Why does my pee smell like tuna fish?

Urinary tract infection (UTI)
A UTI can cause bacteria from the infection to contaminate the urine, resulting in a distinct fishy smell. UTIs are more common in women than men. Other symptoms include: urine that is cloudy or bloody.
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Why does my pee smells like tuna?

Fish Odor Syndrome

Also called trimethylaminuria, this genetic condition can give your pee a fishy smell. It happens when your body can't break down trimethylamine. You end up getting rid of the compound through your pee, sweat, breath, and other fluids. It doesn't mean you're unhealthy.
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Why does my smell like tuna?

Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is an uncommon condition that causes an unpleasant, fishy smell. It's also called "fish odour syndrome". Sometimes it's caused by faulty genes that a person inherits from their parents, but this isn't always the case. There's currently no cure, but there are things that can help.
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What does diabetic urine smell like?

What Does Diabetic Urine Smell Like? One warning sign of diabetes or high blood sugar is urine that smells sweet or fruity. The sweetness comes from sugar in your urine and is a sign your body is trying to get rid of extra sugar in your blood.
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What does UTI pee smell like?

Pee that smells like ammonia

If you detect a hint of ammonia in your urine, it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. The odor suggests that bacteria may be swimming around in your urinary system, most likely in your urethra, kidneys or bladder.
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5 Reasons Why Your Urine Smells Like Fish | Explained by Urologist, Dr. Robert Chan, M.D.



Why does my pee have a funky smell?

Some foods and medications, such as asparagus or certain vitamins, can cause a noticeable urine odor, even in low concentrations. Sometimes, unusual urine odor indicates a medical condition or disease, such as: Cystitis (bladder inflammation) Dehydration.
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Why does my pee smell like tuna after I drink coffee?

Diet and dehydration

With that in mind, it's unsurprising that eating fish can cause your urine to have a fishy smell. Other foods and drinks that can cause this include: caffeine, which can act as a diuretic. asparagus, which can release of sulfur in the urine.
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How do I get rid of Trimethylaminuria?

TMAU can't be cured. But making changes in your diet, using certain soaps and lotions and managing stress can help reduce symptoms.
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Should I be worried if my pee smells like fish?

Fishy-smelling urine may be the first indication of a mild or severe health problem. Some people may have no other symptoms or several. In either case, a person should contact a doctor if they cannot identify the cause of a fishy odor. A UTI occurs when too much harmful bacteria grow in the urinary tract.
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What does kidney stone urine smell like?

Kidney stones could change the smell of urine due to ammonia. In addition to ammonia this condition often puts more salts in the urine, which can change the smell to be a bit more unusual, but not necessarily foul-smelling.
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How do you test for trimethylaminuria?

A urine test is used to diagnose trimethylaminuria. The person's urine is tested to look for higher levels of trimethylamine. Testing can be done by giving choline by mouth followed by urine collection a certain number of times over a 24 hour period.
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What trimethylamine smells like?

Trimethylamine is notable for its unpleasant smell. It is the chemical that gives rotten fish a bad smell. When the normal metabolic process fails, trimethylamine accumulates in the body, and its odor is detected in the person's sweat, urine and breath.
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What does chlamydia make your pee smell like?

Signs of chlamydia if you have a vagina

Chlamydia bacteria often cause symptoms that are similar to cervicitis or a urinary tract infection (UTI). You may notice: White, yellow or gray discharge from your vagina that may be smelly. Pus in your urine (pyuria).
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Should I go to the doctor if my urine smells?

Most changes in urine odor are temporary and don't mean you have a serious illness, particularly if you have no other symptoms. When an unusual urine odor is caused by an underlying medical condition, other symptoms are also present. If you're concerned about the odor of your urine, talk to your doctor.
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Can you smell gonorrhea?

Does gonorrhea smell? Gonorrhea discharge can have an unpleasant, foul smell.
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What does an STI smell like?

Trichomoniasis and vaginal discharges

Your discharge could be frothy—or filled with tiny bubbles—and may have a distinct odor as well (which is often described as “fishy”). Additionally, you may experience a heavier discharge than normal—particularly as you near your menstrual cycle.
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Does gonorrhea make your pee smell?

Some people with chlamydia or gonorrhea may have no symptoms. But when symptoms occur, there are some similarities, such as an abnormal, bad-smelling discharge from the penis or vagina, or a burning feeling when you pee.
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At what age can you get trimethylaminuria?

The first symptoms appeared after the age of 16 in all but one adult (at the age of 9 years) and during the first year of life in both children. Both children are suspected of having TMAU by their parents, who had noticed an unpleasant body odor soon after birth.
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Why does someone smell like fish?

Fish odor syndrome (trimethylaminuria) facts*

Fish odor syndrome is characterized by an offensive body odor and the smell of rotting fish due to the excessive excretion of trimethylaminuria (TMA) in the urine, sweat, and breath of affected individuals. Fish odor syndrome is caused by mutations in the FMO3 gene.
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Can you smell yourself if you have TMAU?

Trimethylamine has been described as smelling like rotting fish, rotting eggs, garbage, or urine. As this compound builds up in the body, it causes affected people to give off a strong odor in their sweat, urine, and breath. The intensity of the odor may vary over time.
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What color is urine when your kidneys are failing?

Light-brown or tea-colored urine can be a sign of kidney disease/failure or muscle breakdown.
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What does protein in urine look like?

When your kidneys have more severe damage and you have high levels of protein in your urine, you may start to notice symptoms such as: Foamy, frothy or bubbly urine.
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Does diabetes make your pee smell?

Diabetes: Strong sweet-smelling urine is a sign of advanced diabetes, which can be diagnosed with urinalysis. With advanced diabetes, sugar and ketones, which are normally absent, can accumulate in the urine and create a strong odor.
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What color is diabetic pee?

Diabetes insipidus is a rare condition that causes your body to make a lot of urine that is "insipid," or colorless and odorless.
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What are the first signs of kidney disease?

Generally, earlier stages are known as 1 to 3. And as kidney disease progresses, you may notice the following symptoms. Nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, swelling via feet and ankles, dry, itchy skin, shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, urinating either too much or too little.
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