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.
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.
Check in with your health care provider if:
- There's no obvious reason for your frequent urination, such as drinking more total fluids, alcohol or caffeine.
- The problem disrupts your sleep or everyday activities.
- You have other urinary problems or symptoms that worry you.
If you have any of these symptoms along with frequent urination, seek care right away:
- Blood in your urine.
- Red or dark brown urine.
- Pain when you pass urine.
- Pain in your side, lower belly or groin.
- Trouble passing urine or emptying your bladder.
- A strong urge to pass urine.
- Loss of bladder control.
- Fever.
Show References
- Urinary frequency. Merck Manual Professional Version. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/genitourinary-disorders/symptoms-of-genitourinary-disorders/urinary-frequency. Accessed Jan. 12, 2023.
- Suneja M, et al. The urinary system. In: DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination. 11th ed. McGraw Hill; 2020. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Jan. 17, 2023.
- Partin AW, et al., eds. Evaluation of the urologic patient: History and physical exam. In: Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 19, 2023.
- Bastian LA, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of early pregnancy. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 19, 2023.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/frequent-urination/basics/definition/SYM-20050712