Frequent urination – the urge to pass urine more often the usual and often without actually having a full bladder – is a symptom that can disrupt your daily life and that might also interfere with your sleep cycle. Normally, the human bladder needs to be emptied 6-7 time a day, calculating with an average liquid intake of around 2 liters over 24 hours – anyone who feels the need urinate more often than that suffers from frequent urination.
Frequent urination is usually not a health issue that exists on its own – often, it is a symptom of a more complex problem. Here are some of the most common medical and lifestyle-related issues that have frequent urination as a symptom.
Common Causes of Frequent Urination in Women
Habits and medical conditions that can lead to frequent urination in women include:
- Fluid intake – we hear all the time about the importance of consuming a sufficient quantity of liquids. However, if your intake exceeds the quantity that is optimal for your body, you might need to empty your bladder more often;
- Consuming foods and beverages with strong diuretic effects – caffeine and alcohol are both diuretics and so are citric fruits and tomatoes;
- Urinary tract infections – perhaps the most common health issue behind frequent urination, UTIs happen when bacteria or other pathogens infect one or more parts of the urinary tract and cause inflammations;
- Vaginitis – the inflammation of the vagina or of the vulva can also increase the frequency of the need to urinate;
- Intersticial cystitis – the condition is associated with irritation at the level of the muscles in or around the bladder;
- Bladder stones – stones can form not only in the kidneys, the bladder can also develop stones;
- Hormonal imbalances – fluctuations in the amounts of hormones, especially of estrogen, can also manifest in the form of frequent urination;
- Diabetes – one of the most common symptoms of diabetes is frequent urination;
- An overactive bladder.
Common Causes of Frequent Urination in Men
Some medical conditions that come with frequent urination as a symptom can equally affect men and women. These conditions include diabetes, bladder stones, urinary tract infections and lifestyle-related aspects, such as consuming foods and drinks with a diuretic effect and consuming too much liquids are also common for men and women. However, there are many medical conditions related to frequent urination that are specific to men – here are some:
- Benign prostate enlargement – the prostate is a gland located in front of the bladder and an organ that enlarges with age. When it reaches a dimension that compromises the ability to pass urine, it can lead to the frequent urge to pass urine;
- More severe conditions – malignancies, such as prostate cancer and bladder cancer might also cause frequent urination.
The Importance of Visiting the Doctor
Frequent urination might be a sign of a more serious illness and it can lead to severe dehydration, therefore it is very important to see a uterine artery embolization Fort Collins doctor if the symptoms persist for more than a couple of days. The doctor will probably order laboratory tests and other investigations to determine the exact cause of the symptom and to determine the most adequate treatment.