Frequent Urination: How Much Is Too Much?
There may be nothing more tiring than running back and forth to the bathroom a zillion times a day. But is frequent urination actually a problem?
Normal bladder capacity ranges between 400 to 600 ml. A person with a healthy bladder urinates between six to eight times a day. If you find yourself urinating more than this, you may be scratching your head wondering why.
There are lots of potential reasons why you are urinating so often. If you find that you are going more than you used to, here are some likely culprits:
- You are drinking more liquids than usual
- You are drinking too much caffeine, which is a diuretic
Or, frequent urination can be a sign of more serious conditions like:
- Bladder infection
- Bladder inflammation
- Overactive bladder, a common condition.
Having an overactive bladder means that the nerves and muscles in your bladder spasm and fire off too often, sending you on a mad dash to the bathroom. This means that your bladder signals that it’s time to go even when it’s not full. Typically, this is the result of nerve or muscle damage to your bladder and pelvic floor.
Frequent urination in women is very common. You may be wondering how to tell if your urination frequency is normal – especially when it’s because of good things like being well-hydrated. Here are some general rules of thumb:
- You have to urinate more than others
If you find that you are urinating more than six to eight times a day, you may be going more than is typical for a healthy bladder.
- It’s affecting your sleep
If your frequent urination is keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep and you find yourself getting up to go more than two times in a night, you may want to see your doctor about the possibility that you have an overactive bladder.
- The urge to urinate comes on strong
In addition to the frequency of urination, having an overactive bladder usually means your urge to go feels sudden and difficult to control – and maybe is accompanied by a little bladder leak in your panties.
Though it may feel uncomfortable at first to broach the subject, opening up to your girlfriends about frequent urination can be a huge source of support, as well as a relief; you may just find that she is experiencing similar urgency and that you are not alone. In fact, frequent urination in women is more common than you may think! It never hurts to reach out to someone close to us whom we trust. At the very least, it will gain you another ally in your camp in the quest to find the nearest restroom.
In addition to reaching out for support, there are a number of remedies and treatments you can seek out for your frequent urination.
- Adopt a bladder diet
Cut out foods that contain caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, carbonation, or citrus. These are known bladder irritants and can aggravate your condition.
- Get on a schedule
Bladder training can be an important component of your treatment plan. Start visiting the ladies’ room at regular intervals, whether or not you have to go. Overtime, try increasing the amount of time between your visits so that you train your bladder to hold it longer and stop being so reactive. Be sure to up the amount by small increments each time in order to set yourself up for success.
- Stay hydrated
Though it may sound counterintuitive, drinking enough water will be a real boon for your overactive bladder. Restricting fluids makes your urine more concentrated, and more of an irritant to your bladder. So fill that water bottle and drink up!
You may know them as Kegels. They are super helpful for strengthening the muscles around your bladder so you can keep in that urine when the urge hits you. Read here for instructions and tips on how to get the most out of your Kegels
Medications
Talk to your doctor about whether taking a prescription drug to relax your bladder muscles is right for you.
Wear protection
Specially designed incontinence liners and pads provide comfort and peace of mind for those moments in which you won’t be able to make it to the bathroom despite your best efforts. Not all liners and pads are created equal. Some are designed for dealing with incontinence, and others are not. Some women, reluctant to purchase incontinence products due to either stigma or inconvenience, wear period liners to address their incontinence. However, period liners are not uniquely designed to absorb urine, and may leave you feeling wet.
Always Discreet liners and pads are designed differently – the super absorbent core quickly turn liquid to gel and neutralizes odors, leaving you worry-free to focus on doing what you love. Always Discreet liners and pads are thin, comfortable, and stay in place so you can go about your day confident and worry-free.