Urination - excessive volume

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Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

Polyuria

Intake and output of fluids should be monitored. Record daily weights at the same time(s) and on the same scales.

• Excessive urination occurs over several days, and it is not explained by medications or increase in fluids.

The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask you questions about your symptoms, including:

• Time pattern
  • How long has this been noticed?
  • Does the volume of urine remain comparable from one day to the next?
  • Is the volume large one day and small the next day?
  • What time of day does the problem seem worse?
• Quality
  • What color is the urine?
  • Has any blood been noticed in the urine?
  • How many times each day is urination necessary? What about at night?
  • Any problems controlling urine?
• Aggravating factors
  • What makes the problem worse?
  • Does drinking large volumes of fluid increase the urine volume?
• Relieving factors
  • Is there anything that helps relieve the problem?
  • Does restricting fluid intake reduce the urine volume?
• Other
  • What other symptoms are also present?
    • Is there any pain or burning when urinating?
    • Is there back or abdominal pain?
    • Is there a fever?
    • Is bed wetting a problem?
  • What medications are being taken?
  • Is there a family history of diabetes or kidney problems?
  • Has there been previous urinary tract infections?
  • Dietary factors: What is the amount of fluids consumed each day? Salt? Caffeine? Alcohol?

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• Urinalysis
• Serum glucose (sugar) test
• Blood urea nitrogen test
• Creatinine studies
• Fluid deprivation test (the intake of fluids is restricted to see if the urine volume decreases)
• Serum osmolality and urine osmolality tests
• Serum electrolytes

Review Date: 06/13/2006
Reviewed By: Neil D. Sherman, MD, Urologist, Essex County, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.