Cloudy or milky-looking urine usually means there is something mixed into the urine, such as white blood cells, bacteria, mucus, crystals (minerals), or blood, instead of it being clear and pale yellow. Sometimes this is harmless and temporary, but it can also be a sign of an underlying problem, especially if it keeps happening or comes with other symptoms.
Common harmless causes
Cloudy urine can happen if you are mildly dehydrated, because your urine becomes more concentrated and can look darker and less clear. It may also occur briefly from certain foods, vitamin or mineral supplements, or minor contamination of the urine with vaginal discharge or semen.
Possible medical causes
Cloudy urine is often linked to urinary tract infections (UTIs), which can also cause burning with urination, needing to pee often, lower stomach pain, or foul-smelling urine. Other causes include kidney stones, bladder inflammation (cystitis), sexually transmitted infections, and sometimes conditions like diabetes, which can change the composition of urine.
When to seek urgent care
Seek urgent medical care if cloudy urine comes with pain in your side or back, fever or chills, nausea or vomiting, or visible blood in the urine, as these can suggest a more serious infection or kidney stones. Medical evaluation is also important if the cloudiness lasts more than a day or two despite good hydration, or if you are pregnant, immunocompromised, or have known kidney disease.
What you can do now
If you only notice cloudy urine once and feel well otherwise, drinking more water over the next day can help, and you can monitor whether it clears. If it keeps happening, or you have burning, urgency, pelvic pain, abnormal discharge, or any of the serious symptoms above, arrange to see a healthcare professional promptly, who can test your urine and treat infections or other causes.
