Everything you need to know about frequent urination

Frequent urination is called polyuria in medical terminology. Also called frequency, it is a condition many people live with and do not seek medical assistance as they consider it to be a normal thing. Frequent urination means a desire to pass urine more often than what is normal for them. It can disturb the sleep cycle and also impact one’s normal routine life.

Generally, it points to an underlying medical condition. The normal amount of urine for men and women is about 800 to 2000 milliliters in 24 hours. Anything more than that is a sign of frequent urination. But in certain cases, it may point to some serious condition. Early and timely diagnosis of the problem can help in relief and effective treatment.

The frequency of urination is different from urinary incontinence which means leakage of urine. Although everyone urinates at a different frequency, on an average people urinate 6 to 7 times a day. More than that can be called frequency. If frequent urination is affecting the quality and normal course of life, then it is a problem that needs to be addressed. The underlying causes of frequent urination have to be diagnosed before treatment is prescribed.

What is the cause of frequent urination?

The human body has complex processes, one of which is urination. Certain changes can make the urination process more active. Some of the common causes of frequent urination are:

• Lifestyle factors, such as drinking a lot of liquids containing caffeine and alcohol
• Kidney problems or ureter problem
• Medical conditions, such as diabetes
• Anxiety and nervousness
• Certain medications, such as diuretics
• Infection of the urinary tract
• Inflammation of the wall of the bladder
• Health conditions affecting the proper functioning of the nervous system
• Tumour or build-up of mass in the pelvic region
• Involuntary contractions of the bladder leading to a desire to urinate, which is called an overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome
• Infection transmitted during sexual intercourse.

What are the symptoms of frequent urination?
Some of the symptoms of frequent urination that may require medical attention are:

• Pain and discomfort while passing urine
• Cloudy or unusual colored urine
• Blood in the urine
• Loss of control over the bladder
• Difficulty in passing urine despite the urge
• Discharge from penis
• Nausea and vomiting

What to expect at a doctor’s visit?

When consulting a doctor for the problem of frequent urination, one can expect the following from him/her:

• The specialist doctor or a urologist will carry out a thorough physical examination.
• He/she will investigate the medical history of the individual by asking questions. The frequency of urination, the possible time it started, and what time of day the tendency increases are some questions to expect from the doctor.
• Apart from that, the doctor may ask about the medications being taken currently; the amount of liquid being consumed; and the amount of intake of caffeine and alcohol, and changes in the quantity, if any
• Based on the medical history, the doctor may prescribe some tests including a urine test, an ultrasound of the kidneys, X-ray or a computed tomography (CT) scan of the and abdomen region, tests to determine if there is any neurological disorder, and tests for sexually transmitted infections

What could be the possible treatments?

• Treatments depend on the cause of the frequent urination.
• If the cause of frequent urination is because of diabetes, the blood sugar levels will have to be kept in check.
• If the diagnosis points to bacterial infection of the kidney then antibiotics and painkillers may be prescribed.
• In the case of OAB syndrome, medications and treatments may be prescribed.