What Causes Cloudy Urine in Women & Men?


The standard urine color is yellow, and it is transparent. There are several medical conditions due to which individuals can suffer from cloudy urine. Cloud urine comes with milky color, and urine does not look clear. As per experts, gray is not harmful, but it can lead to certain medical conditions.

Prominent Causes of Cloudy Urine

Individuals suffering from cloudy urine are unaware of the probable cause of this physical situation. Experts have denoted the following reasons for cloudy urine.

  • UTI or Urinary Tract Infection − UTI is one of the most prominent reasons for cloudy urine. As per research, it has been noticed that almost 8.1 million visitors have suffered from cloudy urine due to urinary tract infections. The urine gets clouded due to the pus discharge or the blood in the UTI. It can also cause white blood cells, a sign that the body is trying to remove attacking bacteria. Research says that females are more likely to get infected via UTI than males and hence can suffer from cloudy urine.

  • Dehydration − Another cause of cloudy urine is dehydration. Your body lacks fluid if you don’t take water as per the required quantity. Hence dehydration can develop many health issues along with cloudy urine. It has also been noticed that children and adults are at a higher risk of dehydration. Dehydration can also develop due to poor fluid, vomiting, sweating, fever, burns, diabetes, etc. The probable symptoms of dehydration are dark urine, fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, enhanced thirst, etc. Hence doctors suggest consuming enough water to stay away from dehydration. In case of an emergency, people need to consult with doctors.

  • STI or Sexually Transmitted Diseases − People who suffer from different types of STI or Sexually Transmitted diseases can develop cloudy urine. Some common STIs responsible for cloudy urine are gonorrhea and chlamydia. Symptoms of STI that can cause cloudy urine are related to genital itching and pain around the genital area. Pain can be due to ejaculation and urination, while men suffer from STIs. Individuals can also suffer from pain around the genitals due to STIs.

  • Vaginitis − It is another type of cause of cloudy urine. As per this problem, inflammation arises in the vagina and vulva. The prime cause of bacterial infection is the prime cause of cloudy urine. Sometimes, inflammation can also cause around the vagina due to using soap, detergent, and other products. This health issue can have different symptoms like itching near the vaginal area, discolored vaginal discharge, etc. Women can also feel pain during urination and sexual intercourse.

  • Prostatitis − Prostatitis seems to be an inflamed prostate that can cause cloudy urine. Men can suffer from infection or swelling in the prostate area. Besides cloudy urine, prostatitis can also develop other problems like pain during urination, ejaculation, frequent urination, bloody or dark-tingled urine, abdominal pain, etc.

  • Kidney Stones − Individuals with kidney stones can also suffer from cloudy urine. Kidney stones develop from certain minerals in the body, and they can cause serious health issues. If these stones are small in size, they can pass easily. But large rocks cannot pass through urination and can cause urinary tract infections. These symptoms include pain during urination, fever, dark-colored urine, etc. You will also feel that your urine has a foul smell.

  • Diabetes − Diabetes can develop several health issues along with cloudy urine. If diabetes is not treated on time, it can cause kidney failure. Besides cloudy urine, diabetes can also lead to excessive thirst, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, frequent infections, etc.

  • Improper Diet − Men and women often can suffer from cloudy urine due to their diet. Consumption of foods containing vast amounts of phosphorous will lead to cloudy urine as kidneys release excess minerals from the blood. The phosphorous food is dairy, meats, seafood, beans, nuts, and seeds.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Cloudy Urine

Men and women often complain of suffering from cloudy urine. Here they need to seek proper medical guidance for the best Treatment for cloudy urine. Doctors will suggest for the following tests to diagnose cloudy urine.

  • The most prominent way to diagnose cloudy urine is the urine test. Doctors conduct different types of urine tests to check the presence of bacteria in the urine that create cloudy urine.

  • Experts often suggest a blood test to check the actual cause of cloudy urine. Blood tests also help to diagnose if cloudy urine is caused due to kidney failure or not.

  • Cystoscopy is a surgical procedure to monitor the bladder and urethra.

  • Doctors also suggest for ultrasound or CT scan to diagnose the actual cause of cloudy urine.

Doctors suggest the best Treatment for cloudy urine depending on the causes of the problem.

  • Doctors will always suggest treating dehydration and getting rid of cloudy urine. The more you drink fluids, the higher the chances of getting cured of cloudy urine.

  • Men and women suffering from UTI must undergo certain medications to cure this problem.

  • Women suffering from vaginitis need to take doctors’ suggestions to get the best help in treating cloudy urine.

  • If the bacteria of prostatitis are the prime cause of cloudy urine, doctors will suggest antibiotics to cure cloudy urine.

Moreover, eating a balanced diet is the best way to cure all health issues, including cloudy urine. In many cases, women suffer from cloudy urine during their pregnancies. Women can notice a frequent change in urine color during pregnancies. Women can see cloudy urine due to vaginal discharge, infection, dehydration, etc.

If women suffer from other health issues like headaches, blurry vision, abdominal pain, and swelling, they must consult with doctors immediately to recover from this problem. Hence, doctors always suggest maintaining a healthy diet and staying hydrated to avoid cloudy urine.

Updated on: 24-Jan-2023

73 Views

Kickstart Your Career

Get certified by completing the course

Get Started
Advertisements