Video
Body Check: Urine
We all feel the relief of a quick pit stop, but a trip to the loo could also be more telling. In this video, Dr Christian talks about potential health problems that can be spotted from checking your urine.
The colour of urine can stretch from the almost clear to a dark orange and it’s simply a matter of hydration. Food can also have an effect on colour and can cause different smells, as can any medications or supplements.
Dark, red, or cloudy urine that is unaffected by food or drink can be characteristic of underlying conditions such as liver disease, kidney stones, cystitis or STIs.
How often you go can also indicate a problem as excessive urination can be a sign of diabetes.
If an unusual colour or smell persists for no apparent reason or if you have problems passing urine such as leaking, burning sensations or pain it would be worth discussing it with a GP.
We want to hear about your findings, so please click the link below and add your results to our national survey.
+++UPDATE+++
From the 5th-12th May 2009 we conducted a National Health Survey to find out what the state of the nation’s urine was.
Around 80% of our respondents were women, with nearly two-thirds of these under the age of 30.
The good news was that nearly three-quarters of responders were reporting normal, light coloured urine (numbers 1-3). As urine colour is mostly dictated by hydration levels, this indicates a good level of fluid intake amongst those people.
Darker urine can be caused by certain foodstuffs, but it is probably dehydration that is to blame. If your urine is always dark, even after heavy fluid consumption, get this checked out by your GP as it can be a symptom of other illnesses.
Around 20% of you reported an unusual smell when urinating. What you have eaten is the most common cause of funny smelling urine, with beer, garlic and coffee causing unusual smells. If your urine smells extremely sweet on a regular basis, then this can be a sign of sugars being excreted (a possible sign of diabetes) and should be checked out by your Doctor.
Cloudy urine was also present in a around a fifth of responders and is common as a result of an infection, such as cystitis, but in men it can be a sign of an STI or less commonly a condition such as retrograde ejaculation, where sperm enters the bladder.
Only a handful of respondents reported red tinges in their urine. If this is a one off, it’s probably nothing to worry about and could just be a burst blood vessel. If it persists, it could be a symptom of something more serious, such as an injury.
Finally, a few people reported that their urine was green in colour. This could be caused by certain foods (such as asparagus), but it can also be a sign of a sexual infection, such as gonorrhea. As a result it should be looked at by a medical professional.
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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
Today i urinated and noticed a jelly based substance in it. I havent masturbated or had sex for days. Any idea's wha it could be.
hi, im 14 and i always seem to have to go during lessons... even if i havent had anything to eat or drink? im kind of worried about it, ihave wet my self before because as soon as i see the toilet i just let go... it can be very imbarresing and want to know how i could stop this from happening.
I have been on the injection now for about 9months now but it has not agreed with me as I have not stopped having a period since starting it. I was originaly on the pill but my blood pressure was really high for my age as I am 21 but ever since starting the injection I have noticed a odd smell when changing tampons ?? I am unsure if this is a womb infection or urine? How would I know? I am not in pain when I pass urine and I dnt suffer from abdominal pains? Or is it just down to changing from the pill to the inj? Does it cause this?
Im 17 years old and for a few months my urine doesn't smell right, its smells sweet i got to the toliet alot, i am always drinking (water or juice) i am not on any medication i don't no what it is, my urine has been dipstick in the doctor's they said it was normal but i don't think it. when i go to the toliet i can smells to all day, i fell like i wet my self, when i have'nt i get a bath everyday what is this???
hey ever since ive had the contraceptive implant ive had problems like it always gives me belly ache when i go to the tolilet (urine)and if i hold it it really hurts where my kidneys are iv been to the doctors had blood tests and they sais im all fine but i get really cloudy urine a lot and thrush quite a bit ,i dont no how there can be nothing wrong when it doesnt feel like it ..
I have had cystitis and used over the counter medicine which cleared it up however every morning for the last month my first wee of the day smells like I have cystitis but then is clear with no smell? Is this something i should be worried about?
hi, im 24 mother of 1 and have been having a problem with the amount of times i wee. I get up 2 or 3 times a night to go which really bothers me as i do b very tired, when i go out on a night out with my friends it gets worse bcoz of the alchol, also anytime i go 2 my gp i seem 2 have a uti infection! i get antibiotics & thats it, isnt there something else that can be done? This has been goin on for about 4 years im really sick of it now :( help!
when i go too the loo, my urine is either yellow and cloudy, or just cloudy, i constantly have to wear pads, as something [probly an infection] is uncontrolled, its cloudy, please help, i feel so uncomfortable, i also dont have any pain at all, i just dont know what it is, and i want too find out, and see what i need to do about it, thnkz
Hi im 22, and my wee is very yellow, sometimes more orange, and its consistant throughout the day, its like morning wee but all day, i have had this problem for about 9 months now, i have been to my gp and they tested for infections, and there was nothing found. i was just wondering if drinking alot of coffee would cause very yellow/orange wee? by alot i mean atleast 8-10 mugs a day, each mug contains 2 heaped teaspoons of instant coffee. thanks
ello im 20 years old i had sex on sunday and didnt use eneyfink and 2day my wee is really strong and smells funny and ive been gettin really bad pains in my belly and i duno wot this is and its really scarey it wud be great if u can tell me if its sumfink 2 worrie about or not fank you
