There are many scenarios in which you may wonder if your pee is the right color. Underneath, we’ll walk through what various scenarios mean.
It’s bright
Many things can change the color of your pee, but most of the time, it is harmless and does not represent a serious cause of concern. For example, bright orange can result from dehydration as you haven’t had enough water on a given day.
But some causes can be serious, and orange pee is one of the symptoms of a health problem. If you notice more symptoms showing up, it is time to see a doctor and have them diagnose the problem. If the color does not change to a yellow shade in a couple of days, you should take action.
It’s dark
The cause of a dark orange is similar to the bright yellow one. However, dehydration is more advanced if the urine features a darker shade. It means you are in a critical state of dehydration and should increase your water intake as soon as possible.
Some specific foods and medications can also result in this change. But medical conditions are not to be ignored especially if you have multiple symptoms. Several liver diseases can increase the blood’s presence in the urine, making it dark orange.
It is red-ish
This color can be worrying, especially for those that do not know the reason behind their orange-red urine. Most of the time, this is not a serious cause of concern, and you should not worry.
Beets and blackberries have pigments that can turn the urine red or pink. Some specific antibiotics will also give the same result when they are eliminated from the body.
But there are risks involved, and you should pay attention to all the symptoms. UTIs and an enlarged prostate will increase the blood’s presence in the urine, giving it this specific shade.
Azo
The Azo urinary pain relief will treat your urinary pain while relieving the UTI symptoms quickly. It has an immediate effect, and you can see results in just a few minutes. But some side effects come as well.
One of the key ingredients of this drug is responsible for relieving UTI symptoms quickly, but it also turns your pee orange. So if you took this medication recently, seeing orange should not be a cause of concern.
Sometimes you have to take several tests if the doctor requests that. If you wonder how long meth stays in your system, we have an article made specifically to answer this question.
While pregnant
During pregnancy, orange pee could be a symptom of dehydration. The color varies significantly based on the amount of water you drink. Normally, it should have a shade of yellow, which is a good indication that you are drinking enough water.
When pregnant, women have to drink more water than usual. If they don’t have an ideal daily water intake, their pee might turn orange or even feature darker colors. It happens because the body retains more water and eliminates less of it.
Newborns
In their first days of life, babies might eliminate orange or pinkish urine in their diapers. It is more common for boys and is not something you should worry about. It would be normal to assume that blood gives this specific color. In this case, urate crystals change the structure of urine.
These crystals develop due to the high concentration of urine, which will decrease as the baby starts drinking more fluids. After some time, the natural yellow shade should appear.
Medicines
Many medications turn your pee orange, but the most known one is Phenazopyridine. It has a harmless effect that will disappear after you stop taking it. If you notice other symptoms, such as painful urination or a frequent urge to go to the bathroom, inform your doctor and have them take a specialized look at your problems.
But before you start any medical tests, let them know that you are taking this medicine. It can affect the result of the test, and it might be inaccurate.
FAQ
When should you worry?
If your notice that the urine is orange, there is no reason to worry. Most of the time, the color varies depending on how much water you drink. These fluids will dilute the yellow pigments, which will be clear if you drink more water or feature darker shades if you are dehydrated.
The color becomes more concentrated as you drink less, and severe dehydration can produce amber-colored urine. Other factors can even make it blue or pink, and as long as you don’t have any other symptoms, then you should not stress out.
However, you should seek medical attention if you have visible blood in your urine or you experience pain while using the toilet.
UTIs
Orange pee usually occurs due to dehydration, diet, or specific medications. In some rare cases, it can be a sign of more advanced diseases such as liver disorders or even UTIs. These will manifest through various symptoms, one of them being the change in your pee’s color.
When you get treatment, the doctor might prescribe Phenazopyridine. It’s a highly effective solution against UTIs. As a side effect, this will also turn your pee orange. It happens due to an increase in bilirubin and should not be a reason for concern.
