Frequent urination describes the need to urinate more often than what’s ‘normal’ for you. This could mean passing more urine than usual or repeatedly producing small amounts. There are several reasons why women may experience urinary frequency including UTI’s, diabetes, pregnancy, caffeinated drinks, certain medications and genitourinary syndrome of .
Women have estrogen receptors in the vagina, vulva, bladder and pelvic floor (the genitourinary system). Put simply - as estrogen declines in perimenopause and remains low in menopause, the vulva, vagina, bladder and change, and this leads to symptoms.
In an honest chat with Lisa Snowdon, Lynda revealed following the menopause she now plans ahead before leaving the house – not drinking before big events to avoid multiple trips to the toilet is one of her tricks.
But what is ‘regular’ urinary frequency in females? The NHS suggest going to the toilet anywhere between four to eight times a day and once in the night is a ‘regular’ urination rate, but this varies. It’s important to keep track of your ‘normal’ using a , so you can notice any changes.
The amount of urine you pass can change on a day-to-day basis. It can be the result of taking in more fluids than normal for you or drinking fluids later in the day. It may be due to taking diuretics like caffeine, alcohol or certain medications that stimulate the production of urine.
Frequent urination in women at night, or during the day, may also be a sign of an underlying health condition.
If frequent urination begins to negatively impact your lifestyle or you are experiencing other symptoms including pain, fever, red or dark brown urine, pelvic/abdominal swelling, or loss of bladder control, you should consult your doctor.
What causes constant urination in women?
While urinary frequency in females will vary from day to day, especially with normal cycle changes, experiencing a sudden increase in how often you're going to the bathroom may well be due to an infection; while frequent urination for an extended period could be a sign of another issue like overactive bladder, kidney disease, or diabetes. These different causes are more likely to occur at different ages, with UTIs affecting younger women and older women in particular; type 2 diabetes peaking in the 40s; while overactive bladder occurs in middle age and older.
If wondering ‘why am I peeing so much?’ as a female – here are some possible reasons:
UTIs as a cause of frequent urination in women
It’s estimated that 50-60% of women will experience at least one UTI in their lives and a third of women will experience one before the age of 24 that is severe enough to warrant antibiotics. Urinary urgency, frequency, experiencing pain or a burning sensation when going to the toilet are common symptoms of a UTI, also sometimes associated with traces of blood in the urine.
Although men can have a UTI, women are more at risk than men. You can read more about how to prevent and get rid of a UTI in our article dedicated to Urinary Tract Infections in women.
Other causes of excessive peeing in women
Another cause of frequent urination is reduced oestrogen levels that occur around perimenopause and . This can cause thinning of the lining of the urethra, making it more susceptible to bacteria that can irritate the bladder.
Women may also have weakened pelvic muscles surrounding this area because of ageing and childbirth and vaginal estrogen are both very helpful.
Women who are pregnant also experience increased toilet trips – it is one of the most common early symptoms of pregnancy but can occur throughout the entire pregnancy journey.
What can be done to help?
- Drink lots of water, urine should be pale yellow in colour and in general you should aim to pass urine every 3-4 hours.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol
- Avoid
- Stop smoking
- Urinate after sex (sexual activity can transfer bacteria from the bowel or vagina to the bladder, passing urine after sex helps to flush these out.)
- Wipe from front to back after using the toilet
- Exercise regularly – this maintains a healthy weight and reduces constipation
- Avoid the use of soaps for intimate care, shower gels or bubble baths.
- After washing apply a pH balanced vaginal moisturizer such as Yes VM or Sylk
- Speak to your doctor about adding in vaginal estrogen
- Pelvic floor or Kegel exercises
- Bladder training techniques
- Seeking treatment for any underlying health conditions, with the help of your doctor
What can I do about my frequent urination?
While there are some natural remedies for frequent urination in females at night or during the day, it is important to understand the cause of your increased urinary frequency before you begin treatment. Increased urinary frequency in females can be a symptom of an underlying health condition or disease so you must consult a doctor if you are also experiencing fever, pain in your back or side, vomiting, chills, increased appetite or thirst, fatigue, bloody or cloudy urine, or unusual discharge.
Frequent urination doesn’t have to take over your life.
If you believe that a UTI is the cause of your increased urinary frequency, it is important to visit a doctor. Even if you have recovered from a mild UTI previously without medical intervention, some cases may require treatment with a course of antibiotics. Pay a visit to your doctor or nurse if you have not had a UTI before, your symptoms have come back after treatment or if your UTI hasn’t improved after a few days.
If you are looking for more information on frequent urination at night in females, or female , TENA is here to help. Browse our range of curated articles on living with incontinence or the selection of relevant pages below.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Alison Macbeth – 12/2024
