Foamy urine can often result from having a fast urine stream. However, a range of medical conditions may also have this effect.

Urine is typically flat, but it can appear foamy in certain circumstances. The causes of foamy urine vary from forceful urination to dehydration. It can also be a symptom of kidney disease.

If a person notices foamy urine frequently, or if foamy urine accompanies other symptoms, they should speak with a doctor.

This article will look at the causes of foamy urine and some of the treatment options available for each condition.

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If a person releases a lot of urine at once, especially quickly or forcefully, the urine may appear foamy. The speed can cause temporary bubbling. Organic compounds called surfactants can also cause bubbling, some research suggests.

Surfactants diffuse in water and contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic ends. This means that they can help trap pockets of gas on the surface of a liquid, creating bubbles.

Soap contains these surfactants. Due to this, the presence of soap or other cleaning products in toilet water may also cause someone’s urine to appear bubbly.

However, several medical conditions can also result in bubbly or foamy urine. The sections below will look at some of these conditions in more detail.

Dehydration

If a person is dehydrated, their urine may appear darker and more concentrated than usual. This is because they are not drinking enough clear fluids to dilute the other substances, such as protein, in the urine.

Proteins have surfactant properties and, when present in larger quantities, may cause urine to foam upon passing, according to one 2019 review.

If a person regularly experiences foamy urine, even when fully hydrated, it may be a symptom of proteinuria (protein in urine). This can be an early symptom of kidney disease.

Kidney disease

One vital function of the kidneys is to filter proteins in the blood. These proteins perform essential functions in the body, such as maintaining a balance of fluids.

If a person has kidney damage or disease, proteins can leak from the kidneys into the urine, some analyses suggest.

Albumin is a protein present in the blood. A fully functional kidney does not allow large amounts of this protein to pass into a person’s urine, whereas a damaged kidney may do so.

The presence of albumin in the urine is called albuminuria, or sometimes proteinuria, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

If a person’s urine is persistently foamy, it may indicate proteinuria. This can be an early symptom of kidney disease.

Some other symptoms of kidney disease may include:

If a person has these symptoms and a family history of kidney disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes, they should contact a doctor for testing.

Diabetes

Medical guidance states that diabetes and other causes of high blood sugar levels may result in higher levels of albumin passing through the kidneys. This can result in foamy urine.

Diabetic nephropathy is a complication associated with type 2 diabetes. It is due to changes in the structure and formation of the kidneys.

Some research suggests that damage to the kidney’s microvascular (small blood vessel) and filtration systems due to diabetic nephropathy may allow proteins to pass into the urine more freely. This may result in proteinuria and, therefore, foamy urine.

Someone with type 2 diabetes may experience other symptoms, including:

According to some research, there is no objective definition of foamy urine as a specific condition.

However, a doctor can diagnose the cause of foamy urine by testing a urine sample with a dipstick to determine whether or not protein levels are high.

That being said, some analyses suggest that differences in protein compositions limit the efficacy of this method.

If the urine has high protein levels, the doctor may want to confirm that this effect is consistent, and they will recommend a 24-hour urine test. This test requires a person to collect all the urine they produce throughout the day.

A further urine test can compare the amount of albumin with the amount of creatinine, which is another waste product.

According to some guidance, if a person’s albumin-to-creatinine ratio is higher than average, they may have kidney disease.

To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may recommend a kidney ultrasound to evaluate the structure and general health of these organs.

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. In addition, a person may need to check their blood sugar levels regularly to ensure that they are within an acceptable range.

Doctors may prescribe medications for people with early kidney disease. They may also recommend making positive lifestyle changes, such as:

People with severe kidney disease or kidneys that function poorly may require dialysis. This is a procedure that cleanses the blood of excess waste.

If a person has foamy urine, they should consider the most likely causes first. These include urinating with a strong stream, being dehydrated, and there being soap or another cleaning product in the toilet bowl.

However, if foamy urine accompanies other symptoms or reoccurs, a person should contact a doctor for further evaluation.