Frequency of urinating

All information on the topic of Urinier frequency

At a glance

Up to eight times a day urination is considered completely normal. The average bladder volume is about 500ml for men and between 350 and 400ml for women.

There are many people who have to leave urine mainly at night – the so-called nycturia. For other people, it is part of a health problem, such as urge to urinate or increased bladder activity.

Affected people regularly and suddenly feel the strong urge to urinate. In some cases, urinary incontinence can occur – i.e. an unintentional urinary outlet.

For more information

Symptoms vary. It may simply be that the frequency of toilet visits increases; or the frequency increases, but the amount of urine delivered per toilet visit decreases.

Frequent urination can also be the result of excessive urine production of the body – a so-called polyuria.

 

Causes of frequent urination are:

  • Prostate problems – In men, an enlarged or inflamed prostate often leads to frequent urination.
  • Diabetes – When excess glucose from the blood is released into the urine, it removes water from the body tissue. This is followed by urination, thirst and dehydration.
  • Side effect of a drug – diuretics can increase the frequency of urination.
  • Urinary tract infections – symptoms can include pain when urinating, foul-smelling urine, fever and pelvic pain.
  • Age-related changes – Weakening the muscles can reduce the capacity of the bladder and the ability to adhere.
  • Bladder problems – If bladder problems occur, smokers in particular should consult a doctor. Frequent urination can be an early symptom of bladder cancer.
  • Bladder stones or cystitis can also lead to frequent urination. However, they often also cause pain in the pelvic area and when urinating.
  • Heart failure – A weak heart cannot pump the blood sufficiently through the body. Water accumulations form in the tissues – so-called edema. The excess fluid must be excreted by increased kidney activity. This results in large amounts of urine being produced.
  • Kidney disease – If kidney activity is reduced, it can reduce the kidney’s ability to concentrate urine. The amount of urine produced is increasing.

Sources

  • Azoulay, L. et al. (2012): The use of pioglitazone and the risk of bladder cancer in people with type 2 diabetes: nested case-control study. BMJ, 1411-1421
  • Fang, C. W. et al. (2018): Association of benign prostatic hyperplasia and subsequent risk of bladder cancer: an Asian population cohort study. World J Urol., 931-938
  • Nielsen, M. & Qaseem, A. (2016): Hematuria as a Marker of Occult Urinary Tract Cancer: Advice for High-Value Care From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med.
  • gesundheitswissen.de (2016): Häufiges Harnlassen: Wie sie den Harndrang in den Griff bekommen, URL: https://www.gesundheitswissen.de/innere-medizin/blasenschwaeche/haeufiges-harnlassen-wie-sie-den-harndrang-in-den-griff-bekommen/, Abgerufen am 18.06.2019
  • netdoktor.at (2007):Häufiger Harndrang, URL: https://www.netdoktor.at/gesundheit/haeufiger-harndrang-6825143, Retrieved 18.06.2019
Status of information: Autumn 2019