CAUSES OF FOAMY URINE

Name: Nattasha Ashwinii Stephen

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
To
To

determine the causes of foamy urine

differentiate the normal and abnormal

causes of foamy urine.

NORMAL CAUSES OF
FOAMY URINE

URINATING RAPIDLY

Rapid urination can cause foaming in the urine.

Some people postpone going to the bathroom and
collect a large amount of urine in their bladder.
This leads to forceful urination, and results in
fast emptying of the bladder. The stream of urine
that follows, hits the toilet rapidly and causes
foam to develop.
This type of foam usually disappears in a few
minutes

DEHYDRATION

Mild dehydration, such as during pregnancy or

exercise, leads the kidneys to produce
concentrated urine and causes the urine to
appear darker and more concentrated.
This often results in foamy appearing urine.
Rehydrate and drink plenty of fluids and the
problem is solved. As fluid balance is restored,
the urine will appear a pale yellow.

SEMEN IN URINE

After sexual intercourse, some semen may be left

in one's urethra, which may come out in the
urine. However, small amounts of semen do not
usually lead to foam in the urine.
Another condition called retrograde ejaculation
may result in large amounts of semen going back
to the bladder if the sphincter (a muscle that
prevents retrograde flow) is not properly
functioning. This is usually associated with
foamy urine.

ABNORMAL CAUSES OF
FOAMY URINE

PROTEIN IN THE URINE

The presence of a substantial amount of protein in one's
urine is a common factor that results in foamy urine.
Small amounts of protein may be naturally expelled in
the urine. When protein is excreted in large amounts,
however, the abnormal condition is known as
proteinuria.
Proteins in the blood do not usually come out in the
urine because they are regulated by the kidney
glomeruli. However, some conditions may cause proteins
to be filtered out into the urine, and these include:
-Kidney infection
-Kidney damage
-Excess dietary intake of protein
Foamy urine is characteristic of having an excessive
amount of protein in the urine.

INFECTION
An infection in the urinary tract caused by
bacteria or fungi can result in cloudy and foamy
urine. This is usually accompanied by a burning
pain during urination, which is characteristic of a
UTI or urinary tract infection. The
microorganisms causing the infection produce
foam in one's urine.
UTI is usually detected in a urine examination
and may be treated with antibiotics. Patients are
also advised to increase their fluid intake to flush
out the microorganisms.

FISTULA FORMATION
In some people, a fistula or unnatural connection
may develop between the urinary bladder and the
colon (large intestine), and this is called a
vesicocolic fistula. The bladder becomes swollen
and fluid accumulates beneath the skin. Foam is
formed, and on urination, the urine becomes
foamy.
Because of the connection to the colon, the urine
may also have an offensive odor and may contain
some feces. This is not a normal condition and
may be a sign of another underlying condition
such as Crohn's disease or a tumor

KIDNEY DISEASE

People with kidney disease as a complication of

diabetes or kidney stones can also have foamy
urine.

REFERENCE

http://
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urine-co
lor/expert-answers/foamy-urine/faq-20057871
http://
www.newhealthguide.org/Foamy-Urine.html
http://www.md-health.com/Foamy-Urine.html