There’s a stressful day and then there’s a disturbing bladder to make your day much worse. Having to visit the bathroom to pee constantly, especially at very odd moments can be quite stressful. Well, you should know this occasionally happens to all women.
However, if it happens to you over and over again, it should be quite concerning. Frequent urination in women can be quite different from how it affects men. This is because; women have a more exposed urinary system than men. More so, the condition comes with many health problems that may not be discovered until medical testing and diagnosis.
In this piece, we shall be considering the common causes of constant urination in women, how to manage it, and when it is necessary to see a doctor.
How Many Times Can Be Termed Frequent?
The causes of frequent urination in women vary, but in the general sense, peeing 6 to 8 times in a 24-hour period is the norm. If it is more than that, you may be suffering from frequent urination. Thus, you must observe how frequently you urinate.
Peeing more than once at night (also known as nocturia) is also under frequent urination as a condition and it is best you also observe that as well. As much as peeing more than once at night becomes a norm as we age, it is still very much important to determine the cause. This will help your doctor to recommend the best treatments for you.
Understanding why you have to urinate so frequently is the first step in finding a solution to your problem. Frequent urination may be the only thing you will experience when going through it or it may come with many other symptoms which we will subsequently discuss.
What causes Frequent Urination in Women?
Lifestyle choices, habits, medications, and many other circumstances of life can make you pee more often than normal. Frequent urination in women is a very delicate condition as it is linked to many other conditions.
You’ll be surprised to find out that what really plagues you isn’t frequent urination. It may be something else with the constant urge to pee as the symptom.
Below are 7 causes of frequent urination in women.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs):
Research shows that about 85% to 90% of women suffer from, at least, one urinary tract infection in their lives at some point. UTIs happen when bacteria infect the urinary system and including your urethra, kidneys, bladder, and ureter.
Frequent urination could be a symptom of a UTI. Besides frequent urination in women, other UTI symptoms include a burning sensation while urinating, unusual urine color, fever, feeling your bladder isn’t empty after peeing, and many others.
Vaginitis:
This is a condition in which the vagina or vulva gets quite sore and inflamed. More so, this happens due to many reasons. However, the common cause is an infection. Vaginitis comes with genital discomfort and pain, and frequent urination in women.
Also, you could also experience smelly vaginal discharges.
Pregnancy:
It is a well-known fact that pregnant women urinate more often than normal. Why? As a result of the expansion of the uterus, the bladder is pressured and this causes the bladder to get filled up quickly. If you are pregnant and experiencing frequent urination alone, relax.
It is part of pregnancy. A few weeks after birth, your peeing frequency should return back to normal.
Decreased Estrogen:
Constant urination in women can also occur as a result of the decrease in estrogen hormone levels. Estrogen is the female sex hormone and it is also functional in the support of your bladder’s sides. Thus, if you have low estrogen levels, it is most likely you’ll experience frequent urination.
Women who have reached their menopausal ages will surely have reduced estrogen levels and will surely experience frequent urination. Thus, frequent urination in women can indicate menopause. If you have reached menopausal age and are experiencing low estrogen levels, there is a variety of treatment alternatives for low estrogen levels.
Excess Fluids:
If your fluid intake is really high, you are bound to pee more often. The more you hydrate yourself, the more your body will get rid of the unneeded fluids taken. However, your hydration needs differ and it is dependent on your activity, and environment.
So, your frequent urination could be a result of your excess fluid intake.
Caffeine, alcohol, and other diuretics:
Diuretics are things that cause urination more frequently than the norm. Frequent urination in women can also be caused by alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and other similar beverages. They irritate the bladder and this could cause frequent urination.
In addition, frequent urination can also be caused by taking certain medications to treat some health problems such as one to control high blood pressure.
Bladder Stones:
This is one of the less common causes of frequent urination in women. Bladder stones are similar to kidney stones and they occur when minerals that naturally occur in our urine come together to form clumps that are small and hard.
Bladder stones also cause a burning sensation when you urinate and you also feel pain around the regions of the abdomen. Thus, if you are experiencing frequent urination, it may be because of this.
A Tip on How to Manage Frequent Urination in Women
As seen above, frequent urination in women can be a symptom of many health conditions. Thus, it is necessary for you to be quite observant. More so, frequent urination can be caused by other natural occurrences such as pregnancy and excess fluid intake.
If you are experiencing frequent urination as a result of any of these conditions, you have nothing to worry about. But if you are experiencing frequent urination as a result of any of the other causes, you should see a doctor.
As mentioned earlier, frequent urination is linked to many health conditions and it is best you don’t self-medicate.
Final Thoughts
Frequent urination in women is quite a condition that must be observed carefully. Be sure you know what is causing it before beginning treatment.
