Passing foamy urine now and then is normal, for the speed of urination and other factors can influence this. But you should see your doctor if you have persistently foamy urine that becomes more noticeable over time. This can be a sign of protein in your urine (proteinuria), which requires further evaluation.
Sometimes urine looks bubbly because you had a full bladder and a strong urine stream. A single layer of bubbles that disappears is normal, especially if it only happens now and then. Cleaning products. Cleaning products in the toilet bowl can make it appear there are bubbles in your urine.
It is not unreasonable to expect that ruptured cells releasing membrane phospholipids in the urine, as in microscopic hematuria and/or pyuria without proteinuria, can contribute to formation of urine foam.
Historically, persistent foamy urine noticed upon voiding is considered a warning sign of kidney disease. Foamy urine is characterized by the appearance and persistence of multiple layers of small to medium bubbles in urine voided into a container, such as a toilet bowl (see Figure 1).
The treatment options for foamy urine depend on the underlying cause. If a person is dehydrated, they should drink more clear fluids until the urine is pale yellow or nearly transparent. If diabetes is the underlying cause, a doctor may prescribe oral medications or insulin injections to reduce blood sugar levels.
While bubbles are clear, foam is more of an opaque shade of white. And foamy urine is often a sign that there is protein in your urine, according to Northwestern Medicine. That could indicate that your kidneys are not functioning properly because they're responsible for filtering and keeping protein in your body.
Normal urine is clear, with a yellowish hue, explains Dr. Ghossein, with no blood or foam. But foam is different from bubbles, she says. “Bubbles are bigger, clear and flushable,” Dr. Ghossein explains, noting that everyone will have bubbles in the toilet after urinating.
A small amount of protein in your urine is normal, but too much can be a sign of kidney disease.
Healthy people will see bubbles in the toilet when they urinate with “some applied force,” Su said, but “the frothy bubbles should recede in about 10 to 20 minutes.
When your kidneys are failing, a high concentration and accumulation of substances lead to brown, red, or purple urine. Studies suggest the urine color is due to abnormal protein or sugar as well as high numbers of cellular casts and red and white blood cells.
You can't prevent proteinuria. However, you can manage it. Many conditions that cause proteinuria are treatable with medications and lifestyle changes.
Long-standing diabetes causes diabetes-related nephropathy. Symptoms don't appear until later stages, but they include swelling, peeing more often, foamy pee, nausea and fatigue.
If a urine test reveals protein in your urine, your health care provider may ask you to have more testing done. Because protein in urine can be temporary, you may need to repeat a urine test first thing in the morning or a few days later. You also may need to do a 24-hour urine collection for lab testing.
“If your urine is very concentrated, a small amount of protein may seem like a lot.” Other factors that can allow extra protein to slip by your kidneys' filters include stress, fever, intense exercise, and even exposure to extreme cold, according to the Mayo Clinic.
If your urine does not test positive for protein (albumin or any other protein), then foam in the urine is of no concern. It might reflect a normal amount of protein in the urine which acts as a detergent and creates bubbles.
Normally, we shouldn't lose more than 150 mg of protein in 24 hours. While foamy urine is usually nothing to worry about, it could mean that you're spilling too much protein.
If your urine is clear and you're not on a water pill or drinking a lot of water, it may signal an underlying kidney problem or possibly diabetes.