Smelly urine
Smelly pee on its own is not usually a cause for concern. There are often things you can do to help your pee return to normal.
Common causes of smelly pee
Pee is usually clear or pale yellow, with a mild smell.
Common things that can 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 regularly pee during the day and do not feel thirsty
drink more in hot weather and when exercising
Don't
do not drink a lot of sugary fizzy drinks, coffee or alcohol
do not eat a lot of garlic or asparagus – they contain strong-smelling chemicals that can pass into your pee
do not take more than 10mg of vitamin B6 a day
Less common causes of smelly pee
Other symptoms you have might give you an idea of what's causing your pee to smell. But do not self-diagnose – always see a GP.