Pungent Urine & Menopause

Our bodies tell us when there are inconsistencies in our internal systems. Therefore, it is important for all women, especially those entering menopause, to report all bodily changes to a doctor. A pungent urine smell might just result from a change in diet, or it could also point to an infection.

Upon entering menopause, some women notice a change in their urine. They have reported stronger smells and sometimes cloudy urine. Urine can smell more like ammonia or even take on a fishy smell. In most cases, these changes are nothing serious.

Try drinking more water each day. Often pungent urine smells are a result of dehydration. The day after you experience pungent urine, try drinking eight to 10 glasses of water and see if the smell improves. In some cases, women entering menopause do not drink as much water as they used to, and this can result in urine changes.

Women in menopause should make healthy food choices. As women age, bones can lose calcium and become brittle. Eating a healthy diet including dairy and leafy greens can improve bone density. Eating more leafy greens could also affect the smell of urine, so if you have been eating different foods than your body is used to, that could explain these changes.

While yeast infections become more uncommon as women age, an infection could still be the cause of cloudy or pungent urine. The female body changes repeatedly and yeast infections or other types of infections can be a result of a body just entering menopause. Other possible infections could result from bacteria growing inside your body. Try Vaseline or a similar product to reduce inflammation, but also consult a doctor.

Check your vitamins. Women taking supplements to help ease menopause or pre-menopause symptoms may notice a change in urine because of the amount of B-complex in their vitamins. The B-complex may result in bright yellow urine or increased odor as the vitamin is absorbed into the body.