Keeping track of how many times per day you pee may offer insights into your urinary and overall health. It’s natural, though, that you wonder how many times a day you should be peeing.
This article will discuss the typical urination frequency in adults, factors that may alter it temporarily, and medical signs indicating something else is happening.
How often should you pee during the day and night?
On average, an adult may urinate between four and eight times per day and none or a couple of times per night. This wide range is tied to age, lifestyle habits, race and ethnicity, fluid intake, and sex assigned at birth. It is also natural that this frequency slightly changes day by day.
Identifying your usual urination frequency may help you notice when things change.
A 2022 study on healthy women indicated that peeing twice to 10 times a day and zero to four times at night is standard. But, according to the National Institute on Aging, going to the restroom once every 4 hours may be a good rule for remembering how many times a day you should pee.
Changes in this urination frequency don’t necessarily indicate a health problem. It could be linked to fluid and food intake or sweating patterns. Coffee and alcohol, in particular, can lead to increased urination.
If you feel you are peeing fewer or more times than usual for a few days, you may want to contact a health professional to explore possible causes.
What does it mean if one goes to the bathroom too often?
Peeing too often or too much for a day or two may mean you are drinking more fluids than usual. Cooler temperatures may also increase the urge to pee more often, even if you are not urinating at high volumes.
If your urination frequency changes considerably or it interferes with your daily or nightly activities, you may want to keep track.
Below we’ll explore some common causes of changes in urination frequency.
Urinary tract infection
Bacteria traveling up your urinary tract may cause a burning sensation and an increased urge to pee, even if no urine comes out. If you are drinking liquids often, you may feel you have to pee every time shortly after.
Many UTIs resolve on their own by increasing your liquid intake. But often, you may need antibiotics to manage the infection and prevent it from spreading to the kidneys.
Pregnancy
Peeing often is natural and common during pregnancy. Hormonal changes and weakening pelvic floor muscles may make it more challenging to hold it in, increasing your need for peeing.
As your pregnancy progresses, there may be less room for your bladder to get as full as usual, so you may need to urinate often, although not necessarily at larger volumes. This may depend on your liquid intake.
Enlarged prostate
An enlarged prostate — formally known as benign prostatic hyperplasia — may result in a change in urination frequency for adult males.
Symptoms may include:
- peeing more than eight times a day
- difficulty delaying urination
- challenging urination even if you feel you need to pee
- interrupted urine flow
- frequent urination at night
- not being able to urinate
- accidental urination
- changes in the color or smell of the urine
There are several treatment options available, such as alpha-blockers and antihistamines.
Interstitial cystitis
Also referred to as painful bladder syndrome, this inflammatory disorder of the bladder affects urinary function. Though urgency and frequency may increase, smaller urine volumes are passed.
Early diagnosis and proactive treatment are the first lines of defense.
Overactive bladder
An overactive bladder (OAB) is a chronic condition characterized by unstable bladder contractions leading to an increased urinary urgency and frequency during the day and night. It is usually diagnosed once other causes, like UTIs, have been ruled out.
OAB typically causes great discomfort because daily activities and rest time are constantly interrupted by the need to pee.
Causes of OAB include nerve damage, medication side effects, and a weak pelvic floor.
Only a health professional can provide an accurate diagnosis and explore strategies to manage increased urination.
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