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Excessive or Frequent Urination

By

Geetha Maddukuri

, MD, Saint Louis University

Reviewed/Revised Dec 2022
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Topic Resources

Most people urinate about 4 to 6 times a day, mostly in the daytime. Normally, adults pass between 3 cups (700 milliliters) and 3 quarts (3 liters) of urine a day. Excessive urination can refer to

  • An increased volume of urine (polyuria)

  • A normal volume of urine with the need to go more often (urinary frequency)

  • Both

Urinary frequency may be accompanied by a sensation of an urgent need to urinate (urinary urgency Urinary Urgency A compelling need to urinate (urgency), which may feel like almost constant painful straining (tenesmus), can be caused by bladder irritation. Uncontrolled loss of urine ( incontinence) may... read more ). Many people particularly notice polyuria because they have to get up to urinate during the night (nocturia). Nocturia also can occur if people drink too much fluid too close to bedtime, even if they drink no more than normal overall.

Causes of Excessive or Frequent Urination

Some of the causes of increased urine volume differ from those of too-frequent urination. However, because many people who produce excessive amounts of urine also need to urinate frequently, these two symptoms are often considered together.

The most common causes of urinary frequency are

The most common causes of polyuria in both adults and children are

Evaluation of Excessive or Frequent Urination

Many people are embarrassed to discuss problems related to urination with their doctor. But because some disorders that cause excessive urination are quite serious, people who urinate excessively should be evaluated by a doctor. The following information can help people know when to see a doctor and what to expect during the evaluation.

Warning signs

In people with excessive urination, certain symptoms and characteristics are cause for concern. They include

  • Weakness of the legs

  • Fever and back pain

  • Abrupt onset or onset during the first few years of life

  • Night sweats, cough, and weight loss, especially in a person who has an extensive smoking history

  • A mental health disorder

When to see a doctor

People who have leg weakness should go to the hospital immediately because they may have a spinal cord disorder. People who have fever and back pain should see a doctor within a day because they may have a kidney infection Kidney Infection Pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection of one or both kidneys. Infection can spread up the urinary tract to the kidneys, or uncommonly the kidneys may become infected through bacteria in the... read more . People who have other warning signs should see a doctor within a day or two. People without warning signs should schedule an appointment as soon as is convenient, usually within a few days to a week, although waiting longer is usually safe if symptoms have been developing over weeks or longer and are mild.

What the doctor does

Doctors first ask questions about the person's symptoms and medical history and then do a physical examination. What they find during the history and physical examination often suggests a cause of excessive urination and the tests that may need to be done (see table Some Causes and Features of Excessive Urination Some Causes and Features of Excessive Urination Some Causes and Features of Excessive Urination ).

Doctors ask about

  • Amounts of fluid drunk and urinated to determine whether the problem is related to urinary frequency or to polyuria

  • How long symptoms have been present

  • Whether any other urination problems are present

  • Whether the person is taking diuretics (drugs and other substances that increase urine production), including beverages that contain caffeine

Some obvious findings may give clues to the cause of frequent urination. Pain or burning during urination, fever, and back or side pain may indicate an infection. In a person who drinks large amounts of beverages that contain caffeine or who has just started treatment with a diuretic, the diuretic substance is a likely cause. A man who has other problems with urination, such as difficulty starting urination, a weak urine stream, and dribbling at the end of urination, may have a prostate disorder.

In women, the physical examination usually includes a pelvic examination and the taking of samples of cervical and vaginal fluid to check for sexually transmitted infections. In men, the penis is examined for presence of a discharge, and doctors do a digital rectal examination to examine the prostate.

Table

Testing

Doctors do a urinalysis Urinalysis and Urine Culture Urinalysis, the testing of urine, may be necessary in the evaluation of kidney and urinary tract disorders and can also help evaluate bodywide disorders such as diabetes or liver problems. A... read more Urinalysis and Urine Culture and often urine culture Urinalysis and Urine Culture Urinalysis, the testing of urine, may be necessary in the evaluation of kidney and urinary tract disorders and can also help evaluate bodywide disorders such as diabetes or liver problems. A... read more Urinalysis and Urine Culture on most people. The need for other testing depends on what doctors find during the history and physical examination (see table Some Causes and Features of Excessive Urination Some Causes and Features of Excessive Urination Some Causes and Features of Excessive Urination ). If doctors are not sure whether the person is actually producing more urine than normal, they may collect and measure the amount of urine produced over 24 hours. If people actually have polyuria, doctors measure the blood glucose level. If diabetes mellitus is not the cause of polyuria and no other cause, such as excess intravenous fluids, is clearly responsible, other testing is necessary. The levels of electrolytes and concentration of certain salts (osmolarity) are measured in the blood, urine, or both, often after the person is deprived of water for a time and after the person is given antidiuretic hormone.

Treatment of Excessive or Frequent Urination

The best way to treat excessive urination is to treat the underlying disorder. For example, diabetes mellitus is treated with diet and exercise plus insulin injections and/or drugs taken by mouth. In some cases, people can reduce excessive urination by decreasing their intake of coffee or alcohol. People troubled by awakening at night to urinate (nocturia) may need to reduce fluids before bedtime.

Children with nighttime urination (bedwetting) can also be managed with motivational therapy, in which they are rewarded for practicing behaviors that reduce bedwetting (for example, with stickers on a calendar for going to the bathroom before going to bed). If motivational therapy does not work, urination alarms may then be tried. If other measures fail, doctors may prescribe oral desmopressin to control excessive thirst and urination

Doctors may also adjust the dosage of diuretics that may contribute to excessive urination. Adults with nocturia can be treated with bladder relaxants and medications to prevent bladder spasms. Resistant cases can also be treated with desmopressin.

Essentials for Older People: Excessive or Frequent Urination

Older men often urinate frequently because the prostate usually enlarges with age (a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a noncancerous (benign) enlargement of the prostate gland that can make urination difficult. The prostate gland enlarges as men age. Men may have difficulty... read more ). In older women, frequent urination is also more common because of many factors, such as weakening of the pelvic supporting tissues after childbirth and the loss of estrogen after menopause. Both older men and older women may be more likely to take diuretics, so these drugs may contribute to excessive urination. Older people with excessive urination often need to urinate at night (nocturia). Nocturia can contribute to sleep problems and to falls, especially if a person is rushing to the bathroom or if the area is not well lit. Treatments directed at benign prostatic hyperplasia include oral drugs and surgery for some cases.

Key Points

  • Urinary tract infections are the most common cause of urinary frequency in children and women.

  • Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is the most common cause of polyuria.

  • Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common cause in men over 50.

  • Excessive intake of caffeine can cause urinary frequency in all people.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
Cafcit, NoDoz, Stay Awake, Vivarin
Afrezza, Exubera
DDAVP, Minirin, Nocdurna, Noctiva, Stimate
NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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