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Foamy urine is not necessarily a sign of health problems, it may be due to a stronger stream of urine, for example. In addition, it can also happen due to the presence of cleaning products in the toilet, which end up reacting with urine and forming foam.
However, in cases where the foam appears very often, it can indicate the presence of proteins, which can happen due to problems such as kidney stones, diabetes or decompensated high blood pressure. In these cases, it is very important to consult a urologist to assess the cause and guide the most appropriate treatment. See other changes in urine that may indicate health problems.
Foamy urine is not a sign of pregnancy, but if it occurs in a pregnant woman it may indicate that the pregnant woman has pre-eclampsia, which is a complication that can lead to loss of protein in the urine, in addition to causing seizures and coma when untreated.
1. Urinating too hard
When the bladder is very full and the person holds it for a long time, when the urine is released, it can come out with a very strong jet, which can form foam. However, this type of foam usually disappears in a few minutes and is not indicative of serious problems.
What to do: A good way to find out if the foam was formed by the urine flow too fast or strong, is to leave the pee in the pot for a few minutes before flushing. If the foam disappears after a few minutes, no treatment is necessary.
However, it is recommended that the pee is not insured and that you go to the bathroom whenever you feel like it, as the accumulation of urine can increase the chances of urinary tract infection, kidney stones and urinary incontinence, for example. Understand why you should not hold the pee.
2. Cleaning products in the toilet
Some cleaning products used in the toilet can react with urine and foam, not indicating any type of health problem.
What to do: A good way to know if it is the cleaning product that is causing the foamy urine is to pee in a clean container. If it does not foam, it is probably the product, but if it does foam it is necessary to go to the doctor to assess the cause of foamy urine.
3. Dehydration
When you drink little water or exercise a lot, you can become dehydrated, so your urine is more concentrated and foamy. In addition, the urine is darker in color and may smell stronger. See other signs that can help confirm dehydration.
What to do: If you suspect that the foam has arisen from dehydration, you should drink about 1.5 to 2 liters of water a day and drink even more water when exercising.
4. Presence of proteins in the urine
One of the main causes of foamy urine is the presence of proteins in the urine. The excess of proteins can occur after intense physical exercise, excessive intake of protein supplements or can be indicative of kidney problems, untreated high blood pressure and diabetes, for example.
What to do: The presence of proteins in the urine can be detected by examining simple urine, which is done by collecting the second stream of urine and sent to the laboratory for analysis. If the presence of proteins is verified by this test, the doctor may recommend a 24-hour urine test to check the amount of protein released into the urine during the day.
In addition, the doctor checks the relationship between albumin and creatinine, for example, to see if the cause is changes in the functioning of the kidneys, for example, in addition to other tests that may indicate hypertension or diabetes, for example.
5. Urinary infection
A urinary tract infection can cause foamy urine when bacteria enter the bladder. In addition to foamy urine, other symptoms are usually associated with painful or burning urination, frequent urination and blood in the urine. Take our online test to find out if you may have a urinary tract infection.
What to do: In order to confirm the urinary infection, it is recommended that a urine test and urine culture be performed, which is the test that aims to identify which bacteria are responsible for the infection and indicate which is the best antibiotic that can be indicated by the doctor for treatment.
6. Kidney problems
The kidneys have the function of filtering the blood, resulting in the production of urine that is then eliminated from the body. Any disease or problem that affects the kidneys, such as kidney infection, kidney failure, high blood pressure or kidney stones, for example, can cause foamy urine. See 11 other symptoms that may indicate kidney problems.
What to do: If there is a suspicion of a change in the kidneys, you should go to the nephrologist to do tests and identify the cause, starting the most appropriate treatment.
7. Presence of semen in the urine
The presence of foamy urine in men can also happen due to the presence of semen in the urine, however this situation is not very frequent. This situation can happen when small amounts of semen enter the urethra, which can happen as a result of prostatitis or retrograde ejaculation, resulting in foamy urine.
What to do: It is recommended to go to the urologist so that tests can be carried out to identify the presence of semen in the urine and its cause and, thus, it is possible to indicate the most appropriate treatment.
Can foamy urine be pregnancy?
No. However, if the woman is pregnant and the presence of foam in the urine is noticed, it may be indicative of pre-eclampsia, which is a disease in which the loss of protein in the urine and fluid retention as a result of the increase blood pressure.
If pre-eclampsia is not identified and treated, it can lead to seizures and put the baby's and mother's life at risk. Learn more about pre-eclampsia.