Frequent Urination

Frequent urination may be accompanied by other symptoms, which vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Symptoms can originate in the urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra), the reproductive system, the endocrine system, the cardiovascular system, and other organs and systems of the body.

Urinary tract symptoms that can occur with frequent urination include:

• Abdominal, pelvic or flank pain along your abdomen, side or back

• Bladder spasms, pain or cramps, which are felt in the lower abdominal area

• Cloudy urine or urine color changes, such as dark, tea-colored, colorless, or bloody or pink-tinged urine

• Dysuria (burning pain or discomfort with urination or difficulty passing urine)

• Foul urine odor

• Incontinence, leaking urine, or dribbling of urine

• Urgency, a sudden intense need to urinate

Symptoms related to other organs or body systems that can occur with frequent urination include:

• Abdominal swelling

• Excessive thirst and hunger

• Fever

• Shivering (chills)

• Unexpected weight loss or weight gain

• Unusual vaginal or penile discharge

In some cases, frequent urination can occur with symptoms that might indicate a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these serious symptoms:

• Bloody urine

• Change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness

• Change in mental status or sudden behavior change, such as confusion, disorientation, delirium, lethargy, hallucinations and delusions

• High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)

• Severe abdominal pain or flank pain (along your abdomen, side, or low back)

Frequent urination is often caused by infection, inflammation or other conditions of the urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra) or the reproductive organs.

Frequent urination can also be caused by diseases of other body systems. For example, untreated or poorly controlled diabetes can cause frequent urination due to a high concentration of glucose (sugar) in the blood, which causes increased thirst, increased drinking, and frequent urination.

Causes of frequent urination related to the urinary tract and reproductive system include:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (also known as BPH, which is an enlarged prostate)

• Bladder cancer

• Cystitis (bladder inflammation or infection)

• Gonorrhea and vaginitis

• Long-term use of an indwelling bladder catheter (a tube that drains urine from the bladder)

• Overactive bladder

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (complication of sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea)

• Pelvic organ prolapse

• Pregnancy and childbirth

• Prostatitis (inflammation or infection of the prostate gland)

• Urinary incontinence

• Urinary tract infections, such as a bladder infection and kidney infection (pyelonephritis)

Frequent urination can be caused by diseases and conditions that affect other organs and body systems including:

• Anxiety

• Certain medications such as diuretics, or water pills

• Diabetes (chronic disease that affects your body’s ability to use sugar for energy)

• Exposure to cold weather

• Pelvic tumor or mass

• Pregnancy

Complications associated with frequent urination vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Complications of untreated or poorly controlled diseases, such as diabetes and kidney infection, can be serious and even life threatening. You can minimize the risk of serious complications of frequent urination by following the treatment plan you and your health care professional design specifically for you.

Underlying causes of frequent urination can lead to serious complications including:

• Diabetic coma

• Infertility

• Ketoacidosis

• Permanent kidney damage, kidney disease, and kidney failure (renal failure)

• Shock

• Spread of cancer (metastasis)

• Urosepsis and septicemia (blood infection)