White Stuff or Particles in Urine: What It Means and What To Do

Urine should usually be a clear pale-yellow color, but sometimes white particles in urine can cause it to become cloudy or have a whitish appearance. Depending on the cause, the white stuff in urine can look like white sediment or even white bits or flakes floating after you have urinated. Usually, cloudy or milky urine that has white particles in it and a foul smell is a sign of an infection. However, it could be that you need to drink more fluids to dilute the concentration of waste products eliminated by your urinary system.

Depending on your fluid intake, you pee between 1 liter and 2 liters of urine in a 24-hour period. Urine contains waste products and extra fluids from your body. Certain foods, medications, the amount of fluid lost through sweat, and your health can influence the color of your urine.

White stuff in your urine causing it to appear murky or cloudy could be caused by excess protein, pus, or mucus. Because there is a risk that a urinary tract infection (UTI) could cause white particles in urine, you should always see your doctor as a UTI can quickly become a more serious condition.

In this article, you will find out what could be causing white bits and particles to float in your urine giving it an abnormal color. As well as looking at some natural home remedies for getting rid of the white stuff from your urine that shouldn’t be there, we will also discuss when you should see a doctor.

Symptoms of White Stuff or Particles in Urine

Most of the time, noticing white particle or sediment in urine is only a temporary condition and is quite common. However, if you frequently notice white chunks, specks, or bits in your pee, you should see a doctor. Sometimes, a white substance in your urine along with other symptoms could be a sign of a urinary tract infection, kidney infection, or parasite infection.

For example, whitish bits in urine along with a burning sensation when you pee, pain in your lower abdomen, cloudy urine that smells bad, and having chills could be signs that there is an infection in your bladder, urinary tract, or kidneys.

If a urine test shows up that there are white blood cells in your urine, then this could show that there is inflammation or cystitis of the bladder.

Causes of Particles or White Stuff in Urine and What to Do

Actually, the color of urine and state of your health are closely connected. That is why, if your urine contains white particles, you should try to discover the cause of it. If your symptoms last for more than a few days, you should visit your doctor who will check your symptoms and ask you to give a urine sample.

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Urinary tract infection is a common condition among women that can cause white bits to appear in urine and turn pee cloudy or foamy. UTIs are caused when bacteria enter the urethra, bladder, ureter, or kidneys and cause an infection.

According to researchers from Harvard Health, the symptoms of a lower or upper urinary tract infection are cloudy urine with a strong smell, intense urge to urinate frequently, fever, pain in the abdomen, and possible nausea and vomiting.¹

Doctors from Harvard say that you can help prevent UTIs by drinking plenty of fluids daily. They also recommend drinking cranberry juice to help prevent bacteria sticking to the urethra. To prevent bacteria entering the urinary tract and spreading germs from the anus to the vaginal area, you should wipe from front to back after using the bathroom.

There are also other ways to help treat the early symptoms of a urinary tract infection naturally. For example, the journal Reviews in Urology reported that supplementing your diet with vitamin C can help to reduce the number of bacteria in the urinary tract. Researchers found that a regular dose of vitamin C helps to neutralize acid in urine and has an antibacterial effect on the urinary system.²

Other natural remedies for getting rid of white bits in urine caused by a UTI is to use plain yogurt. Many types of plain, raw yogurt contain probiotics that can help to maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in your vagina. The journal Drugs reported that probiotics are useful in preventing recurring episodes of UTIs.³

For other natural treatments for UTI, such as D-Mannose and baking soda water please read my article on how to treat urinary tract infection (UTI) naturally.

Cystitis

Inflammation of the bladder, or cystitis, can cause white specks and particles in your urine giving it a murky appearance. A bacterial infection in your urinary tract can cause cystitis but the inflammation can also have other causes.

Doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that cystitis can be caused by harsh feminine hygiene products, a side effect of certain medications, or a complication of another illness. The bladder inflammation can result in passing cloudy urine that is foul smelling. You may also have similar UTI symptoms like stomach cramping, painful urination, and possible blood in your urine.⁴

One way to treat the white substance in urine and help reduce the discomfort caused by cystitis is to drink baking soda water. For example, the journal Reviews in Urology stated that making your urine more alkaline can help treat cystitis and relieve its symptoms.⁵ You can get rid of cystitis symptoms by mixing 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water. Drink 3-4 times a day for up to 2 days.

If your symptoms last for more than 2 days, you should see your doctor. Your doctor may test for traces of nitrites in urine which can indicate cystitis and inflammation in the bladder.

Kidney infection

A kidney infection may cause you to notice white stuff in your urine that looks like white sediment. Kidney infections are caused when bacteria get into your kidney and cause an infection. Also, there are many habits that can damage the kidneys that can put you at higher risk of developing kidney disease.

Doctors from the National Health Service say that symptoms of a kidney infection that has spread are cloudy urine, needing to urinate frequently, and pain in your lower abdomen. You will usually have discomfort in one of your sides at your lower back. Usually, doctors need to treat kidney infections to prevent them getting worse.⁶

It is important to drink enough fluids to make yourself pee more to reduce the symptoms of dehydration. Drinking more water can help to flush toxins out of the kidneys and speed up the healing process so that your urine returns to its normal color without any white bits.

Kidney infections can also cause more protein to appear in your urine, a condition called proteinuria. One of the tell-tale symptoms of kidney disease is frequently having frothy urine even though you are drinking enough fluids.

Kidney stones

Kidney stones can be a painful condition that can turn your urine milky white because they can cause kidney infections. Kidney stones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pea or marble.

Researchers from the National Kidney Foundation say that sometimes a kidney stone can block the urinary tract causing an infection. This can result in severe pain and bleeding when you urinate and cause your pee to have a cloudy look to it.⁷

In fact, Harvard researchers say that the white bits in your urine could be the tiny kidney stones exiting the body.⁸

There are various natural methods you can use to dissolve kidney stones to get rid of the pain and discomfort they cause. For example, apple cider vinegar can be used to eliminate mineral deposits from your kidneys because it contains acetic acid. The Journal of Mass Spectrometry reported that acetic acid dissolves human kidney stones and can help prevent their formation.⁹

To use apple cider vinegar as a natural kidney stone remedy, you should drink a few glasses of water containing 1 to 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar daily. This will help to get rid of the kidney stone and prevent cloudy urine due to an infection. You can also add honey to the apple cider vinegar drink to improve its taste.

Other natural remedies for getting rid of kidney stones and their symptoms are drinking lemon juice and increasing your fluid intake.

Parasite infection

Milky urine with white particles in it could be a result of a parasitic infection in your body. Intestinal parasites can infect the body through coming into contact with soil, food, or water that is contaminated with feces. Parasite infections are also common in areas that have poor sanitation and hygiene standards.

The journal Urology Annals reported that a parasite infection can cause a condition called chyluria. This affects the lymphatic system and causes lymph fluid to get into the kidneys and ureter. It can result in urine that has so much white stuff in it that it looks like pale milk.¹⁰

One way to treat an intestinal parasite infection naturally is to use food grade diatomaceous earth (DE). This is a natural, non-toxic powder that kills off parasites by destroying their outer bodies. A study in 2011 into the effect of diatomaceous earth on parasites found that it can help eradicate them from the intestines.¹¹

To consume DE for parasite control, be sure to always buy food grade diatomaceous earth. You could add some clove oil and wormwood oil to a glass of water. Follow the instructions and dosage on the packaging label and use until you no longer have symptoms of parasites.

You can get familiar with the symptoms of a parasite infection in my article on how to tell if you have intestinal parasites and what to do about it. For more ideas on getting rid of parasites naturally, please see my article on what foods and herbs to consume to rid the body of worms and parasites.

Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, you may notice a white stuff floating in your urine after you pee. Women are more at risk of contracting a UTI during pregnancy which can cause cloudy urine that hurts when they pee. Also, vaginal discharge increases throughout the pregnancy and can look like white stringy stuff in urine.

Doctors from the National Health Service say that the reason for more discharge from the vagina is to help prevent infections getting into the womb. The discharge is usually clear and white. However, if it turns another color or you have a lot of vaginal itching, you should speak to your health care provider.¹²

Dr. Melinda Ratini on WebMD says that UTIs commonly affect women during pregnancy. This can cause urine to appear cloudy and cause pain when you pee.¹³

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

A serious infection that can make your urine turn cloudy and possibly have floating white particles on it is bacterial vaginosis. BV occurs when there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina that causes an imbalance of the vaginal flora.

The organization Women’s Health from Australia says that bacterial vaginosis can cause gray or white vaginal discharge and a burning sensation when peeing. There may be a foul fishy smell from the discharge as well.¹⁴

To help restore balance to the bacteria in your vagina, you can consume raw yogurt or use a tampon soaked in it and insert it into your vagina. A study from 2012 found that probiotic yogurt helped to reduce the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis and was just as effective as the pharmaceutical drug clindamycin.¹⁵

For more ways to treat bacterial vaginosis and prevent milky discharge, please read my article on the best home remedies for bacterial vaginosis (BV). There you can find out how to use tea tree oil, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, and garlic to treat a bacterial overgrowth in the vagina.

Yeast infection

You may have white clumps in urine from vaginal discharge if you have a yeast infection. Vaginal yeast infections occur when the Candida albicans fungal strain starts to overgrow in the vagina. Usually, the proper balance of bacteria keeps the overgrowth in check, however, if something disrupts the delicate balance, you may get the symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection.

Dr. Kathleen Romito on WebMD says that vaginal yeast infections commonly cause various problems around the vagina. This includes white clumpy discharge, itching, and irritated skin and redness around the labia.¹⁶

You can use the antifungal properties of tea tree oil to help treat and get rid of a vaginal yeast infection. The journal Phytotherapy Research reported that suppositories containing tea tree oil have a fungicidal action in the vagina. They can be used to treat vaginal yeast infections (candidiasis) caused by the Candida albicans strain.¹⁷

All you have to do to make your own natural remedy for a vaginal yeast infection is to dilute 2-3 drops tea tree oil with 1/3 cup of warm water and soak a tampon in it. Insert into your vagina and leave overnight. Repeat the process until the yeast infection has healed and you no longer have signs of a vaginal infection.

You can find other natural ways to eradicate a vaginal yeast overgrowth in my article on how to treat yeast infection naturally. You can also treat yeast infection with coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, or yogurt with probiotics.

Retrograde ejaculation

One reason that men may notice white particles in their urine is if they suffer from a retrograde ejaculation. If semen isn’t ejaculated out through the penis but enters the bladder, this will result in little or no semen with the orgasm. According to doctors from the Mayo Clinic, this results in whitish-colored urine because of the presence of semen in it.

White Stuff or Particles in Urine – When to See a Doctor

If your symptoms of white particles in urine persist or you have other symptoms, you should visit your doctor promptly. Urinary infections, if not treated promptly, can cause more serious infections and, in some cases, lead to infertility.

If white, cloudy urine is accompanied by any of the following conditions, you should see a doctor:

• You have a strong, persistent urge to pee, but only a small amount of cloudy urine comes out.
• You have a burning sensation when urinating.
• The cloudy urine has a foul smell.
• You have abdominal discomfort.
• You have a fever with or without chills.
• You experience nausea and vomiting.

Read my other related articles:

• What Can Your Urine Tell You about Your Health
• Urine Smells Like Coffee: What Does it Mean?
• Ammonia Smell in Urine: Causes and What to Do About It
• Here’s Why You Have Bubbles in Your Urine

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