Is Frequent Urination Normal?

For people who drink a lot of water or other beverages, take diuretics to control hypertension or take in a lot of caffeine or alcohol, frequent urination is likely normal. In other people, however, frequent urination can be a sign of a serious medical problem.

Identification

• The actual amount of times that you urinate each day varies from person to person, making the definition of frequent urination subjective. If you feel you are suddenly urinating more often or the urge is more sudden or strong than usual, then you are experiencing frequent urination.

Features

• For many people, frequent urination involves nocturia, or getting up in the middle of the night to urinate. While middle-aged and elderly men often get up once to urinate, it is uncommon for most people to wake up because of the need to urinate, especially if it occurs more than once.

Causes

• Diabetes, pregnancy, an enlarged prostate are common causes of frequent urination, while less-common causes include overactive bladder syndrome, urinary incontinence, strokes and other neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis. Bladder cancer is a rarer cause of frequent urination.

Warning

• If you are experiencing fever, chills, vomiting, back or side pain, or shaking along with your frequent urination, seek prompt medical attention as this could be a sign of infection. Frequent urination accompanied by increased appetite and excessive thirst are dangerous signs of diabetes and also require quick medical attention.

Considerations

• If you are concerned about frequent urination or if it persists, talk to your doctor. Be prepared with information about how often you urinate and when, as well as a description of what your urine looks like, as this will help your doctor diagnose your condition.