What Does the Color of Your Pee Mean?
Take this quiz to find out what your urine color might be trying to tell you about your health.
If your pee is milky white and cloudy, that can be a sign that there’s an infection somewhere in your urinary tract. But it's not always necessarily a sign of something bad. If you have a penis, it might just be seminal fluid if you did not ejaculate. It could also be normal if you are on medications like alpha blockers (flomax) that cause retrograde ejaculation.
What if your pee is foamy or bubbly? Sometimes, this is just a weird thing that happens because you’re peeing fast and air bubbles get into the urine. But if you’re noticing that your pee always looks like a bubble bath, that can be a sign that something’s up. Foamy urine may have protein in it, which can be a sign that your kidneys are having a hard time. This could also be a sign of a fistula (unwanted connection) between your bowel and bladder. That’s something that a healthcare provider needs to look into, especially if you’re also noticing any unusual color or smell to your pee.
Having totally clear pee usually means that you’re drinking (and peeing) a lot of fluid. But be careful. While being properly hydrated is important for your health, there is such a thing as drinking too much water, and overhydrating can be dangerous.
This quiz is not meant to be a diagnostic tool or replace the support of a credentialed health professional, such as your primary care provider.
Most of the time, people who are well-hydrated and not experiencing any urinary problems have pale yellow pee. Dark yellow pee can be normal too, though it may indicate you need more water.
This quiz is not meant to be a diagnostic tool or replace the support of a credentialed health professional, such as your primary care provider.
Brown urine is sometimes just super-concentrated normal urine and it can be a sign that you’re dehydrated. But dark brown urine can also be a side effect of medications, like some antibiotics, sennoside laxatives, and some mental health medications. Certain health conditions, like liver problems and hepatitis C, can also make your pee dark.
Foods like fava beans can also give you brown pee temporarily. If your pee is dark like Coke or tea, that can be a sign of kidney problems, so it’s something to mention to your provider.
Orange pee can also be a sign you’re not drinking enough, a side effect of medications (like some chemo drugs), or even a problem with the bile production in your body (which can be related to your liver).
This quiz is not meant to be a diagnostic tool or replace the support of a credentialed health professional, such as your primary care provider.
If you see a little pink tinge in the bowl when you pee, you may be worried about blood. While pink/red pee can have blood in it, this color can also happen if you eat certain foods—especially red foods like beets. Before you panic, think about what you’ve had to eat or drink lately.
If you do have blood in your urine, know that there’s a range of reasons for bloody pee, from UTIs and kidney stones to more serious health conditions. It’s best to talk to your provider if you’re seeing pink or red pee and you know it’s not from a food, drink, or medication.
This quiz is not meant to be a diagnostic tool or replace the support of a credentialed health professional, such as your primary care provider.
Most of the time, pee that looks blue or green is definitely related to something you had to eat or drink that had food dye in it. It can also be a medication side effect or something you notice after you’ve had dye for a medical procedure (like an imaging scan). There is a type of bacterial infection and a genetic disorder can also make your pee look purple, but they’re not common.
This quiz is not meant to be a diagnostic tool or replace the support of a credentialed health professional, such as your primary care provider.