(Foreword: This is the continuation of our response to Che che of Davao Oriental who has concerns on the smell of her pee.)
DEAR Che che of Davao Oriental,
Now, let us look at other reasons why a pee smells.
4. Sexually Transmitted Infections
Some STIs can give you a smelly discharge whether you're a male or female. Antibiotics can help here.
5. Vitamin Overload
If you are taking extra vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), you may have a strong odor. And too much vitamin B1 (thiamine) can make your urine smell like fish.
6. Medication
Sulfa drugs which include sulfonamide antibiotics (for UTIs and other infections) can make your pee smell. Medicines for diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis also can make the urine smell.
7. Pregnancy
Prenatal vitamins may make the pee smell. The changing hormones during this time may change how a woman perceives smell. That means, even if the pee is normal, a pregnant woman may think that the pee smells weird.
8. Organ Failure
If you have liver disease, your pee and your breath would smell musty. This is due to the build up and release of toxins in the urine. And when your kidney fails, your urine would smell more of ammonia.
9. Douching
If you douche or wash the inside of your vagina, this could disturb the balance of good and bad bacteria, which can lead to infections and discharge and makes your pee smells bad. Douching is also associated with yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Oops...we are out again of space. Let us continue this next time. Until then again!
Dr. Fritz
(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist and surgeon and a clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She is the co-host of digital page of Superbalita. She has been in the broadcast media for more than a decade and has written a book based on her 15 year stint with her radio program, "Healthy is Sexy Secrets ni Dr. Fritz." For your questions, you may email them to dokfritz@yahoo.com. If you don't wish your letter to be published, we regret that we cannot answer them. Thank you for your understanding.)