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Frequent urination

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 19, 2023.

Definition

Frequent urination is the need to pass urine many times during the day, the night, or both. You may feel as though you need to go again soon after you empty your bladder. And you may pass only small amounts of urine each time you use the toilet.

Frequent urination can affect your sleep, work and overall well-being. Waking up more than once each night to pass urine is called nocturia.

Causes

Frequent urination may happen when there's a problem with part of the urinary tract. The urinary tract is made up of the kidneys; the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder, which are called the ureters; the bladder; and the tube where urine exits the body, called the urethra.

You may pass urine more often than usual because of:

Frequent urination often happens along with other urinary signs and symptoms, such as:

Possible causes of frequent urination

Certain urinary tract conditions may lead to frequent urination:

Other causes of frequent urination include:

When to see a doctor

Check in with your health care provider if:

If you have any of these symptoms along with frequent urination, seek care right away:

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