Frequent urination

Frequent urination, or urinary frequency, is the need to urinate more often than usual.^[1] It is often, though not necessarily, associated with urinary incontinence and polyuria (large total volume of urine). However, in other cases, urinary frequency involves only normal volumes of urine overall.

A frequent need to urinate at night is called nocturia.^[1] Frequent urination is strongly associated with frequent incidents of urinary urgency.

Definition

The normal number of times varies according to the age of the person. Among young children, urinating 8 to 14 times each day is typical. This decreases to 6 to 12 times per day for older children, and to 4 to 6 times per day among teenagers.^[2]

Causes

Frequent urination is a classic sign of urinary tract infection, where inflammation reduces the bladder's capacity to hold urine.^[1] Other common causes are:

• Diabetes mellitus,^[1] causing increased urine production (polyuria)
• Prostate problems,^[1] causing disturbance along the urinary tract
• Pregnancy^[1]

Other causes of polyuria may, less commonly, cause frequent urination.

Other causes of frequent urination by disturbance along the urinary tract include:

• Interstitial cystitis
• Overactive bladder
• Prostatitis
• Stroke and other neurological diseases

Less common causes include:^[1]

• Bladder cancer
• Bladder dysfunction
• Radiation therapy

References