Regular urine color ranges from clear to pale yellow. But certain things can change the color.

Foods such as beets, blackberries and fava beans can turn urine pink or red, for example. And some medicines can give urine vivid tones, such as orange or greenish-blue.

An unusual urine color also can be a sign of a health problem. For instance, some urinary tract infections can turn urine milky white. Kidney stones, some cancers and other diseases sometimes make urine look red due to blood.

The regular color of urine varies. It depends on how much water you drink. Fluids dilute the yellow pigments in urine. So the more you drink, the clearer your urine looks. When you drink less, the yellow color becomes stronger.

But urine can turn colors far beyond what's typical, including:

• Red.
• Blue.
• Green.
• Orange.
• Dark brown.
• Cloudy white.

When to see a doctor

See your health care provider if you have:

• Blood in your urine. This is common in urinary tract infections and kidney stones. Those problems often cause pain. Painless bleeding might be a sign of a more serious problem, such as cancer.
• Dark or orange urine. This can be a sign that the liver isn't working correctly, especially if you also have pale stools and yellow skin and eyes.

A change in urine color that isn't due to foods or medicine could be caused by a health problem. Some things that put you at risk of health problems that can affect urine color are:

• Age. Tumors of the bladder and kidney, which can cause blood in the urine, are more common in older people. Men older than 50 sometimes have blood in the urine due to an enlarged prostate gland.
• Family history. If any of your blood relatives, such as a parent, sibling or grandparent, have kidney disease or kidney stones, you're more likely to get them too. Both kidney disease and kidney stones can cause blood in the urine.
• Hard exercise. Distance runners are most at risk. But anyone who exercises hard can have blood in the urine.

Your health care provider will likely ask you about your health and do a physical exam. You also may need tests, including:

• Urinalysis. This test checks the urine for possible signs of kidney or urinary tract problems. A sample of urine also is likely to be checked for bacteria that cause illness.
• Blood tests. Some blood tests measure the level of waste products that build up in the bloodstream when the kidneys are not working properly. Your provider also might check your blood for signs of liver problems and other health conditions such as diabetes.

Treatment, if needed, will depend on the health problem that causes the change in urine color.

When you're dehydrated, your urine becomes darker in color. If this happens, it might mean you need more fluids. Make sure you drink enough fluids daily to stay hydrated and keep yourself healthy.

You'll likely start by seeing your primary care provider. In some cases, you might be referred to a doctor who specializes in urinary tract disorders, called a urologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do to prepare. Make a list of:

• Your symptoms and when they began.
• Key medical information, including any other health problems you have and whether bladder or kidney diseases run in your family.
• All medicines, vitamins and other supplements you take, including the doses. A dose is how much you take.
• Questions to ask your doctor.

For urine color, questions to ask include:

• What might be causing my symptoms?
• What tests do I need?
• Will I need treatment?

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to ask you questions, such as:

• What color is your urine? Is it always this color, or only sometimes?
• Do you see blood or blood clots in your urine?
• Does your urine have an unusual smell?
• How often do you pee? And does it hurt to pee?
• Has your appetite or thirst changed?
• Have you had any urinary problems before?
• Do you have allergies?