What is frequent urination?
If your bladder seems to be controlling your life, you could be experiencing frequent urination.
There isn’t a hard and fast rule about the number of times you should empty your bladder in a single day. On average, however, most men and women urinate six or seven times in a 24-hour period.
Frequent urination is a condition that occurs when you have to urinate more than usual. In some cases, this frequency comes with an intense urgency, and it can be challenging to get to the bathroom in time.
This common condition can impact your quality of life by causing anxiety when a bathroom isn’t nearby.
What causes frequent urination?
There are several causes for frequent urination, including:
- Consuming a lot of liquids
- Drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages
- Suffering from bladder or kidney stones
- Having an enlarged prostate or infection
- Experiencing vaginal infections or cystitis
- Being diabetic or pregnant
- Having an overactive bladder
- Taking diuretics
Less often, frequent urination indicates a more serious urinary problem, like damage to the urinary tract or bladder cancer.
What are the symptoms of frequent urination?
In addition to an increased need to urinate, you might experience additional symptoms such as:
- Increased appetite or thirst
- Chills, fever, or vomiting
- Blood in your urine
- Urine that looks or smells strange
- Penile or vaginal discharge
- Pain in your abdomen or sides
- Sudden or unexplained weight loss
It’s essential to contact Valley Urology Center if you’ve noticed changes in your bathroom habits or have frequent urination that’s impacting your daily life.
How is frequent urination diagnosed and treated?
To diagnose frequent urination, the experienced team at Valley Urology Center performs a comprehensive physical exam, reviews your medical history, and discusses your symptoms.
Depending on your exam, they might also recommend:
- Urine analysis to look for blood in your urine or other irregularities
- Imaging tests like X-rays or CT scans to check for physical abnormalities
- Cystoscopy to look inside your bladder and urethra
- Urodynamic tests to evaluate how your bladder stores and releases urine
Based on the cause of your frequent urination, your urologist develops a treatment strategy tailored to your individual needs. If you have infections, for example, they generally prescribe medications like antibiotics and pain relievers to relieve any discomfort. For conditions like overactive bladder, they might suggest bladder training exercises to strengthen the muscles in your pelvic floor.
For more information if you’ve been experiencing frequent urination, call Valley Urology Center or schedule an appointment online today.
