The condition of a repeated urge to urinate is described as frequent urination or urinary frequency. The bladder can hold pee until urgent, around four to eight times daily. Excessive fluid intake, infected urinary bladder, and certain treatments or health conditions can cause one to pee more often than normal. Therefore, contacting a health professional is crucial if your urinary frequency interferes with your daily activities or is coupled with unusual symptoms.

Frequent nighttime urination
With this condition, one may need to wake up several times at night to urinate. On average, people in their 40s and 50s usually go to the bathroom once every night, while those in their 60s and 70s pass urine twice. Elders in their 80s and beyond go to the washroom twice or thrice every night.

However, this excessive waking might prevent one from obtaining adequate sleep and occasionally indicates a health concern. The term “nocturia” refers to this form of frequent urination. Several illnesses also have higher chances of causing nighttime urination, including heart failure, leg edema, and sleep disturbances.

What frequency of urination is considered normal and excessive?
On average, most individuals urinate seven to eight times every day. Urination frequency is considered abnormal if you experience the need to empty your bladder considerably more than that or if you wake up every hour to go to the washroom. This might still be regarded as “normal,” particularly if you’re taking certain treatments or ingesting lots of fluids.

Frequent urination is considered normal if you are:

• having a baby
• older than 70
• having a burgeoning prostate

If the reason for frequent urination is not due to increased fluid intake, particularly caffeinated beverages, consult your doctor.

Causes
Frequent urination often results from urinary tract diseases. The urinary tract comprises the kidneys, the ureters that join the kidneys to the urinary bladder, and the urethra, the conduit via which urine exits the human body. Some common causes of frequent urination are listed below:

• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
  The most common reason for frequent urination is UTIs. They develop due to bacterial invasion of the urethra, which joins the penis or vagina to the urinary bladder. Inflammation brought on by this can lessen the bladder’s capacity to store urine.
• Diabetes
  A frequent urge to empty the bladder may indicate uncontrolled type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This condition makes it more likely for fluid to leak out of the kidneys and form urine. The most common cause of polyuria, or urinating more than usual, is uncontrolled diabetes. The symptoms of this condition include increased appetite and thirst, sudden decrease in BMI, tiredness, visual issues, and mood swings.
• Enlarged prostate
  An enlarged prostate gland and urine storage can affect the bladder’s ability to relax. This condition, benign prostatic hyperplasia, is the most typical reason for excessive urination in men over 50 years. The potential signs are the inability to urinate, leaking urine, getting up repeatedly during the night to empty the bladder, and the impression that urination is incomplete are its signs.
• Pregnancy
  Frequent urination throughout the final few weeks of pregnancy is normal and is not a symptom of health issues. Generally, the bladder is emptied more frequently due to pressure from the expanding uterus and fetus. Additionally, it might result in urine leakage when a pregnant woman coughs or sneezes.
• Other causes
  Less common reasons for frequent urination include radiation therapy and bladder dysfunction.

Frequent urination might always be a sign of any underlying illness. However, uncontrolled bladder contractions among individuals with hyperactive bladder syndrome cause frequent and intense urination, forcing them to go to the bathroom immediately, even if their bladder isn’t full.

Can frequent urination be treated?
Specific treatment options are available to alleviate the symptoms of frequent urination. However, the root cause of the condition will determine the type and course of therapy. Urinary tract infections can often be treated at home with the intake of fluids, vitamin C-rich foods, cranberry juice, probiotics, and herbal supplements. Following the right hygiene practices can also help in the long run. Expert intervention is needed to reduce prostate gland enlargement and combat overactive bladder syndrome.

Your doctor might advise food modifications following a diabetes mellitus diagnosis. Also, the healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination, ask about your health history, and suggest routine urine examinations to identify the cause of your frequent urge to empty your bladder. Post diagnosis, the doctor will devise a treatment plan according to the severity of the condition.