If you wake up to pee more than once during the night, you may have a condition called “nocturia.” People with nocturia either have low bladder capacity or produce too much urine during the night, or possibly a combination of both.
Normally, your bladder should be able to hold urine for the typical 6-8 hours without any problem. If it’s not, that may be a sign you need to get it checked out by an experienced gynecologist, particularly if you’re having any UTI symptoms.
What are some common causes of nocturia?
- Drinking too much caffeine or alcohol during the day (especially in the evenings)
- Overactive bladder
- Urinary tract infection (UTI) or bladder infection
- Sleep apnea or other sleep disorders
- Age (the older you are the worse bladder control gets)
- Diabetes
- Certain medications
Can nocturia be treated?
If getting up at night is disrupting your life to the point where you’re unable to concentrate, or if it’s causing other health issues, you should talk to your doctor.
Treatment options will vary based on whether or not there’s another underlying problem, but sometimes it’s as simple as lowering your fluid intake, avoiding caffeine or alcohol, or switching medication. There are also medications that can be prescribed to keep your bladder calm during the night.
The women’s doctors at All About Women care about all aspects of your health. If you have questions or concerns about urinary incontinence or any other issue, make an appointment at our Gainesville or Lake City office today.
