Definition
Frequent urination is the need to urinate more often than what’s normal for you. You may be passing more urine than usual or only small amounts.
Frequent urination may occur both day and night, or it may be noticeable only during the night (nocturia).
Frequent urination can affect your sleep, work and general well-being.
Causes
Frequent urination may be caused by diseases affecting the urinary tract at any level. The urinary tract includes the kidneys, the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder (ureters), the bladder, and the duct through which urine flows from the bladder out of the body (urethra).
Several factors may be linked to frequent urination, such as:
- Infection, disease, injury or irritation of the bladder
- Conditions that increase urine production
- Changes in muscles, nerves or other tissues affecting bladder function
- Certain cancer treatments
- Drugs or beverages that increase urine production
Depending on what’s causing your frequent urination, you may experience other urinary problems, such as:
- Anterior prolapse (cystocele)
- Anxiety
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
- Bladder stones
- Change in kidney function
- Diabetes insipidus
- Diuretics (water retention relievers)
- Excess consumption of total fluids, alcohol or caffeine
- Interstitial cystitis
- Kidney infection
- Overactive bladder
- Pregnancy
- Prostatitis
- Radiation treatment affecting the pelvis or lower abdomen
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
- Urethral stricture
- Urinary incontinence
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Vaginitis
