Frequent or urgent urination

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Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

Frequent urination means needing to urinate more often than usual. Urgent urination is a sudden, compelling urge to urinate, along with discomfort in your bladder.

A frequent need to urinate at night is called nocturia. Most people can sleep for 6 to 8 hours without having to urinate. Middle aged and older men often wake to urinate once in the early morning hours.

Urgent urination; Urinary frequency or urgency

Together, frequent and urgent urination are classic signs of a urinary tract infection. Since inflammation reduces the bladder's capacity to hold urine, even small amounts of urine cause discomfort.

Diabetes, pregnancy, and prostate problems are other common causes of these symptoms.

Other causes include:

• Interstitial cystitis (an ongoing inflammation of the bladder that is much more common in women than men; often difficult to diagnose and treat)
• Diuretics and many other medications

And, less commonly:

• Radiation therapy
• Bladder dysfunction
• Bladder cancer

Common causes of nighttime urination:

• Drinking too much before bedtime, especially caffeine or alcohol
• Enlarged prostate

Review Date: 08/04/2005
Reviewed By: David R. Knowles M.D., Scottsdale Urologic Surgeons, Scottsdale, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.