1. < Women's Health

Urine smell

Posted by mmoss @mmoss, Mar 28, 2021

I am a 67 year women who has had unexplained burning pain that feels like it is in my vagina and pelvic area For the past 3 months. I also notice a smell on my under ware that smells funny like sour or ammonia. I have had an extensive work up with a ob/gyn, and a urologist. Tests include cystoscopy, a ultra sound of vagina inside and out, CT with contrast and without of area. I’ve had extensive blood work as well. I am taking Vicodin for pain management, so maybe the urine smell is from the medication. Just curious if anyone has had symptoms like I mentioned above. I was a extremely healthy vibrant women prior to the last three months with no underlying conditions. Thank you in advance for any suggestions to fight this pain.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 4, 2021

@mmoss, medications can, of course, affect the smell and look of urine. Is the medication helping with the pain?

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 5, 2021

Hello @mmoss

Often drinking more water during the day can help dilute the urine and help with this type of problem. Have you tried increasing your water intake to see if that helps?

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sandy148 | @sandy148 | Apr 6, 2021

I have this burning sensation IF I don't estrogen insert three times a week (brand name Vagifem).

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friederike1913 | @friederike19 | Apr 7, 2021

Can I suggest a Pudendal Neuralgia - this could be the cause.
I recently had a pungent urinary smell and went to ER for an antibiotic, suspecting a UTI.
I landed up with an ultrasound which showed a biliary stricture and seriously backed up bile in the gall bladder. No stones, no jaundice, no symptoms. Gall bladder removed by an untrained surgeon who irritated the pudendal nerves on endoscopic intervention.
It was hell, unbearable and had to be stented by a biliary specialist. The stricture was dealt with and the pudendal neuralgia settled within a month. I refused a pudendal block at the time. Look into a biliary cause it further ---- the body is such a complicated but integral, machine-
Intestitial cystitis ? Pudendal Neuralgia - very probably, all was linked to the smelly urine.

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 9, 2021
In reply to @friederike19 "Can I suggest a Pudendal Neuralgia - this could be the cause. I recently had a..." + (show)
@friederike19

Can I suggest a Pudendal Neuralgia - this could be the cause.
I recently had a pungent urinary smell and went to ER for an antibiotic, suspecting a UTI.
I landed up with an ultrasound which showed a biliary stricture and seriously backed up bile in the gall bladder. No stones, no jaundice, no symptoms. Gall bladder removed by an untrained surgeon who irritated the pudendal nerves on endoscopic intervention.
It was hell, unbearable and had to be stented by a biliary specialist. The stricture was dealt with and the pudendal neuralgia settled within a month. I refused a pudendal block at the time. Look into a biliary cause it further ---- the body is such a complicated but integral, machine-
Intestitial cystitis ? Pudendal Neuralgia - very probably, all was linked to the smelly urine.

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@friederike19, interesting that you should mention pudendal neuralgia as a possible cause for strong smell in urine. I hope that @mmoss sees your post. Just a couple of days after posting this discussion, she posted this in the pudendal neuralgia discussion https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/49456/

Friederike, has everything resolved for you now?

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