Frequent Urination: Causes, Symptoms & When to See a Doctor

If you find yourself having to urinate frequently each day, you may be afflicted with one of several urinary medical conditions.

Frequency

• Needing to urinate more often than you usually do can be a sign of frequent urination. Having to urinate suddenly along with a strong urge to release your bladder's contents can be a sign of urgent urination.

Nocturia

• Nocturia is when you have to urinate frequently at night. This condition commonly affects older men.

Infection

• An increased need to urinate can also be caused by a urinary tract infection. Inflammation of the urinary organs can decrease the bladder's capacity to hold urine, which results in an increased need to urinate.

Polyuria

• Polyuria is an increase in the volume of urine you release each day. Adults normally let out less than 2.5 liters of urine daily; any amount over that is considered excessive and can cause you to have to urinate more frequently.

Causes

• Other causes of an increased need to urinate include: pregnancy, prostatitis, diuretic medications, drinking too much before bed, consuming large amounts of caffeine or alcohol drinks, sickle cell anemia, kidney failure or, if you're a diabetic, too much glucose or salt in your diet.