What Does It Mean When Your Urine Is Clear? - GoodRx (2024)

It’s common to take a look in the toilet after you pee. Many people are curious about the color of their urine — and what it means about their health. And some people strive to have colorless or clear pee to know they’re hydrated.

But is clear pee always a good thing? In some cases, it can be a sign of an undiagnosed medical condition. We’re here to help you know when to see your provider to be sure it isn’t anything more serious.

Is clear urine always a good thing?

In most cases, clear urine is a sign that you’re well hydrated. And that’s a positive thing because good hydration helps your body function at its best.

But, in some cases, clear pee may mean that you’re drinking too much water and you’re too hydrated. Although this is rare, overhydration can disrupt the level of salts in your body, like sodium. And this can be more serious than you think.

Overhydration can lead to severe fatigue, confusion, and seizures. In rare cases, it can lead to a coma (more on this later).

Clear urine does not always mean you’re well hydrated — or too hydrated. It can also be a sign of an underlying health condition.

What are the most common causes of clear urine?

The most common cause of clear urine is drinking too much water, but a few medical conditions can also lead to clear pee:

• Diabetes: People with diabetes often have too much sugar (glucose) in their blood. To get rid of the extra glucose, the body moves it from the blood into the urine. So, when someone has undiagnosed or untreated diabetes, they tend to pee more often. And their urine appears clear.

• Diuretic medications: Diuretics are sometimes called “water pills” because they help remove extra fluid from the body. People can take them to treat high blood pressure, leg swelling, heart failure, and other medical conditions. They all work by increasing urine volume. This can dilute the urine and make it look clear.

• Kidney issues: The kidneys filter and balance fluid in the body. And some kidney conditions affect the kidney’s ability to make or concentrate the urine. This can lead to both increased or decreased urination, which can affect the color of urine.

• Diabetes insipidus: This is a rare condition that develops when the kidney can’t respond to the hormones that help balance water in the body. This means the kidneys excrete a lot more water than normal.

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• Pregnancy: Some women develop gestational diabetes insipidus during pregnancy. Their placenta produces protein that destroys the hormone that helps maintain the body’s water balance. This condition generally resolves after pregnancy.

What color should healthy pee be in the morning?

Healthy pee — in the morning or any time of the day — should be light in color but not completely clear. A pale yellow or straw color typically means that the kidneys are working well and that you’re properly hydrated.

When should you see a doctor about clear urine?

If you notice that your pee is clear — and you’re also trying to drink lots of water — this is probably the cause. It may help if you follow the recommended amount of water intake:

• Adult males need about 3.7 liters (125 ounces) of water a day.

• Adult females need about 2.7 liters (91 ounces) of water a day.

But if you’re drinking a normal amount of water and your pee is completely clear — especially for longer than 2 days — talk to your provider.

It’s also not normal to experience excessive thirst or to feel an endless urge to drink water. Visit your healthcare provider right away to get an evaluation. Other red-flag symptoms include:

• Fever

• Burning with urination

• Back, abdominal, or flank pain

• General muscle aches

• Loss of appetite

• Persistent vomiting or diarrhea

• Weakness or fatigue

• Any disorientation or trouble concentrating

• Headaches

• Blurred vision

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, see your provider right away.

How do you test clear urine?

Your healthcare provider can run an easy test of your urine to help figure out what may be going on. But they may need more than a urine sample to figure it out. They may also want to test your blood sugar and run a blood test to measure your electrolytes.

Although less common, they may also recommend imaging tests, like ultrasounds or CT scans, to get a picture of the kidneys and the urinary tract.

What do other colors of urine say about your health?

Urine color can change based on your level of hydration. But there are a lot of things that can affect the color of urine — like certain foods, medications, or other health conditions. When it comes to health-related matters, certain colors can mean different things:

• Brown: This may mean that there’s an underlying issue with the kidneys, liver, or even the muscles. Blood in the urine can look brown.

• Red: Blood in the urine can also appear red or pink in color. It might mean that you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney stones, or other kidney or bladder problems.

• Orange: Orange urine may signal an underlying condition in the liver or bile duct. Some medications can also cause this, such as phenazopyridine, rifampin, sulfasalazine, and doxorubicin.

• Green: Green urine, similar to orange urine, can mean there’s a problem with the bile ducts. Rare types of UTIs can do this, too.