A urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs when bacteria invades and infects the urinary tract, usually starting in the bladder. One of the most common symptoms of a UTI is a change in the color and smell of urine. Understanding what the different urine colors may indicate can help determine if you likely have a UTI and need to see a doctor for treatment.
Normal Urine Color
Normal healthy urine should be a pale yellow to gold color. This hue is primarily due to the pigment urochrome which is produced when your body breaks down dead blood cells. The more hydrated you are, the lighter and more clear your urine will be. Dark yellow urine is a sign you need to drink more fluids.
Pink or Red Urine
Pink or reddish urine is most commonly caused by blood mixing with the urine. The medical term for this is hematuria. There are several possible causes of blood in the urine, many of which require prompt medical evaluation:
– Urinary tract infection (UTI) – The inflammation and irritation from a UTI can cause bleeding in the urinary tract.
– Kidney stones – Sharp kidney stones cutting the urinary tract causes bleeding as they pass.
– Enlarged prostate (BPH) – In men, an enlarged prostate puts pressure on the urethra leading to blood in the urine.
– Bladder cancer – One of the early signs of bladder cancer is blood that frequently appears in the urine.
– Medications – Certain medications like anti-inflammatories and antibiotics can lead to a reddish urine color.
– Foods – Beets, blackberries, and rhubarb can sometimes turn urine pink or red. This harmlessly goes away in a day or two after stopping the food.
– Strenuous exercise – Very intense exercise can cause myoglobin, a protein from damaged muscle tissue, to appear in the urine giving it a pink or red tint.
If you have no potential cause from medication or diet, have blood persistently present in your urine, or have other UTI symptoms, you should see a doctor for evaluation. Diagnostic tests can determine the underlying cause and guide appropriate treatment.
Orange Urine
Orange colored urine is uncommon but can occur due to a few different causes:
– Dehydration – When you are severely dehydrated, the urine becomes much more concentrated. This results in urine that is a dark yellow to orange hue. Drinking adequate fluids helps dilute the urine back to a lighter yellow color.
– Medications – Certain antibiotics (nitrofurantoin), laxatives (senna), and chemotherapy drugs can lead to orange urine. The color change is harmless and resolves after finishing the medication.
– Liver disease – Serious liver conditions like hepatitis and cirrhosis cause excess bilirubin production. High levels of bilirubin in the urine turn it dark orange or brown.
– Inherited disorders – Rare genetic disorders that impair bilirubin metabolism can also lead to orange urine from birth. These include Crigler-Najjar syndrome and Gilbert’s syndrome.
– Food dyes – Massive intake of foods colored with orange or red dyes may be visible in the urine for a short time. Carrots, vitamin C supplements, and tomato juice are a few examples. The orange hue is temporary.
Orange urine related to dehydration, medications, or diet is not necessarily anything to be concerned about. However, orange coloring associated with liver disease does require medical assessment. Your doctor can run tests to determine if there is an underlying liver issue that needs addressed.
Green or Blue Urine
Green or blue urine is very uncommon but can be caused by:
– Dyes and pigments – Certain medications contain dyes that may turn urine blue or green. These include propofol (anesthesia), amitriptyline (antidepressant), and indomethacin (anti-inflammatory). Food dyes can sometimes have a similar effect.
– Infections – Bacterial infections, especially pseudomonas, can result in blue or green urine due to the bacteria’s pigments. However, UTIs do not typically cause this urine color.
– Inherited disorders – Rare genetic conditions such as familial hypercalciuria can cause blue diaper syndrome in infants. The high calcium levels turn the urine blue-green.
Green urine can also possibly occur due to urinary tract infections caused by pseudomonas bacteria or from certain medications containing blue dyes. Green or blue urine can be harmless but should also raise suspicion for a potentially serious underlying condition. Seeking prompt medical care for evaluation is recommended if this urine color change occurs.
Cloudy or Murky Urine
Normally urine should be a transparent, pale yellow color. Cloudy, murky urine may indicate:
– UTI – Cloudy or foul-smelling urine is a common sign of a urinary tract infection. The pus and bacteria make the urine appear hazy.
– Kidney stones – Passing a kidney stone can cause urine to become bloody and cloudy.
– STDs – Chlamydia and gonorrhea infections can cause discharge that leads to cloudy looking urine.
– Prostate issues – A bacterial prostatitis or enlarged prostate can increase cloudiness of urine in men.
– Dehydration – When you are not drinking enough fluids, the urine becomes more concentrated and may appear cloudy yellow.
– Phosphorus crystals – Eating meals very high in phosphorus can temporarily lead to calcium phosphate crystals in the urine and cloudiness.
Cloudy urine related to dehydration or diet can often be helped with increased fluid intake. Persistent cloudiness or other symptoms should be medically evaluated to rule out an infection or other condition needing treatment.
Foul-Smelling Urine
While urine does have a mild odor, it should not have an excessively strong or foul smell if you are healthy. Causes of foul-smelling urine include:
– UTI – The most common reason for smelly urine is a urinary tract infection. The bacteria make the urine smell bad.
– Dehydration – When your body lacks fluids, the urine has a stronger odor from being more concentrated.
– High-protein foods – Foods high in proteins like meats and asparagus can lead to peculiar urine odors that quickly resolve.
– Diabetes – In diabetes with ketones, the urine may have a sweet or fruity odor.
– Kidney disease – Impaired kidney function leads to build up of waste in the urine. This causes a foul ammonia-like odor.
– Medications – Some medications break down into smelly chemicals that make their way into urine.
While most causes for smelly urine like diet or simple dehydration are harmless, a persistent foul odor can be a sign of an underlying problem. See your doctor if it does not resolve or you have other symptoms of a potential UTI.
When to See a Doctor
You should make an appointment with your doctor if you have:
– Blood or pus in the urine
– Persistent dark yellow or orange urine
– Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
– Pain or burning with urination
– Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
– Back pain or abdominal pain
– Nausea and vomiting
– Urgency and frequency of urination
These symptoms suggest you may have a UTI or other condition that requires medical treatment. Your doctor can examine you, run tests on a urine sample, and prescribe antibiotics if there is an infection present.
Some examples of diagnostic tests your doctor may use include:
| Test | What it checks for |
| Urinalysis | Looks for blood, bacteria, leukocytes, and other signs of infection |
| Urine culture | Confirms the specific bacteria causing the infection |
| Cystoscopy | A small camera inserted to view the urethra and bladder for abnormalities |
| Ultrasound | Checks the kidneys and bladder for obstruction or other issues |
When to Seek Emergency Care
Certain symptoms require urgent medical attention at an emergency room or urgent care clinic. Seek emergency care if you have:
– Blood in the urine along with confusion or slurred speech
– Inability to urinate for more than 4 hours
– High fever with nausea, chills, flank pain
– Shaking, chills, chest pain, shortness of breath
– Severe abdominal pain that worsens quickly
These signs may indicate a kidney infection, kidney stone obstruction, or life-threatening sepsis. Prompt emergency treatment is needed to prevent kidney damage, prevent the infection from reaching the bloodstream, and provide supportive care.
UTI Risk Factors
Certain individuals have increased risk of developing a UTI based on their unique risk factors. Those at higher UTI risk include:
– Women – Shorter urethras and proximity to anus makes women more prone to UTIs.
– Sexual activity – Intercourse can introduce bacteria into the urinary tract.
– Menopause – Declining estrogen causes changes in the urinary tract that increase UTI risk.
– Family history – Some people are genetically prone to frequent UTIs.
– Obesity – Carrying extra weight puts pressure on the bladder and urinary tract.
– Diabetes – High blood glucose allows bacteria growth.
– Blockages – Kidney stones, strictures, and prostate enlargement can obstruct urine flow increasing infection risk.
– Weakened immune system – Diseases that impair the immune system reduce the body’s ability to fight infection.
– Catheters – Indwelling urinary catheters provide a direct route for bacteria to enter the bladder.
Those with recurrent UTIs should work with their doctor to reduce their individual risk factors when possible through lifestyle changes, control of underlying medical conditions, or preventive medications.
Can A UTI Go Away On Its Own?
It is possible for a very mild UTI to resolve on its own without antibiotic treatment. However, most cases of UTI require medical treatment with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor. There are several good reasons to always see a doctor and get treated if you suspect a UTI:
– Symptom relief – Antibiotics provide much quicker relief of painful UTI symptoms like burning urination. Waiting out the infection can mean days of discomfort.
– Prevent progression – Treating early prevents the infection from worsening and spreading to the kidneys where it can cause permanent damage.
– Avoid sepsis risk – A kidney infection (pyelonephritis) can lead to a dangerous systemic blood infection and sepsis. Prompt treatment prevents this.
– Reduce recurrence – Going without treatment leads to increased likelihood the UTI will come back after initially resolving.
Your doctor can check for complicating factors like pregnancy, diabetes, or kidney stones that also mandate proper medical treatment. While a very mild UTI might clear briefly without antibiotics, it is not worth the risks involved. Getting prompt treatment provides rapid symptom relief and prevents complications.
Treatments for UTI
Treatment for a diagnosed UTI typically includes:
– Oral antibiotics – Antibiotics taken by mouth for 3-7 days is the standard UTI treatment. Common choices include nitrofurantoin, cephalexin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.
– Pyridium – This over-the-counter medication temporarily relieves burning urination symptoms but does not treat the infection itself.
– IV antibiotics – For severe kidney infections, a brief hospitalization for IV antibiotics may be needed.
– Bladder analgesics – Phenazopyridine provides topical numbing and comfort but does not cure the infection.
– Avoid spreading bacteria – Clean genitals before and after sex. Urinate before and after intercourse.
– Drink fluids – Stay well hydrated to dilute urine and speed healing. Cranberry juice may help reduce bacterial adhesion.
– Take all antibiotics – Take the full antibiotic course as prescribed without missing doses to prevent recurrence.
You should follow up with your doctor if symptoms persist or worsen 48-72 hours after starting antibiotics. They can switch your medication if needed to provide effective treatment.
How Long Do UTI Symptoms Last?
The timeline for how long UTI symptoms last depends on receiving appropriate treatment:
– Untreated UTI – Symptoms may last from a few days up to a week but tend to come back quickly without antibiotics.
– During antibiotics – Symptoms should start improving 2-3 days after starting an effective antibiotic. Complete symptom resolution takes a week or so.
– After a UTI – It takes the urinary tract several weeks to completely heal after a UTI. You may notice residual irritation during this time.
– Recurrent UTIs – Subsequent infections after an initial UTI can cause symptoms again. Preventive measures are needed.
Most standard lower UTIs clear symptoms within 3-5 days when properly treated with a full antibiotic course. However, the urinary tract remains inflamed and vulnerable for some time afterwards. Follow up with your doctor if symptoms are not resolving on schedule or you experience recurrent UTI flares.
Can You Prevent UTIs?
It is possible to take certain steps to lower your personal risk of developing another UTI:
– Urinate frequently – Emptying the bladder regularly prevents bacterial build up.
– Stay hydrated – Drinking adequate water dilutes the urine to hinder bacterial growth.
– Urinate after sex – Flush out any bacteria introduced during intercourse.
– Avoid feminine hygiene sprays – These products can irritate the urethra.
– Wear cotton underwear – Cotton minimizes moisture buildup compared to nylon fabrics.
– Take post-coital antibiotics – Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to take as needed after sexual activity.
– Daily preventive antibiotics – If you have frequent recurrent UTIs, daily preventive antibiotics may be warranted.
– Consider probiotics – Probiotic supplements may promote protective vaginal bacteria.
– Manage other health issues – Control issues like diabetes that increase UTI risk.
Consult your doctor to see which preventive measures might be most appropriate based on your individual health status and UTI history. You may need a combination approach to best ward off repeat infections.
Conclusion
In summary, urine that deviates from a normal pale yellow hue can be a useful indicator that something may be going on within your urinary tract. Pink or red urine suggests blood and warrants a prompt medical evaluation for the source. Orange urine has several possible benign causes but can also reflect liver concerns. Green or blue urine is uncommon but should not be ignored. Cloudiness or a foul odor usually signals an infection. Make sure any UTI is properly diagnosed and treated to provide symptom relief, clear the infection, and prevent complications. Addressing any modifiable UTI risk factors you have can help prevent recurrent episodes. See your doctor promptly any time you have symptoms or observe significant urine color changes.