Peeing a lot can be caused by drinking lots of fluids or caffeine, a urinary tract infection, diabetes, or an overactive bladder. See a doctor if it persists.
Common causes
- Large fluid intake, caffeine or alcohol.
- Diuretics.
- Urinary tract infection.
- Overactive bladder.
- Pregnancy and enlarged prostate.
- Diabetes, where high blood sugar draws water out.
What counts as a lot
More than 8 trips a day, or more than twice a night.
See a doctor
If frequent urination persists or comes with thirst, burning, blood in urine, fever, or back pain.
How much urination is normal
Most adults urinate about 6 to 8 times a day, with up to 7 times in 24 hours considered normal for many. Bladders hold about 400 to 600 milliliters, and the urge to urinate comes at about 150 to 200 milliliters. Making more than 3 liters of urine daily is called polyuria.
Everyday reasons
- Drinking more fluids, especially caffeine and alcohol, which are diuretics.
- Cold weather.
- Medications such as diuretics (water pills).
- Anxiety.
- Pregnancy, due to pressure on the bladder and increased blood volume.
- Aging.
Medical conditions
- Diabetes: high blood sugar pulls water into urine, along with thirst, hunger and weight loss.
- Urinary tract infection, with burning, urgency and cloudy urine.
- Overactive bladder.
- Enlarged prostate in men, with weak stream and nighttime urination.
- Diabetes insipidus, a rare condition with dilute urine.
- Kidney disease.
- High calcium levels.
- Interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome).
Nocturia
Waking more than once per night to urinate is called nocturia, and it is common after age 60.
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Tracking
Record fluid intake, urination frequency and volume for 2 or 3 days, which helps a doctor.
Tips
- Limit caffeine, alcohol and fluids in the evening.
- Practice pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises.
- Train the bladder by delaying urination gradually.
See a doctor if
Frequent urination is new, with pain, blood in the urine, fever, extreme thirst, weight loss or trouble emptying the bladder.
Measuring what is normal
Most adults urinate 6 to 8 times a day, and up to 10 times can be normal with high fluid intake. Polyuria is defined as producing more than about 3 liters of urine per day. Urination at night more than twice (nocturia) becomes more common after age 50. Drinking large amounts of water, coffee, tea, alcohol or carbonated drinks increases frequency. Medicines such as diuretics also increase urination. Keeping a bladder diary for 2 to 3 days, recording drinks, times and amounts, helps a doctor see patterns.
Medical reasons to check
Diabetes mellitus causes frequent urination when high blood sugar spills into urine and draws water, and about 38 million Americans have diabetes with roughly 8.7 million undiagnosed, according to the CDC. Diabetes insipidus is a rarer hormone related condition. Other causes include urinary tract infection, overactive bladder, an enlarged prostate, pregnancy, hypercalcemia and kidney disease. See a doctor if frequent urination comes with excessive thirst, weight loss, burning, blood in the urine, fever, pelvic pain or disrupted sleep.
Based on data from the CDC and the Urology Care Foundation
