Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Too Much?Possible CausesWhen to See a ProviderTreatmentManaging at HomeRisks
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Too Much?
Possible Causes
When to See a Provider
Treatment
Managing at Home
Risks
Peeing too much (frequent urination) has many potential causes. Some of the reasons you need to urinate frequently include lifestyle, medical conditions, and certain drugs. Frequent urination can be associated with medical conditions such as diabetes, urinary tract infections (UTIs), pregnancy, overactive bladder, an enlarged prostate, and interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome).
This article will cover some of the reasons why people may urinate more frequently, whether it might be a sign of a larger problem, and how it could be managed.
Carol Yepes / Getty Images
How Much Peeing Is Too Much?
First, it’s important to point out the differences between urinary frequency andpolyuria. Urinary frequency is feeling the need to empty the bladder many times (more than every two hours or between five and seven times a day).
Polyuria is producing an increased amount of urine, defined as having greater than 3 liters (10.5 cups) of urine per day. People who think they may be experiencing polyuria should talk to a healthcare provider.
How often a person needs to urinate depends on many factors, including how much fluid they’re drinking, activity level, weight, caffeine intake, any medical conditions they live with, and medications they take. For that reason, the definition of what is considered “too much” urination might differ from person to person.
Monitoring the color of urine is usually suggested to understand urinary frequency. Urine should be pale yellow. If it is darker yellow or other colors, that could be a sign of dehydration.
However, see a healthcare provider if the urge to pee comes with any of the following conditions:
A medical condition may be the reason behind the need to go to the bathroom more often than what is considered typical.
A Word From VerywellUrinary frequency that is persistent or worsening or disrupts quality of life (work, recreation, or sleep) should be evaluated further. If frequency is painful or is associated with difficulty emptying your bladder, bleeding, or fever, then immediate medical attention is needed.—MATTHEW WOSNITZER, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Urinary frequency that is persistent or worsening or disrupts quality of life (work, recreation, or sleep) should be evaluated further. If frequency is painful or is associated with difficulty emptying your bladder, bleeding, or fever, then immediate medical attention is needed.—MATTHEW WOSNITZER, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Urinary frequency that is persistent or worsening or disrupts quality of life (work, recreation, or sleep) should be evaluated further. If frequency is painful or is associated with difficulty emptying your bladder, bleeding, or fever, then immediate medical attention is needed.
—MATTHEW WOSNITZER, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Possible Causes of Peeing Too Much
Numerous causes can result in the need to pee more frequently. They include factors that can be changed, such as caffeine intake, and medical conditions that need to be treated.
Lifestyle
Diet and lifestyle factors can contribute to how often someone goes to the bathroom. Some of the reasons for peeing more often include:
Medical Conditions or Life Events
Medical conditions or life events that could cause the need to urinate more often include:
Urinary Conditions
Several conditions that affect the urinary tract can cause the need to go to the bathroom more frequently. Some of them include:
Medications
Medications are another common reason for going to the bathroom more often. One study found over 100 different types of medications that may contribute to what was defined as overactive bladder.
Some of the classes of drugs that could be causing urinary frequency include:
When to See a Healthcare Provider About Peeing Too Much
Going to the bathroom to pee more frequently can be a short-term issue that may be different from day to day. However, there are some signs that this may be part of a condition or change in the body that may need medical attention.
See a healthcare provider if any of these are present:
Seeing a UrologistIf a healthcare provider finds a condition that needs treatment, they will recommend the next steps. In some cases, they may refer you to a specialist, such as aurologist(specialist in urinary tract conditions).
Seeing a Urologist
If a healthcare provider finds a condition that needs treatment, they will recommend the next steps. In some cases, they may refer you to a specialist, such as aurologist(specialist in urinary tract conditions).
How Can Frequent Urination Be Treated?
If the reason a person is peeing more often is due to an existing medical condition, such as chronic constipation, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or diabetes, it will help to make sure that it is managed or treated effectively. This can take a variety of forms, including medication, surgery, and/or behavioral treatments.
After going over signs and symptoms, personal history, and family history, a healthcare provider will decide if any tests need to be done. Tests can include:
Treatment of common medical conditions affecting the urinary tract may include:
How to Manage Frequent Urination at Home
You can also take steps to manage frequent urination at home. You might start with lifestyle changes such as:
However, if nothing is working and symptoms continue or new symptoms develop, such as pain, fever, or difficulty urinating, see a healthcare provider to determine if there is another underlying cause.
Are There Risks of Untreated Causes of Frequent Urination?
If no underlying reason for frequent urination is found and it is more of a nuisance than a quality-of-life issue, there might not be a need for treatment. Lifestyle changes that can be tried at home may be helpful for some people.
However, if there are other symptoms and/or they are negatively affecting your quality of life, there could be an underlying issue that needs treatment. Symptoms that go on long term could lead to problems in going to work or school and in maintaining intimate relationships.
Depressionandanxietycould also become problems if symptoms result in not being able to be away from a bathroom. Going to the bathroom in the middle of the night can also interfere with sleep and lead to a variety of problems with work, school, and relationships.
If urinary frequency has an underlying cause that needs treatment, it’s important to see a healthcare provider for a diagnosis. Some urinary conditions are progressive and become more serious over time. When urinary frequency becomes a problem, finding out what might be the cause is an important part of getting treatment and feeling better.
Summary
A specialist healthcare professional, such as a urologist, may be helpful if the reason is a urinary condition. If the reason is a non-urological condition, such as a neurological disorder, attention will be given to managing that issue.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Prevention of bladder control problems (urinary incontinence) & bladder health. July 2021.Zhang Y, Coca A, Casa DJ, Antonio J, Green JM, Bishop PA.Caffeine and diuresis during rest and exercise: a meta-analysis.J Sci Med Sport. 2015;18(5):569-74. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.07.017Maddukuri G.Urinary frequency. Merck Manual Professional Version. December 2022.Clemens JQ, Erickson DR, Varela NP, Lai HH.Diagnosis and treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.J Urol.2022;208:34-42. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000002756Umek W, Gleiss A, Bodner-Adler B, Reichardt B, Rinner C, Heinze G.The role of prescription drugs in female overactive bladder syndrome-a population-wide cohort study.Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf.2020;29:189-198. doi:10.1002/pds.4920Urology Care Foundation.What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?September 2023.Hughes T, Ho HC, Pietropaolo A, Somani BK.Guideline of guidelines for kidney and bladder stones.Turk J Urol.2020;46(Suppl 1):S104–S112. doi:10.5152/tud.2020.20315Additional ReadingNational Institutes of Health.Your Daily Bladder Diary.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).National Institutes of Health. Prevention of Bladder Control Problems (Urinary Incontinence) & Bladder Health. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Reviewed July 2021.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Prevention of bladder control problems (urinary incontinence) & bladder health. July 2021.Zhang Y, Coca A, Casa DJ, Antonio J, Green JM, Bishop PA.Caffeine and diuresis during rest and exercise: a meta-analysis.J Sci Med Sport. 2015;18(5):569-74. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.07.017Maddukuri G.Urinary frequency. Merck Manual Professional Version. December 2022.Clemens JQ, Erickson DR, Varela NP, Lai HH.Diagnosis and treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.J Urol.2022;208:34-42. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000002756Umek W, Gleiss A, Bodner-Adler B, Reichardt B, Rinner C, Heinze G.The role of prescription drugs in female overactive bladder syndrome-a population-wide cohort study.Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf.2020;29:189-198. doi:10.1002/pds.4920Urology Care Foundation.What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?September 2023.Hughes T, Ho HC, Pietropaolo A, Somani BK.Guideline of guidelines for kidney and bladder stones.Turk J Urol.2020;46(Suppl 1):S104–S112. doi:10.5152/tud.2020.20315Additional ReadingNational Institutes of Health.Your Daily Bladder Diary.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).National Institutes of Health. Prevention of Bladder Control Problems (Urinary Incontinence) & Bladder Health. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Reviewed July 2021.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Prevention of bladder control problems (urinary incontinence) & bladder health. July 2021.Zhang Y, Coca A, Casa DJ, Antonio J, Green JM, Bishop PA.Caffeine and diuresis during rest and exercise: a meta-analysis.J Sci Med Sport. 2015;18(5):569-74. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.07.017Maddukuri G.Urinary frequency. Merck Manual Professional Version. December 2022.Clemens JQ, Erickson DR, Varela NP, Lai HH.Diagnosis and treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.J Urol.2022;208:34-42. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000002756Umek W, Gleiss A, Bodner-Adler B, Reichardt B, Rinner C, Heinze G.The role of prescription drugs in female overactive bladder syndrome-a population-wide cohort study.Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf.2020;29:189-198. doi:10.1002/pds.4920Urology Care Foundation.What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?September 2023.Hughes T, Ho HC, Pietropaolo A, Somani BK.Guideline of guidelines for kidney and bladder stones.Turk J Urol.2020;46(Suppl 1):S104–S112. doi:10.5152/tud.2020.20315
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Prevention of bladder control problems (urinary incontinence) & bladder health. July 2021.
Zhang Y, Coca A, Casa DJ, Antonio J, Green JM, Bishop PA.Caffeine and diuresis during rest and exercise: a meta-analysis.J Sci Med Sport. 2015;18(5):569-74. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.07.017
Maddukuri G.Urinary frequency. Merck Manual Professional Version. December 2022.
Clemens JQ, Erickson DR, Varela NP, Lai HH.Diagnosis and treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.J Urol.2022;208:34-42. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000002756
Umek W, Gleiss A, Bodner-Adler B, Reichardt B, Rinner C, Heinze G.The role of prescription drugs in female overactive bladder syndrome-a population-wide cohort study.Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf.2020;29:189-198. doi:10.1002/pds.4920
Urology Care Foundation.What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?September 2023.
Hughes T, Ho HC, Pietropaolo A, Somani BK.Guideline of guidelines for kidney and bladder stones.Turk J Urol.2020;46(Suppl 1):S104–S112. doi:10.5152/tud.2020.20315
National Institutes of Health.Your Daily Bladder Diary.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).National Institutes of Health. Prevention of Bladder Control Problems (Urinary Incontinence) & Bladder Health. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Reviewed July 2021.
National Institutes of Health.Your Daily Bladder Diary.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
National Institutes of Health. Prevention of Bladder Control Problems (Urinary Incontinence) & Bladder Health. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Reviewed July 2021.
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