinic will become more and more likely to get into the urine.

What to do

Usually this is noticed when analyzing urine. Therefore, the doctor who ordered the study may ask to repeat it in compliance with the following Urinalysis / Mayo Clinic rules:

Wash the genitals from front to back.
Pee a little in the toilet.
Collect the middle portion of urine in a container.
Finish peeing in the toilet.
Deliver the sample to the laboratory within 60 minutes.

2. Sperm in men

Sometimes, after ejaculation, some of the semen returns to the bladder through the urethra. This is called retrograde ejaculation / U. S. National Library of Medicine ejaculation, and it results in cloudy urine. Pathology develops with, prostatitis, after surgery on the prostate, or due to taking medications for high blood pressure.

What to do

You may need to change your drug or stop using Retrograde ejaculation / U. S. National Library of Medicine if it causes retrograde ejaculation. And with diabetes or after surgery, medication will be needed to normalize sperm excretion.

3. Side effect of medications

Clouding of urine may appear due to the use of drugs that are used to treat overactive Solifenacin / U. S. National Library of Medicine of the bladder or Sunitinib / U. S. National Library of Medicine of the kidney or digestive tract. This is a side effect of medications.

What to do

If undesirable effects appear during the use of drugs, it is urgent to inform Sunitinib / U. S. National Library of Medicine to the doctor who prescribed them. It is possible that the medications will need to be changed.

4. Urinary tract infections

The bacteria can cause Urinary tract infection (UTI) / Mayo Clinic inflammation of the kidneys, bladder, or urethra, resulting in cloudy urine. In this case, other symptoms will appear:

a strong urge to urinate;
frequent urination in small portions;
burning and pain in the urethra;
strong-smelling urine
blood or pus in the urine.

Depending on the type of disease, there may also be an increase in body temperature, pain in the abdomen, above the pubis, or in the lower back.

What to do

You need to see a urologist. The doctor will prescribe the Urinary tract infection (UTI) / Mayo Clinic antibiotic suitable for fighting the infection. And to reduce pain, she will recommend over-the-counter analgesics.

5. Non-infectious cystitis

Sometimes inflammation of the bladder is not associated with the infection by Cystitis - noninfectious / U. S. National Library of Medicine, but the urine also becomes cloudy and other symptoms appear:

burning and itching when urinating;
frequent urge to use the toilet, including at night;
reduction of Interstitial cystitis / Mayo Clinic urine portion;
incontinence;
change in the smell and color of urine.

This is how non-infectious cystitis manifests itself, which sometimes occurs after severe bladder infections, radiation and chemotherapy, as well as due to the use of certain hygiene products and spermicidal contraceptives.

What to do

You need to see a urologist. The causes of the cloudy urine may not always be corrected, but your doctor will prescribe Cystitis - noninfectious / U. S. National Library of Medicine medications to relieve pain or medications to relax the bladder. You also need to avoid spicy foods, alcohol, citrus fruits and caffeine - all of which can irritate the organs of the excretory system.

6. Kidney stones

Often a person does not even know about them: there are no symptoms. But the larger the stone, the more signs appear. These can be Kidney Stones / National Kidney Foundation:

severe bilateral pain in the lower back;
prolonged abdominal pain without clear localization;
bloody urine;
nausea and vomiting;
fever, chills;
cloudy urine with an unpleasant odor.

What to do

It all depends on the symptoms, the size of the stones, their composition, density and shape. In some cases, doctors prescribe Kidney Stones / National Kidney Foundation medications to change the acidity of the urine in order to dissolve the stones. If they are large and block the ureter, then surgery is performed. Sometimes you can do without it and crush the education using shock wave lithotripsy. During this procedure, ultrasonic waves are sent to the kidneys, which crumble stones. The fragments are then passed out in the urine.

7. Glomerulonephritis

This is a disease in which the Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis / U. S. National Library of Medicine become inflamed, the renal glomeruli are small plexuses of blood vessels that filter the blood. Usually the disease is asymptomatic, but in severe cases or in advanced cases, the urine becomes dark, cloudy, its volume is significantly reduced, and blood impurities may appear. Also, edema occurs in different parts of the body, attentiveness decreases, and blood pressure rises.

What to do

The doctor will prescribe Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis / U. S. National Library of Medicine a special diet, diuretics, immunosuppressants, and medicines to lower blood pressure. Dialysis or a kidney transplant will be needed if the organ stops performing its function.

8. Papillary renal necrosis

With this disease, the papillae die off in the kidneys, through which urine enters the cups and then into the ureters. Necrosis can develop for various reasons. For example Renal papillary necrosis / U. S. National Library of Medicine:

overuse of pain relievers;
diabetes;
kidney infection (pyelonephritis);
rejection of the transplanted kidney;
sickle cell anemia;
blockage of the urinary tract.

With necrosis, pain appears in the side or back, body temperature rises, urine becomes cloudy, bloody or dark, and pieces of tissue can be seen in it. Sometimes it hurts to go to the toilet, the urge becomes frequent, and urination is difficult. Sometimes incontinence occurs.

What to do

Due to papillary necrosis, Renal papillary necrosis / U. S. National Library of Medicine renal failure can develop, so you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. He will prescribe treatment depending on the cause of the disease. Severe cases will require dialysis or a kidney transplant.

9. Acute nephritic syndrome

This is the name for a group of symptoms that are the same for any renal pathology: cloudy or bloody urine, swelling of the face and extremities, high blood pressure, a decrease in the portion of urine and general malaise. These signs arise from Acute nephritic syndrome / U. S. National Library of Medicine due to various diseases that damage the kidneys. Among such ailments:

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed due to an infection in the digestive tract.
Shenlein's purpura - Genoch is a disease of the immune system, in which purple spots appear on the skin, and the vessels of the intestines and kidneys are damaged.
IgA ‑ nephropathy is a pathology in which proteins ‑ immunoglobulins accumulate.
Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the kidneys that occurs after a sore throat or skin infection.
Abdominal abscesses.
Goodpasture Syndrome is a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the kidneys.
Hepatitis B or C.
Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.
Lupus nephritis. It occurs in the kidneys against the background of an autoimmune disease - systemic lupus erythematosus.
Vasculitis, or vascular inflammation.
Viral infections: measles, mononucleosis, mumps. They are capable of causing an abnormal immune response.

What to do

The main goal of therapy for acute nephritic syndrome is to support the body, reduce symptoms and prevent the person from dying. To improve kidney health, doctors prescribe Acute nephritic syndrome / U. S. National Library of Medicine diet low in salt, potassium and fluid restriction. Medications are also prescribed for blood pressure and to reduce inflammation. In some cases, dialysis will be needed.