Yeast in Urine: What You Need to Know

Rebekah Kuschmider
Rebekah Kuschmider
August 21, 2023
4
min read
Technically reviewed by: 
Adele Morris
Yeast in Urine: What You Need to Know
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Most urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by bacteria, but occasionally yeast (a type of fungus) is to blame. Read on to learn everything you need to know about yeast in urine, including causes, testing, and treatments.

Causes of Yeast in Urine

Although most UTIs are caused by bacteria, UTIs caused by yeast are becoming more common. Yeast in urine, known as candiduria, is most common in hospitalized patients and those with compromised immune systems. Those most at risk for developing UTIs caused by yeast include [1]:

  • Females
  • Premature babies and the elderly
  • Patients hospitalized for long periods or admitted to intensive care units
  • Catheterized patients
  • People on immunosuppressive therapy or receiving radiation treatment
  • Those with diabetes
  • People who have recently taken antibiotics
Those prone to yeast-caused UTIs include females, premature babies, the elderly, long-term hospital patients, catheterized individuals, those on immunosuppressive therapy or radiation, diabetics, and recent antibiotic users.
Those prone to yeast-caused UTIs include females, premature babies, the elderly, long-term hospital patients, catheterized individuals, those on immunosuppressive therapy or radiation, diabetics, and recent antibiotic users.

Symptoms of Yeast in Urine

Symptoms of yeast in urine may include frequent fever, chills, flanks pain urination, pain or burning during urination and cloudy or foul-smelling urine.
Symptoms of yeast in urine may include frequent fever, chills, flanks pain urination, pain or burning during urination and cloudy or foul-smelling urine.

What does yeast in urine look like? Well, you won't be able to see it without a microscope. And many times, people with yeast in their urine don't have any symptoms. But, if you develop a UTI caused by yeast, you could have symptoms similar to those of a bacterial UTI including:

  • Urinary frequency
  • Urinary urgency
  • Pain with urination

If the yeast infection spreads to your bloodstream, you might experience:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Flank pain

Yeast in urine occasionally leads to an obstruction of the ureters or urethra. With an obstruction, you might only pass small amounts of urine and you could also experience fever and flank pain [2].

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Diagnosing Yeast in Urine

Diagnox's Urinox-10 test strips provide an easy and affordable method to assess your urine pH without requiring a doctor's prescription.
Diagnox's Urinox-10 test strips provide an easy and affordable method to assess your urine pH without requiring a doctor's prescription.

Candiduria is usually diagnosed through a urine culture ordered by your doctor and performed in a lab. Because yeast normally lives on the skin and in the vaginal area, even in healthy people, it's common for urine samples to become contaminated. So if one urine test is positive for yeast, your doctor might test again to confirm that it's coming from your urinary tract.

One clue you can check for at home is abnormal urine pH. You can easily test urine pH using Diagnox's Urinox-10 test strips. The test strips are a discrete and affordable way to test your urine at home without a doctor's order.

Normal urine pH ranges from about 4.6 to 8. With a bacterial UTI, urine is alkaline, meaning you'll see a higher pH when testing [3]. If you have a UTI caused by yeast, your urine will likely be acidic, meaning a urine test will show a lower-than-normal pH level [4]. Fungal UTIs aren't the only cause of acidic urine, so it's important to see a healthcare provider for a diagnosis. To learn more, refer to our blog on how to use at home yeast infection test .

Treating Yeast in Urine

Not all cases of yeast in urine require treatment. Doctors typically only treat patients who are experiencing symptoms of an infection, like fever or pain with urination. If the underlying cause of yeast in urine is obvious, like having a catheter or uncontrolled diabetes, treating the cause will often clear up the yeast without treating the yeast specifically.

If you have yeast in your urine and are experiencing symptoms of an infection, your doctor may prescribe an antifungal medication like fluconazole [1]. If your doctor prescribes a medication, take it exactly as prescribed and follow up as needed.

References

[1] V. Dias, “Candida species in the urinary tract: Is it a fungal infection or not?” Future Microbiology, vol. 15, no. 2,  Feb. 2020. [Accessed July 3, 2023].

[2] S. J. Kim, J.H. Ryu, Y. B. Kim, and S. O. Yang, “Management of candida urinary tract infection in the elderly,” Urogenital Tract Infection, vol. 14, no. 2, August, 2019. [Accessed July 3, 2023].

[3] Mount Sinai Staff, “Urine pH test,” Mount Sinai. [Accessed July 3, 2023].

[4] M. Falahati et. al., “Characterization and identification of candiduria due to Candida species in diabetic patients,” Current Medical Mycology, vol. 2, no. 3, Sept. 2016. [Accessed July 3, 2023].

About the Author
Rebekah Kuschmider

Rebekah has been writing about culture, health, and politics since 2010. She has a masters degree in Arts Policy and Administration from The Ohio State University. Her work has been seen at WebMD, The Candidly, MedicineNet, YourTango, Ravishly, Babble, Scary Mommy, Salon, Role Reboot, The Good Men Project, SheSaid, Huffington Post, and Mamamia. She is a former cohost of the weekly podcast The More Perfect Union. Rebekah lives in Maryland with her husband, two kids, and a dog who sheds a lot.

About the Reviewer
This blog was
Technically reviewed by: 
Adele Morris

Adele Morris served as the editor and proofreader of this blog, displaying her exceptional editorial skills and expertise in the field.

The blog was also reviewed by the Diagnox content team. Diagnox Staff consists of a multidisciplinary team of scientists, content writers, and healthcare professionals with an expertise to create and review high-quality, informative, accurate, and easy-to-understand content for both professionals and everyday readers. Our staff follows strict guidelines to ensure the credibility and authenticity of the information, reviewing them independently and verifying them by various scientific and technical sources to ensure accuracy. Our review team believes in delivering knowledge free from bias to improve public health and well-being.

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