Foamy urine can happen at any time and is considered normal if only occasionally. It's different if Foamy urine continues-continuously because in fact can be indicative of certain serious illnesses.
Normal urine is generally pale yellow to deep yellow with slight changes in aroma, texture, and color, depending on the food or drug being consumed. Meanwhile, occasional foamy urine can simply be a sign of a full bladder, so that urine flows quickly and becomes foamy when expelled.
But you should check with your doctor if you continue to pass foamy urine. This condition can be a symptom of proteinuria or the presence of protein in the urine. High levels of protein in the urine can then be an indication of serious kidney problems. Foam appears because the protein in the urine reacts with air.
Protein in urine can be caused by glomerular disease, Fanconi syndrome, increased quantity of protein in serum, excess fluid consumption, and side effects of drugs containing bevacizumab which are used in cancer treatment.
Under normal conditions, the kidneys filter waste products and excess water in the body to be excreted through urine. However, due to kidney disorders, the filtering process does not run properly so that protein leaks and enters the urine. This condition, called proteinuria, indicates chronic kidney disease or end-stage kidney disease. You are more at risk of developing kidney disease, especially if there is a family history of kidney disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
In other cases, foamy urine can also be caused by retrograde ejaculation, which is when a man's semen is not expelled through the penis, but up into the bladder. This situation can be triggered by diabetes, nerve damage from spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis, prostate or urethral surgery, and/or taking medications to treat high blood pressure or an enlarged prostate.
In addition, the consumption of certain drugs, such as phenazopyridine to treat urinary tract infections, can also cause foamy urine. Sometimes, foamy urine can be caused by high levels of bilirubinuria or bilirubin in the urine as well.
Further tests are needed to detect the exact cause of foamy urine. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor, especially if foamy urine occurs continuously and/or accompanied by other symptoms such as:
- Loss of appetite.
- Fatigue.
- Accumulation of fluid in the hands, feet, abdomen and face due to kidney disorders.
- Hard to sleep.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Changes in the color and volume of your urine, especially if your urine is cloudy or darker.
Diagnosis of the cause of foamy urine will then be determined based on the examination of protein levels in the urine sample. If urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio If your (UACR) is more than 30 mg/g, there is a possibility that you have kidney disease. This condition will then be confirmed again by undergoing other tests. If retrograde ejaculation is suspected as the cause of foamy urine, the doctor will check for sperm in the urine.
Treatment for foamy urine will depend on the underlying cause. If it is caused by kidney disease, the doctor will provide treatment to relieve the symptoms of the disease. Frequent diabetes and high blood pressure are triggers for kidney damage. Therefore, doctors can advise patients to start exercising regularly and eating healthy foods. Consumption of drugs that cause foamy urine should also be consulted with a doctor to find an alternative.
