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Different Urine Colors Explained
Different colors of urine can indicate different issues or factors. The following sections further explain what certain urine colors may mean.
Clear or colorless urine
Clear urine may be a sign that a person is drinking a lot of water. Doing this can alter the balance of electrolytes in the blood.
Diuretics, or water pills, increase urine output. People taking these medications may find they urinate more frequently, and their urine may be clear.
Pale or transparent yellow urine
Pale or transparent yellow urine typically signifies that a person is hydrated and drinking enough water.
Diabetes insipidus is a condition in which the body produces excess urine due to hormonal abnormalities. It can cause people to pass large quantities of light-colored urine every time they urinate. It can also cause people to feel very thirsty, leading them to drink fluids frequently.
Diabetes mellitus can also cause an increase in urine output. This occurs due to sugar excretion in the urine, rather than hormonal imbalances.
Dark yellow urine
Dark yellow urine may indicate that a person is mildly dehydrated. This typically means that they need to drink more water.
There is no recommendation regarding how much water a person should drink each day. However, if possible, a person may wish to aim for approximately 6 to 8 glasses of water per day.
Orange urine
Light orange urine may mean a person is slightly dehydrated, so may need to increase their fluid intake.
Medications that may turn urine orange include:
Dark orange or brown urine
The Urology Care Foundation notes that dark orange or brown urine can occur if a person is not producing enough urine. This makes the urine they produce more concentrated and darker in color.
This may be due to dehydration, strenuous exercise, or being in a hot climate. Drinking more fluids and replacing electrolytes may help dilute the urine, which will also make it lighter in color.
Eating large amounts of fava beans can also turn urine a dark brown color.
Dark urine may be a sign of a liver problem. A liver problem can cause the body to excrete high levels of bilirubin, a pigment present in bile, which can cause jaundice and dark urine.
Dark brown or black urine
Dark urine may be an indication of a medical condition:
Pink or red urine
A person's urine may be pink or red after eating certain foods, such as beetroot, blackberries, and rhubarb.
Blood in the urine, or hematuria, may also cause urine to become pink or red. This may occur due to:
Laxatives that contain senna and phenazopyridine (a drug to treat urinary tract discomfort) can cause urine to turn reddish-orange.
Contacting a healthcare professional about blood in the urine is essential to determine the underlying cause.
Blue or green urine
Certain medications or eating foods that contain large amounts of food dye can cause blue or green urine.
Green urine may also indicate a UTI.
Cloudy urine
Other symptoms may include:
White or milky urine
Chyluria is a condition in which chyle, a milky substance made during digestion, is present in the urine.
Purple urine
In very rare cases, a person may experience purple urine due to bacterial urinary infections.
Diabetes may increase the frequency of urination. It can also increase thirst, and when a person drinks more, this can result in an increased urine output that is paler in color.
Otherwise, there appear to be no unusual urine color changes for well-managed diabetes.
When to seek medical help
Diabetes can increase the risk of UTIs, which can cause cloudy urine. Prompt treatment of a UTI can help prevent complications.
Diabetes can increase the risk of kidney disease. If people have urine that is consistently darker than usual, appears foamy or bubbly, or the amount of urine they produce or the frequency of urination changes, they should contact a healthcare professional.
People will also need to contact a healthcare professional if their urine appears red or brown, as this may be a sign of blood in the urine, which can indicate kidney problems.
People may need to urinate more frequently when pregnant due to hormonal changes and increased pressure on the bladder. This can occur throughout pregnancy.
People may also experience urine leakage in the later stages of pregnancy due to increased pressure on the pelvic floor.
If people have morning sickness during pregnancy that causes nausea and vomiting, it may lead to dehydration. People may notice they produce less urine and that it is darker in color. Replacing lost fluids and electrolytes may help return urine to typical amounts and color.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends people drink 8 to 12 cups (64 to 96 ounces) of water every day during pregnancy.
When to seek medical help
Pregnancy increases the risk of UTIs. A person should contact a healthcare professional if their urine becomes cloudy, as this can indicate an infection.
Vaginal bleeding or spotting is common during the early weeks of pregnancy, and this may turn urine pink or red. A person should still inform a healthcare professional about this so that they can check there is no underlying problem.
What Does The Color Of Your Pee Reveal About Your Health? Doctors Explain
The color of your urine can serve as an indication of your health. (Photo: Getty Images)
Whether you're the queen of England or a newborn baby, everyone pees. The average person flushes five to six times a day, but urine is not something most people typically keep a close eye on — unless they suddenly notice an unusual color in the toilet.
Despite what you might have heard, clear urine is not the only hallmark of good health. A range of colors is acceptable.
First, why do you need to pee?Urine is made up of excess water, electrolyte salts and other waste. The kidneys produce urine, which finds its way into the bladder and is later excreted. The bladder fills up, and eventually reaches a point when it can't hold anymore, which causes the sensation that informs you that you must make a visit to the bathroom.
This process is necessary because it's harmful to have too much water in your system. Dr. Mark Ellerkmann, director of the Center for Urogynecology at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, tells Yahoo Life that toxins in the body and bloodstream need to be eliminated. As the kidneys filter the blood, they remove toxins and extra water to make urine.
Of course, if your pee is coming out a blood orange color, it's normal to be concerned. Some health conditions can change the color of urine. Fortunately, experts say, there are also many nonmedical reasons for such changes.
Why does urine change color?Ellerkmann says that the shade can depend on urine concentration, which influences a natural pigment called urochrome. When the urine is more concentrated (with less water and more waste product), it's darker. When you're hydrated, the urine is less concentrated and you have a clear or light color.
Other things, for example, your medication, your diet and any infections you may experience, can cause the urine to change color. "Your color can vary depending on your hydration status. Any transient changes in urine color should not alarm you," Ellerkmann says.
So what does the color of your urine mean?The color of your urine can serve as a window to your health.
If your urine is yellow…
If you're well-hydrated, your urine will probably be a clear or light yellow. Ellerkmann explains that this has to do with maintaining a balance of fluids as the kidneys eliminate excess fluid in the body. "We don't want to become dehydrated, but we also don't want to become over-hydrated," he says. "This whole concept of homeostasis and fluid management is something the kidneys handle."
When a person is getting enough water, the kidney flushes out the excess, leaving a clear, lighter color. With dehydration, the kidney holds on to the fluids, and the urine is darker.
"Generally, I tell patients to drink enough water to keep their urine light yellow, but that amount can be different for everybody," Dr. Jason Kim, associate professor of urology at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University and director of the Women's Pelvic Health and Continence Center at Stony Brook Medicine, tells Yahoo Life.
If your urine is orange…
One of the most common explanations for orange urine is medication. Kim explains that pyridium is frequently prescribed for urinary tract infections (UTIs), and that one of its side effects is that it turns urine a reddish-orange. This is a sign that the medicine is doing its job, and the color will go away once you stop taking the medication. Some laxatives and certain chemotherapy drugs have the same effect.
Kim says taking high amounts of vitamin also produce a bright yellow or orange urine. These vitamins, such as riboflavin, are water-soluble and not completely absorbed by the body. When there is too much vitamin B, the kidneys filter and remove the excess, resulting in a lot of bright yellow to orange urine. Another nutrient responsible for orange urine is beta carotene, the pigment that gives carrots its orange color.
If your urine has a blue or green tint…
Kim says medications including some anesthetics, such as propofol, have occasionally turned urine blue. For those undergoing a procedure or medical intervention, doctors can sometimes use certain dyes that can make the urine look blue.
Eating foods with strong food coloring dyes can also cause urine to turn a shade of blue or green.
If your urine is brown…
If you're dehydrated, your urine may have a brown hue to it. Kim says dark brown urine indicates you're not drinking enough fluids, because your urine is too concentrated.
But if you're chugging water regularly, Ellerkmann says one reason for brown urine is that you've recently eaten some blackberries. If that's the case, he says the urine color change is harmless and probably means you have just eaten a lot of the fruit in a short time.
However, according to the Mayo Clinic, some liver and kidney disorders, as well as some urinary tract infections, can turn urine dark brown and warrant a doctor's visit.
If your urine is cloudy…
Cloudy urine and a burning sensation or difficulty urinating can be a sign of a urinary tract infection. Kim says it's important to see your doctor for a workup and get the right antibiotics for quick relief.
If your urine is dark or red…
While reddish pee can be due to eating certain types of produce — "some vegetables with vitamin B, rhubarb or beets can cause red urine," notes Kim — a dark hue may represent blood in the urine, also called hematuria.
Ellerkmann says this can be caused by several conditions involving the bladder and kidneys. "If it has more of a coffee grounds appearance, that would be very concerning," he says. It can be a sign of blood in the urine from kidney stones, kidney cancer or bladder cancer.
One indicator that dark urine is from blood, says Ellerkmann, is if it continues to show up for several days. "Persistent bright-red blood, bloody urine or very dark-colored urine should be evaluated," he says.
When to go to the doctorBlood in the urine is never normal and can signal a serious medical condition that should alert you to see your health care provider or a urologist immediately. A range of health problems involves blood in the urine, including:
Kidney stones
Cancer
Urinary tract infection
Kidney disease
Bladder disease
"The American Medical Association recommends a workup if there's blood in the urine, and this would include specialized urine tests, along with some sort of imaging tests such as a CAT [computerized tomography] scan and a cystoscopy," Kim explains.
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The Color Of Urine Can Tell A Lot About Your Health
After using the restroom, there's a reason you should look before you flush.
Dr. Kayla Fazio, a family physician with Baptist Primary Care, said urine can be used as a tool to determine problems within the body.
"Urine can be a good indicator of our hydration status," Fazio said. "But it can also be used to identify underlying health issues, such as infections and chronic conditions."
Colors of the rainbowClear pee is a sign of hydration -- too much, in fact. Contrary to popular belief, a normal, healthier shade ranges from a pale yellow to a darker, almost amber hue. Color can fluctuate throughout the day, and any shades within this range shouldn't be cause for alarm. However, if you notice that your urine is on the darker side, it may be time to grab some water.
Certain foods can give your pee a red tint (beets are a common culprit). However, red urine can also indicate a serious health issue, such as blood in the urine caused by an infection, kidney stones or bladder disease.
Urine can appear on the orange side if you are dehydrated. Drinking more water should help your urine return to a healthy yellow. Some common over-the-counter medications like phenazopyridine, used to relieve urinary tract infection symptoms, can also cause orange urine. But orange urine can also signal issues with the liver or bile duct system.
Brown urine can be caused by more severe dehydration. It can also be a sign of a life-threatening condition called rhabdomyolysis, a rapid breakdown of muscle tissue. Other causes of brown urine include liver issues or consuming laxatives containing senna, an herb used to treat constipation.
Completing the rainbow, green, blue and purple pee occur much less frequently. They are most commonly caused by food dyes or medication, but in rare cases, may be the sign of an underlying health issue.
"If you experience any colors out of the ordinary or feel discomfort while urinating, it's always a good rule of thumb to contact your doctor," Fazio said.
The shades of urine.To find the right doctor for you, call 904.202.4YOU or visit Baptist Primary Care to make an appointment.
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