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Strong antiseptic smell In urine during UTI

Posted by Dee @danielad, Jul 7, 2024

Hello All!

I wonder if anyone else has ever experienced having a STRONG Antiseptic smell in their urine when having a UTI?

Through the years, I have had numerous UTIs. But about 2 years ago I started having a NEW symptom: A STRONG ANTISEPTIC smell in the urine, when I had a UTI. It always goes away after beginning the antibiotics.

I had a new UTI, and have just finished 7-days of antibiotics. A day after my last pill, here comes the same smell again. This has NEVER happened before.

Can anyone share some insights?

Thanks!

Dee

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mesusan | @mesusan | Jul 28, 2024
In reply to @vlbondon "Have you not been to a doctor or clinic yet? Odor change is often a sign..." + (show)
Profile picture for vlbondon @vlbondon

Have you not been to a doctor or clinic yet? Odor change is often a sign of something mild that can get worse. If it's just a urine smell only much stronger, water increase may take care of it. It doesn't matter if you like water or not, just do it. Think of it as medicine. And I'd say 8 6oz. glasses a day to start with. Maybe you'd take it better if using ice water, or a straw. Not a bottle, takes longer. Good luck with this simple fix.

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Yes I’ve been to my gynecologist, but I feel like I’m not b bc wing listened to, ignored! I never get any answer. I’ll get some yogurt and drink more water and let you know how it goes. Thank you for your message.

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mesusan | @mesusan | Jul 28, 2024

I feel like I’m not heard by my Dr. She ignores my questions.

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danny67 | @danny5 | Jul 28, 2024
In reply to @mesusan "I feel like I’m not heard by my Dr. She ignores my questions." + (show)
Profile picture for mesusan @mesusan

I feel like I’m not heard by my Dr. She ignores my questions.

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@mesusan. than it's time to get a different doctor who will listen and not ignore you. i know. probably easier said than done. but for your own health and mind. you gotta do it. danny5

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mesusan | @mesusan | Jul 28, 2024
In reply to @danny5 "@mesusan. than it's time to get a different doctor who will listen and not ignore you...." + (show)
Profile picture for danny67 @danny5

@mesusan. than it's time to get a different doctor who will listen and not ignore you. i know. probably easier said than done. but for your own health and mind. you gotta do it. danny5

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I agree but I love her. Next time I’ll tell her to read my lips. Or call a PP Dr one!

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local74girl | @local74girl | Aug 8, 2025
In reply to @danielad ".... and here I am AGAIN! Hi @danny59 and @kidneybean1 - Thank you for replying!!!! So..." + (show)
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.... and here I am AGAIN! Hi @danny59 and @kidneybean1 - Thank you for replying!!!!
So .... Yes, I do have a GREAT urologist now; but she doesn't know WHY I have this "smell".
In honesty, I just mentioned it once to her, 3 days ago. She interpreted as a potential sign of an infection and told me to drink plenty of water. I was STILL on antibiotics because of a new UTI, and had just taken the last pill! Yes, I am drinking plenty of water. My urine is almost water color! BUT the smell is THERE! And I have to tell you, my undies reek of it too! Washing and changing doesn't affect it!

@kidneybean1, the smell is NOT anything like ammonia. It is a "medicinal" type of smell, sort of like an antiseptic used in hospitals. Does it make any sense to you? I had my husband smell it. He couldn't decipher it either. We both think it is a "familiar" smell; something we have smelled before (aside from my urine!!). It was only yesterday afternoon that it came to me: It smells like one of the antiseptics used in hospitals. He agreed!!!
This is when I sent in my question .... I've been searching for an explanation for a while now, but I haven't found any information about THIS particular type of smell.
I have seen information about the smells of Ammonia, Sulphur, Rotten Eggs, Rotten Meat, Maple syrup, Popcorn, Sweet, Fishy, and/or various foul odors. None of these seem to define the odor I smell.

Thanks for your help!!!
Hugs!
Dee

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I getthat too! I think it smells like chloraseptic throat spray!

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jarviscloutier | @jarviscloutier | Nov 7, 2025

I had this same issue that started a couple years ago, to me it smelled like ammonia-at any rate it wasn't normal smelling. Mine was all the time though, not just during an active UTI, I did noticed the odor would go away during a corse of antibiotic, but came back shortly after finishing the RX. Found I have an underachieve bladder, it doesn't completely empty-muscles down there dont work properly. Urologist has me self catherizing once a day for the past year, and the odor is completely gone now. I believe because my bladder never emptied completely, the buildup of residual urine/bacteria caused the odor. Also I have chronic bladder pain all the time now, I think my bladder lining (GAG layer)has been destroyed from all the time it was exposed to toxins in urine that never emptied completely/was stagnant.

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jarviscloutier | @jarviscloutier | Nov 7, 2025
In reply to @local74girl "I getthat too! I think it smells like chloraseptic throat spray!" + (show)
Profile picture for local74girl @local74girl

I getthat too! I think it smells like chloraseptic throat spray!

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@local74girl EXACTLY!!!

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