How often should i urinate per day

How your bladder functions every day can tell you a lot about your overall health. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.

These can include problems with the nervous or cardiovascular systems, he says. So what should you look out for? But frequent urination also can be a sign of several more serious conditions, including a bladder infection, prostate problems, a heart condition, leg swelling, or interstitial cystitis also called painful bladder syndrome , which is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the bladder.

Frequent urination also can be a symptom of an overactive bladder , a common, easily treated condition that could be caused by several problems, including nerve damage, medications, infections, being overweight and estrogen deficiency.

This is when the bladder drops into the vaginal opening because of weak pelvic floor muscles, typically following childbirth. Some people find they need to urinate more frequently at night as they get older. During pregnancy, a woman urinates more frequently due to fluid changes along with bladder pressure from the growing fetus.

After birth, a woman will have an increased urinary output for up to eight weeks. Several medical conditions may affect how often you pee, such as urinary incontinence or retention, or prostate issues for men.

Other conditions that may cause excessive urination include:. A urinary tract infection UTI is another condition that can affect how often you urinate. A UTI can make you feel an urgent need to urinate, even if you recently emptied your bladder. During an infection, you may find yourself urinating more often, but in smaller amounts. Certain conditions may cause you to experience a lower-than-average output of urine.

For men, this may be due to an enlarged prostate. When the prostate becomes enlarged, it can block the flow of urine out of your bladder. This can leave you unable to fully empty your bladder, even after urination. People with heart problems, high blood pressure, or poor kidney function often take medications that are called diuretics. Diuretics pull extra fluid out of the blood stream and move it into the kidney.

Taking diuretics may cause you to urinate more frequently. Some common diuretics include:. Alcohol and caffeine can both have diuretic effects, causing you to urinate more than usual. Learn more: The effects of caffeine on the body ». Drinking large amounts of water during the day can also increase your urine output and frequency.

You may have an underlying medical condition such as an overactive bladder. This can be treated. You want a longer, steady stream instead of a few drops. The voiding diary can be a huge wake-up call, Linehan says. If the log helps you see why your peeing habits are the way they are, you're set. If not, it can be a helpful tool to show to your doctor.

One thing to look out for: "If patients are going frequently but they're only peeing a little bit, that matters," says Jennifer Linehan, M. He notes that could indicate an overactive bladder. The good news? That can be cleared up by doing kegel exercises or asking your doctor about a diet change or even medication. You'll def need to visit a doc for this, too, and could need antibiotics to treat the problem. You should also see your doc if your frequency has changed , see blood in your urine , feel the need to push when you pee, leak in between urination, or have to pee several two to three times a night, Pramudji says.

Oh, and for those of you who regularly hold in your pee—just stop it. Basically, holding in your pee regularly like making it a habit over many weeks or months can actually can overstretch your bladder muscle, making it so you can no longer empty all the way, Etingin says.

If your peeing frequency is off and you're seriously concerned, it's time to see your doctor or urologist who can check to see what's going on, Bellows says.