Warning Signs Your Cloudy Pee Is Actually A Symptom Of A Prostate Problem

If you're drinking enough water every day, this should be reflected in your urine output. When we're adequately hydrated, our pee will appear clear or pale yellow. Any color besides that may hint something else is going on, including pee that has become a cloudy white color, explains the Cleveland Clinic.

Alkalinity is often responsible for foggy urine. The combination of salts, water, and waste expelled from the body in the form of pee influences how alkaline or acidic our urine is, as determined by our urine's pH levels. A healthy pH measurement generally falls between 4.5 and 8. Urine with a pH level lower than 5 indicates acidic urine, while a pH measurement of 8 or above suggests more alkaline urine. The greater the alkalinity of our pee, the cloudier it may appear. Although not always a health concern, eating an excess of certain foods may cause alkalinity to rise, such as fruits or vegetables. Sometimes, however, milky-white pee can signal a prostate issue, explains WebMD. If this is the case, you'll likely notice some of the following additional symptoms.

Signs that cloudy urine may stem from a prostate issue include painful ejaculation, the presence of blood in one's pee, difficulty getting one's urine stream going, or burning sensations while peeing. Such symptoms may be caused by a swollen prostate, which can hinder urine flow through the urethra, explains WebMD. The longer urine remains in the body, the cloudier it can become. If you notice potential symptoms of a swollen prostate, reach out to your healthcare provider.

A swollen prostate may further develop into prostatitis, which has also been associated with cloudy urine (per Medical News Today). Affecting mostly younger and middle-aged people with prostates, prostatitis occurs when a patient develops acute or chronic prostate inflammation. There are different types of prostatitis, and fewer than 10% of cases can be traced to a bacterial infection, according to 2020 research published in InnovAiT. Alternatively, a candida infection (a type of fungal infection) was to blame for a case of chronic prostatitis in a 51-year-old patient who had experienced lower urinary tract symptoms for two decades, including cloudy urine (per Urology Case Reports).

Depending on the type of prostatitis a patient has, your physician may recommend different medications. Antibiotics may be used to treat bacteria-related cases of prostatitis, while medications that provide symptom relief may be prescribed for chronic cases of prostatitis (via Medical News Today).

Keep an eye on cloudy urine as it develops. If it persists for more than a few days, consult with a healthcare provider. They can help you determine if your cloudy pee may be related to a prostate problem or an alternate health condition. It's also a good idea to check your medicine cabinet and see if any prescriptions you're taking are known to cause cloudy urine as a side effect. Also, talk to your doctor if your foggy urine begins to smell funny. While diet or a lack of water may potentially be the cause, WebMD states that the two symptoms can also be indicative of a health issue, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI). To learn more, here's another unusual urine color that could point to prostate problems.