Common Causes of Frequent Urination

Prostate Problems

The prostate is a small gland in men that produces semen. When the prostate enlarges due to infection or other causes it can cause the need for frequent urination. One of the causes of an enlarged prostate is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is a treatable condition by your doctor.

A prostate infection, prostatitis, is generally caused by a treatable bacterial infection. This infection causes painful and frequent urination. It is more common in men under 50 years of age and can also cause cloudy urine, flu-like symptoms, and blood in the urine says the Mayo Clinic. If you think you have prostatitis or any other prostate problem contact your doctor. It may be uncomfortable to talk about your symptoms, but not treating this condition can lead to further issues.

Diabetes Insipidus

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is an uncommon condition that causes an imbalance of the fluids within the body. Sufferers have an extreme thirst and frequent urination. The hormone antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is made and stored within the brain. If there is damage to that part of the brain or if the kidneys cannot respond properly to ADH then you can have increased urination says the Mayo Clinic.

Treating diabetes insipidus needs to be focused on the cause of the problem. With several causes of DI, your doctor will need to do a thorough evaluation and likely need additional testing. There are medications and diet changes that can be made to correct the fluid imbalances and help you lead the best life you can.

Nerve Problems

If you have suffered from a stroke or other neurologic disease that causes your nerves to not work properly you may experience frequent urination. According to WebMD, “damage to nerves that supply the bladder can lead to problems with bladder function, including frequent and sudden urges to urinate.”

Spinal cord injuries often times lead to bladder problems like urinary retention or an overactive bladder. When the spinal cord is injured in certain spots it can block the signal from the brain to the bladder, which causes the urinary changes. Anyone who has suffered from a spinal cord injury should work with specialists to help them learn how to manage this change so that they can lead as normal of a life as possible.

Caffeine

Most people who regularly drink coffee know they have to go to the bathroom a bit more often than their non-coffee drinking friends. But did you know that it’s because of the caffeine? Caffeine is a natural diuretic, meaning it’s a drug that increases the frequency of urination. It also can increase your urge to urinate if you consume excessive amounts. Three to four cups of coffee equals 400-mg to 450-mg of caffeine, which is considered excessive.

“Caffeine is thought to have a direct effect on the bladder smooth muscle. It may irritate the tissues of the bladder and potentially cause an involuntary bladder contraction. This can contribute to urge incontinence” reports St. Joseph Hospital. If you drink too much coffee start cutting it out by ½-cup per day to avoid side effects like headaches.

Vaginitis

For women, vaginitis can be more than a bothersome condition it can lead to the need to urinate frequently. According to Health Partners, vaginitis is a condition when the vagina or vulva is painful and inflamed. It is generally caused by an infection or can happen during menopause from estrogen changes. You may experience pain when you urinate and have a thick white vaginal discharge that has a foul odor.

To treat vaginitis your doctor will determine the cause, infection or something else, and then treat that underlying cause. If it is due to an infection antibiotics may be prescribed. Talking to your doctor about vaginitis may be uncomfortable but it’s important to get treatment to prevent further complications.

Pregnancy

Well, just about any pregnant woman can tell you that one of the symptoms that comes along with pregnancy is an increase in urinary frequency. “During pregnancy, the bladder gets squished as the baby takes up more and more space inside of your body. Frequent urination is a very common and normal symptom of pregnancy,” reports the Cleveland Clinic. Pregnant women will find that they typically experience urinary frequency more during the first and third trimester, continues the source.

Frequent urination is a normal “side effect” or pregnancy and nothing to be worried about. A few weeks after birth your body should return to its pre-pregnant urinary status. The Cleveland Clinic does mention that after childbirth women should try Kegel exercises to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles which can help avoid bladder problems like urine leakage.

Diuretic Medication

Medications called diuretics (water pills) are designed to rid the body of excess fluid. This causes frequent urination which is the intended effect. Doctors prescribe diuretics for people with high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney dysfunction, and several other conditions. It’s important to take your prescriptions as your doctor instructs to help manage your condition.

The most common diuretics are furosemide, chlorothiazide, and hydrochlorothiazide. Your doctor will prescribe one or more based on your underlying condition and intended amount of diuresis. Diuretics can cause you to feel thirsty and it’s OK to drink fluids as long as your doctor hasn’t asked you to restrict fluids.

Overactive Bladder Syndrome

Overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) is a very common cause of urinary frequency. Healthline reports from the “American Urological Association, an estimated 33 million Americans have an overactive bladder. This affects about 40-percent of all women in the United States.” The source continues to say that an overactive bladder tends to actually be a symptom of a condition, or a number of symptoms that result in urinary frequency.

Some of the other symptoms that you may experience if you have an overactive bladder are a sudden urge to urinate, nocturia (the need to urinate two or more times per night), and the need to urinate eight or more times per day. If you have urinary changes make sure to report them to your doctor so that any underlying conditions can be addressed.

Diabetes

Undiagnosed or poorly managed diabetes can lead to frequent urination. The Cleveland Clinic tells us that “in diabetes, your body isn’t controlling the amount of sugar in your body–which the kidneys are responsible for cleaning. As the kidneys do overtime to filter the blood, there is extra fluid that needs to leave the body.” It’s like a cyclical pattern of increased urination, then you drink more to stay hydrated, and then increased urination.

Anyone who has diabetes should be under careful watch from their doctor. It is a chronic condition that can have negative life-long effects. Frequent urination is a sign that your diabetes is not well controlled and that you may need to make changes to your medication.

Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial cystitis is a bladder condition that is both painful and causes you to have an increased need to urinate. It is caused by irritation of the muscles in and around your bladder. What causes the irritation isn’t always known and the symptoms can vary for each person. Those who suffer from interstitial cystitis “typically urinate small amounts and often feel like you still have to pee even after peeing” says Health Partners.

Another name for interstitial cystitis is painful bladder syndrome (PBS). This name was given due to the pain and pressure sufferers experience in their pelvis and lower abdominals continues the source.

Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental disorder in the United States. While some level of anxiety is normal based on your life experiences and what is happening around you, when your anxiety interferes with your daily life it can become a medical diagnosis. People who have anxiety not only have mental manifestations of their condition but also have physical changes as well. One of these changes is frequent urination.

Urinary frequency from anxiety may be the result of your body’s fight or flight response reports Health Partners. If you are experiencing anxiety it’s important to talk to your doctor. It is a high treatable condition that can have serious side effects if left untreated.