I urinate too often, even during the night

When we need to urinate more often than 6-7 times in 24 hours, we can say that our urination is frequent. In some cases, excessive urinary frequency can interrupt our normal daily activities, such as an essential job, a business meeting, or an enjoyable recreational activity. Frequent urination at night (also called nocturia) can disrupt your sleep cycle and increase the risk of accidents related to excessive tiredness.

Sometimes, you may notice that you urinate a lot even if you don't drink anything or that you still have to urinate again after a short time has passed since the last urination or after having just drunk a glass of water.

Children, on the other hand, have smaller bladders, and it is normal for them to urinate more frequently.

Causes of frequent urination

Very often, frequent urination is a sign of excessive urine production by the kidneys. The most common reason is drinking a lot of liquids, especially if they contain caffeine or alcohol. Frequent urination can also develop as a habit linked to psychological mechanisms.

However, it can be a sign of kidney problems or another medical condition, such as:

• diabetes mellitus;
• diabetes insipidus;
• pregnancy;
• Prostate problems.

Other causes or related factors may include:

• foods and drinks that act as diuretics;
• diuretics, such as chlorothiazide, which make you urinate body fluids;
• urinary tract infection;
• interstitial cystitis, a type of inflammation of the bladder wall;
• overactive bladder syndrome (OAB), which causes involuntary bladder contractions that lead to feeling a sudden need to urinate;
• bladder cancer;
• bladder or kidney stones;
• urethral stricture;
• diverticulitis of the colon (outflow pockets develop in the wall of the large intestine, touching and irritating the bladder);
• a sexually transmitted infection;
• stroke and other brain or nervous system disorders;
• tumor or mass in the pelvic area;
• Radiation of the pelvis, such as during cancer treatment;
• Anxiety.

Associated symptoms

Other symptoms that occur along with frequent urination may indicate another, perhaps more severe condition:

• pain or discomfort when urinating (painful or burning urination);
• lower back or side pain;
• nausea or vomiting;
• fever or chills;
• gradual loss of bladder control or urinary incontinence;
• difficulty urinating despite the urge.

When to see a doctor

• When frequent urination affects daily activities, night sleep, and quality of life;
• When you continue to urinate frequently, more than every hour during the day and night;
• In case of other associated symptoms, in particular pain and fever.

How can you immediately deal with a symptom of frequent urination

Treatment of frequent urination depends on the underlying disease. Therefore, it is necessary to start with a correct diagnosis. You can start by keeping a bladder diary for two days and book an appointment with your urologist.

To fill out a urination diary, start by taking a square sheet of paper and drawing a line on the long side, which will be used to indicate the days of the week. On the short side, however, the 24 hours should be marked.

All urinations in the 24 hours must be indicated on the graph obtained, reporting when possible the quantity of urine emitted, identified through a measuring cup to be kept in the bathroom.

Any symptoms associated with urination should also be noted in the diary, such as burning, pain, feeling of urgency, and feeling of not having completely emptied the bladder. Moreover, is is helpful to indicate precisely any involuntary urine leaks and what caused them (a sneeze, an effort, and so on).