Frequent or urgent urination

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Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

Urgent urination; Urinary frequency or urgency

Follow the therapy recommended by your doctor to treat the underlying cause of your urinary frequency or urgency. It may help to keep a diary of times and amounts of urine voided to bring with you to the doctor.

In some cases, you may experience some urinary incontinence for a period of time. You may need to take steps to protect your clothing and bedding.

Call your doctor right away if:

• You have fever, back or side pain, vomiting, or shaking chills.
• You have increased thirst or appetite, fatigue, or sudden weight loss.

Also call your doctor if:

• You have urinary frequency or urgency, but you are not pregnant and you are not drinking excessive amounts of fluid.
• You have incontinence or have altered your lifestyle because of your symptoms.
• You have bloody or cloudy urine.
• There is a discharge from the penis or vagina.

Your health care provider will take a medical history and perform a physical examination. Medical history questions may include:

• When did the increased urinary frequency start?
• How many times each day are you urinating?
• Is there more frequent urination during the day or at night?
• Do you have an increased amount of urine?
• Has there been a change in the color of your urine? Does it appear lighter, darker, or more cloudy than usual? Have you noticed any blood?
• Do you have pain when urinating, or a burning sensation?
• Do you have other symptoms? Increased thirst? Pain in your abdomen? Pain in your back? Fever?
• Do you have difficulty starting the flow of urine?
• Are you drinking more fluids than usual?
• Have you had a recent bladder infection?
• Are you pregnant?
• What medications are you taking?
• Have you had any previous urinary problems?
• Have you recently changed your diet?
• Do you drink beverages containing alcohol or caffeine?

• Urinalysis
• Urine culture and sensitivity tests
• Cystometry (a measurement of the pressure within the bladder)
• Cystoscopy
• Neurological tests (for some urgency problems)
• Ultrasonography (such as an abdominal ultrasound or a pelvic ultrasound)

Treatment is determined by the cause of the urgency and frequency. Antibiotics and medicine may be prescribed to lessen the discomfort, if needed.

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