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Urination is one of the ways your body eliminates waste. Your kidneys make urine by filtering extra water and waste products from your blood. The urine travels from your kidneys through your ureters and your bladder, then exits your body through your urethra.
While everyone is unique, most people urinate up to 8 times a day. Feeling the urge to urinate much more than that can interfere with your life and could be a sign of an underlying condition.
Heather Auld, MD, and our team at SWFL Integrative Medicine in Fort Myers, Florida take a comprehensive approach to gynecology and women’s health care. Frequent urination is a problem many women face, and you don’t have to deal with it alone.
Here are three of the most common causes of frequent urination and what to do about them.
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in your urethra, bladder, or another part of your urinary system. UTIs happen when bacteria get into your urethra and start multiplying.
About 20% of women get at least one urinary tract infection in their lifetimes. UTIs often cause symptoms like pain with urination, a persistent urge to urinate, and urinating often, even if you only pass small amounts of liquid each time.
A UTI won’t go away on its own. And if it’s left untreated, the infection can get worse or spread to other parts of your urinary system.
If you think you have UTI, Dr. Auld and our team can diagnose your condition. We prescribe antibiotics as well as certain supplements to treat UTIs which are very effective at eliminating the infection and relieving your symptoms.
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a type of urinary incontinence. It makes you feel sudden, strong urges to urinate throughout the day and night. Some people experience involuntary urine leakage with these urges.
OAB affects as many as 40% of American women, and it gets more common with age. Many people with OAB hesitate to discuss their symptoms with their doctors, but treatment is available and it can help.
Dr. Auld and our team start by diagnosing your condition. Several factors can contribute to OAB, from weak pelvic floor muscles to neurological issues. Once we know what’s causing your symptoms, we develop a treatment plan.
We may recommend lifestyle changes to manage OAB, such as fluid management, scheduling urination, or pelvic floor exercises. Meditation can also help relieve symptoms.
About 37 million Americans have diabetes, a metabolic condition that elevates sugar levels in their blood. When you have high blood sugar, your kidneys must work harder to filter the excess. This process creates more urine and it can make you urinate more than usual.
Along with increasing urination, diabetes can make you feel very thirsty. You might drink more water to quench your thirst, making you feel the need to urinate more.
Diabetes can’t be cured, but managing the condition helps stabilize your blood sugar levels and reduce your symptoms. Managing diabetes generally requires a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. If Dr. Auld suspects that your urinary frequency is diabetes-related, she may take steps to help you reverse the insulin resistance.
Is frequent urination interrupting your life? It’s time to find answers and get treatment that puts you in control again. Call our office in Fort Myers, Florida, at 239-208-6676 or request an appointment online to get started.
