For your urination habits to be defined as 'frequent' you typically need to go more than eight times in a day and at least once during the night. Health professionals deem this level of urination frequent. Though both genders can be affected by this condition, it is more prevalent in women. Frequent urination can be due to a number of different causes. These generally fall into two broad categories: an increase in urine produced or a problem with the storage or release of urine. If you experience pain or burning while peeing, you may have an infection of. In this article we will explore the causes of frequent urination in women as well as treatments and home remedies.
Causes of frequent urination in women
Below we have outlined the most common causes for frequent urination in women, the associated symptoms, and some helpful advice.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
This is a quite common problem for women, which occurs when part of the urinary tract is infected and becomes inflamed and irritated. UTIs can be classed as either an upper or lower infection. An upper infection occurs when the kidneys or ureters are infected, while a lower infection (which is more common) occurs when the bladder and the urethra are infected.
Here we have listed the common symptoms of the disorder. Are you under 50 years old? Are you experiencing pains while urinating? Do you need to urinate too often? Do you feel a constant urge to urinate? Is your urine cloudy, with an offensive odor? Does your lower abdomen hurt? Do you have a mild fever? If you have answered 'yes' to all of these questions, then you most likely have a lower urinary tract infection.
Advice: You will need to see a doctor to treat this infection. For a lower urinary tract infection a doctor will most likely administer a 3-4 day course of antibiotics. They may also prescribe phenazopyridine to relieve the pain felt during urination. For a higher urinary tract infection, hospital treatment is normally required. This will involve a one-off injection of antibiotics, plus 10-14 days of normal antibiotics.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a medical condition that manifests when the body is unable to regulate the amount of glucose in your blood (blood sugar levels). There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 occurs when your body ceases insulin production, type 2 is when the body is unable to use the insulin produced by the pancreas.
Have you been feeling very tired lately? Are you losing weight without trying? Are you excessively thirsty? Do you need to urinate too often? Do you have an increased appetite? Do you have any wounds that are taking quite a long time to heal? Is your vision blurred? If you have answered 'yes' to the majority of these questions, then you should be checked for diabetes. Additionally, if you are between the ages of 7-23 and the symptoms have manifested quite suddenly, your symptoms are most likely caused by type 1 diabetes.
Advice: Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes will require treatment. Type 1 will require life long daily insulin injections. Both type 1 and 2 will require a change in diet in order to regulate blood sugar levels. Regular exercise is also recommended to reduce the likelihood of complications.
Interstitial Cystitis
This is a medical condition that is characterized by the inflammation of the bladder. It is most commonly caused by bacteria that infect the bladder.
Are you over 40 years old? Do you need to urinate frequently? When you are not urinating, do you still feel the urge to pee? Do you feel pain in the vulva or vagina? Is sex painful? Has your mood changed, have you been feeling depressed lately? Are you having trouble sleeping? If so, you might have interstitial cystitis.
Advice: There is no definite medical cure for IC, you can only control the symptoms. This can be accomplished by changing your diet, quitting smoking, and taking certain medications.
Pregnancy
Frequent urination can arise in the early and later months of pregnancy.
Are you sexually active? Do you have a heightened sensitivity to odors? Have you been feeling tired lately? Are you urinating more frequently? Have you been feeling nauseous or have started vomiting? Have you missed your period? Are your breasts tender and sore? If so, you might be pregnant.
Advice: The first thing that you need to do is determine whether or not you are actually pregnant. This can be accomplished either with a pregnancy test or a blood test at your doctor's office. Once you are positive that you are pregnant, you will need to adjust your lifestyle. You can discover all that you will need to by making an appointment with your doctor.
The above four conditions are the most common causes of frequent urination in women. There are a few other factors that we have not mentioned that may result in frequent urination, which include:
- Diuretic use
- Stroke
- Bladder cancer
- Food and drink
- Excessive drinking
- Overactive bladder syndrome
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Sexually transmitted diseases
Home remedies for frequent urination
Here we have listed several things that you can do at home to relieve frequent urination.
Reduce your caffeine intake: Caffeine is a diuretic that will increase urination. Try to limit your consumption of coffee, tea, and soda; if possible, cut them completely from your diet. You can opt to replace them with healthy smoothies, fruit drinks, and herbal teas.
Cranberry juice: Add cranberry juice or extract to your diet. This can relieve minor inflammation of the bladder, which will have a positive effect on your urination problems.
Horsetail extract: This can improve the overall quality and health of your urinary tract.
Perform Kegel exercises: Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles around the bladder and urethra, which can reduce the frequency of urination. These exercises should be done five to ten minutes 2-3 times a day.
Night Drink: Limit the amount of liquids that you consume 4-5 hours before your bedtime. This will reduce nighttime urination.
There are many causes of frequent urination in women, and the best way to determine what is causing your problem is to identify the accompanying symptoms. Moreover, there are quite a few things that you can do from the comfort of your home to relieve your frequent urination.