If you’re diligent about staying hydrated or your drink a lot of caffeine or alcohol, you may find yourself needing to pee frequently. Or, if you’re pregnant and the baby is positioned on your bladder, you might have to go more often. But sometimes people feel the need to urinate an excessive number of times in a day or during the night, without any apparent reason. If you find yourself headed to the bathroom more than 4 to 8 times a day, you may be experiencing a condition called frequent urination, which can be a symptom of a more serious medical problem. Frequent urination can happen to anyone of any age, but some people are at a higher risk. Find out when to see your doctor about frequent urination.

Common Causes of Frequent Urination

Frequent urination causes can include a variety of health conditions. Some of these conditions can be treated easily, though some may be more challenging. While children and young adults can have this symptom, older adults are more likely to experience frequent urination. Some of the causes of frequent urination include:

• Diabetes, type 1 or type 2
• Diuretics, which are pills intended to remove excess water from the body
• Interstitial cystitis or other bladder conditions
• Nocturia, which is frequent urination at night
• Overactive bladder syndrome
• Pelvic tumor or radiation therapy to the pelvic region
• Prostate problems, such as an enlarged prostate
• Urinary tract infection
• Vaginitis, which is swelling of the vagina

How to Treat Frequent Urination at Home

If you’ve been drinking a lot of caffeine or alcohol, cut back and see if that helps reduce the number of trips you take to the bathroom. If you find yourself waking up frequently throughout the night to pee, don’t drink too much before bedtime.

When to See a Doctor

While it might be an embarrassing topic to talk with your doctor about, it’s important to have the conversation to get an accurate diagnosis. An undiagnosed medical condition can sometimes lead to very serious problems. Schedule an appointment with your HealthLynked provider within a day or two if you have:

• A change in the color of your urine
• A mental health disorder
• Difficulty starting urination or a weak stream
• Incontinence
• Night sweats
• Pain or burning, before or after urination
• Sudden weight loss

Contact your doctor right away if you experience frequent urination along with any of these symptoms:

• Blood in the urine
• Discharge from the penis or vagina
• Fever
• Shaking chills
• Side or back pain
• Vomiting

If it is not an emergency, keep a log leading up to your appointment. Include the number of times you go to the bathroom every day and how much you urinate when you go. This log will be helpful when you meet with your doctor to discuss frequent urination problems.

Frequent urination treatment may be as simple as cutting back on the liquids you drink, but if you’ve tried that without improvement in your symptoms, it’s important to talk with your doctor about your diagnosis and treatment options.