Increased Frequency Of Urine
What is frequent urination?
Frequent urination (YOOR-in-EY-shuhn) is when you need to pee more than usual throughout the day or night. It’s inconvenient and can disrupt your daily life. It’s also a common complaint among all people. But you may be more likely to urinate frequently if you:
- Are over 70
- Are pregnant
- Have an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH)
Frequent urination is a symptom of many different conditions, ranging from temporary or mild to serious or long-lasting (chronic). In many cases, a healthcare provider can help relieve frequent urination by treating the cause (underlying condition).
Another name for frequent urination is frequent micturition (mik-chuh-RISH-uhn).
How many times should you pee a day?
Most people pee on average about seven to eight times per day. If you feel the need to pee more than that, or if you have to get up to pee every 30 minutes to an hour, you might be frequently urinating. But context matters. This may still be “normal” if you’re drinking lots of fluids or taking certain medications. What matters most is what’s typical for you.
Possible Causes
Frequent urination can be caused by various conditions and factors, including:
Urinary tract, bladder, and pelvic conditions: Such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, yeast infections, cystocele, interstitial cystitis, overactive bladder, urethral prolapse, and urethral stricture.
Pregnancy: Hormonal changes during the first trimester and pressure on the bladder during the third trimester increase urination frequency.
Diabetes: Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes cause frequent urination as the body tries to remove excess glucose through urine.
Enlarged prostate: Benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate tumors can press on the urinary system, causing frequent urination.
Nervous system conditions: Neurological disorders like fibromyalgia, spinal cord injuries, or stroke may affect bladder control, leading to frequent urination.
Medications and lifestyle factors: Some medicines, caffeine, and alcohol can increase urine production, resulting in frequent urination.
If frequent urination affects one’s quality of life, consulting a healthcare provider is advisable for diagnosis and treatment.
Care and Treatment
You might have frequent urination if:
You urinate more than eight times during the day
You wake up more than twice at night to urinate
The frequency of urination bothers or disrupts your daily life
To understand your symptoms better, schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider. They may ask about:
The medications you are taking
Your daily fluid intake and types of beverages consumed
Any increase in fluid intake recently
Consumption of alcohol or caffeine
Times when urination is more frequent
Presence of leg swelling (edema) or snoring
Keeping a daily diary tracking when and how much you drink and urinate helps the provider identify patterns and recommend tests such as:
Urinalysis to check for infections
Imaging (ultrasound, CT scan) to detect tumors or structural issues
Cystoscopy to examine the bladder interior
