Frequent Urination- Causes,Symptoms,Diagnosis,Treatment,Prevention

By Shanaya Maryam on November 26, 2021

Frequent urination is the condition in which a person needs to urinate more than anyone normally would. The urgency to urinate strikes suddenly that can cause you to lose control of your bladder. It can feel like your bladder is extremely full which can be uncomfortable.

This condition is also referred to as having an overactive bladder. Urologists consider going more than 8 times in a day to be frequent urination.

The key to treating frequent urination is to address the underlying cause.

Causes Of Frequent Urination

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common condition which can cause frequent urination. This happens because bacteria enter the bladder through the urethra.
Women are more prone to UTI than men because women urethras are shorter. So, bacteria have less distance to travel and they can infect the urinary tract which can cause symptoms.

Risk Factors For A UTI Are:

no proper hydration
holding urine for prolonged periods or not fully emptying bladder
vaginal irritation and inflammation of the vagina
improper cleaning or wiping after using the toilet, which can expose the urethra to E. coli bacteria
Having sexual intercourse, which will introduce bacteria into the urinary tract
Certain changes in the system of the urinary system, such as during pregnancy
Prolong medical problems, such as diabetes, that drastically affect the immune system.

Overactive Bladder (OAB)

An overactive bladder (OAB) can be another reason for frequent urination. According to the American Urological Association, an estimated 33M Americans have an overactive bladder. This can affect about 40 percent of women in the United States.

Overactive bladder is a condition where there is a collection of symptoms that can lead to frequent urination which is the result of overactive bladder muscles. Common symptoms include:

Sudden urinary urgency which can sometimes results in leaks
nocturia, during which there is a need to urinate more than two times a night
frequency of urination, or going to the bathroom at least eight times a day.

There are many causes of an overactive bladder which can include:

injuries near urinary tract
conditions that affects nerves, muscles and tissues, such as a stroke or condition of multiple sclerosis (MS)
estrogen deficiency which occurs after menopause
excessive body weight that can place extra pressure on the bladder.

Other Causes

Other causes of frequent urination includes:

stones in the bladder
diabetes
interstitial cystitis
weakened pelvic muscles
Excessive intake of caffeine, artificial sweeteners, nicotine, and alcohol which may irritate the bladder walls that can worsen frequent urination symptoms.

Symptoms Of Frequent Urination

Your symptoms of frequent urination depend on the cause.

UTI Symptoms

Sudden need to urinate
pain or burning while urinating
strong-smelling urine
lower abdominal pain while urinating
blood in the urine
fever and chills
loss of control in the bladder
nausea
OAB symptoms

Other Symptoms Include:

leaking urine
nocturia
Unable to control urine pressure

Diagnosis And Testing Of Frequent Urination

Your doctor will conduct an exam of your abdomen and pelvis. This will include a pelvic exam and evaluation of urethra and vagina.

Other tests that can be useful include:

Bladder Scan. This is an ultrasound done on patients bladder after they have urinated to see how much urine is left behind.

Cystoscopy. In this test lighted instruments are used, so that doctors can take a closer look inside the bladder as well as take tissue samples if necessary.

Urinary testing (Urodynamic Testing). This test involves a variety of testing to see how well the urinary system is working.

Treatment For Frequent Urination

Treatment for frequent urination depends on its cause. Firstly, doctors will treat any primary disease causing frequent urination. If an infection is seen, then your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.
Medications that help to control the muscle spasms in the bladder can reduce urinary incontinence, or loss of bladder control.
Physicians also may suggest doing physical activity like pelvic exercises, such as Kegels or bladder retraining exercises which can help to delay urination.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese form of healing method that can be used to treat illness for centuries. A common use of acupuncture is for urinary conditions such as OAB and urinary incontinence.

Prevention Of Frequent Urination

There are some steps to reduce your likelihood of developing frequent urination. You can avoid use of certain foods and drinks closer to nighttime that can increase the likelihood of nocturia. The following are the examples:

alcohol intake
citrus juices
coffee or caffeine
tea or chai
tomatoes and tomato-based products
artificial sweeteners
Constipation also contributes to frequent urination because it puts pressure on the bladder, so try to increase the intake of fiber in your diet

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Frequent Urination- Causes,Symptoms,Diagnosis,Treatment,Prevention