Dear Alice,
I've been having a problem with frequent urination.
I mean going every fifteen to twenty minutes some days. I've
been treated for urinary tract infections for about
two months, but urine cultures show no infection, just
traces of blood. I've also had an IVP Kidney X-ray
which showed normal kidney function. I have a small
fibroid outside my uterus which is pressing on my
bladder ever so slightly. Could this be the cause of
my frequent urination? I drink plenty of water, stay
away from caffeine, chocolate, etc., drink cranberry
juice, etc., with no success. I also get up every couple
hours during the night. And, I do have a lot of urine,
not just a trickle. I have no other problems with
my menstrual cycle, etc. On a good day, I can go an
hour or hour-and-a-half. Can you give me some advice
or where to turn to next? Do I see a urologist or
gynecologist? Help, I'm always looking for a bathroom.
Signed,
Urge to go!
Dear Urge to go!,
The story of your problem is most important. Any health care provider
you consult should inquire about whether or not your frequent urination
occurs primarily during the daytime, or if it continues throughout the
night. A second important factor is whether or not the urination is in
small, normal, or excessive amounts.
Is there burning or pain as the urine comes out? How urgently do you
need to find a bathroom when the need to urinate arises? How much fluid
and what kinds of beverages are you drinking each day? Are you
unusually thirsty when you have to urinate? Are you sick in other ways --
for example, fever or unusual weight loss? Are you experiencing any other
chronic illnesses, or do you use any medications regularly?
All of this information should serve to help a physician determine whether
or not the source of the frequent urination is a bladder infection; kidney
disease that includes an inability to properly concentrate the urine, so
that it is always dilute, even when the body should be conserving fluid;
hormonal disturbances that give the wrong messages to the kidneys about
the state of the body's fluids; or, a disturbance in the amount of fluids
that are being consumed.
Often, the answer is clear after you talk with your provider for a few
minutes. Tests for urine infection, diabetes, and ability to concentrate the
urine may be helpful and are easily administered. Rarely is it necessary to
look in more detail at the finer points of kidney and hormone function.
Remember, you have a great amount of control over how much fluid (i.e.,
water, juice, coffee, alcohol, and sodas) you drink. Certainly, there has
been a trend to blame many things on "dehydration," and many people are seen
walking around with gigantic bottles of water. A habit that is intended to
be healthy may have unintended consequences, most notably, what goes in
must come out. If you'd like to learn more about your own about frequent
urination, Alice suggests reading the excellent and thorough chapter on
"Urinary Incontinence" in The New Ourselves, Growing Older.
- Alice
Related Q&As
- Help for urinary incontinence (leakage) in women
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Frequent urination
