[How Often Should You Pee? Experts Weigh In
How often one should poop has been a hot topic, with experts saying the numerical range partly depends on several personal factors. But is there a similar prescription for how frequently you should pee?
The answer is yes, experts say — and venturing too far outside of this range in either direction likely warrants a close look at your lifestyle habits and health status.
During the day, most healthy people pee about six to eight times, said Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, a urologist at Orlando Health and CNN contributor. “For most, it’s reasonable to need to pee every (three to four) hours during the day,” Brahmbhatt added via email. “At night, ideally, you’re only getting up once or none. If you’re waking up more often, it could mean something’s off.”
Some people may pee up to 10 times a day, especially if they’re drinking a lot of water or other beverages that cause more frequent urination, Brahmbhatt said. These can include alcohol, tea, and coffee, which have diuretic effects and irritate the bladder, said Dr. David Shusterman, a board-certified urologist at NY Urology in New York City.
However, abruptly running to the bathroom more or less frequently can have underlying causes, such as overactive bladder syndrome, diabetes, urinary tract infection, or medications, Brahmbhatt said. Diuretic medications, often prescribed for blood pressure or heart conditions, are a common contributor.
Stress or anxiety can also make someone need to pee more, said Dr. Jason Kim, clinical associate professor of urology at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University on Long Island, New York. The fight-or-flight response or release of adrenaline can cause the bladder to contract or increase urine production.
Other factors that can influence urination frequency include pregnancy, which requires drinking much more water and thus more water metabolism, Shusterman said. Excessive urine production can also be caused by hormonal issues, such as genitourinary syndrome of menopause, Kim said, which is a collection of symptoms caused by decreased estrogen levels.
If your peeing pattern bothers you or if you’re regularly waking up at night to pee, see a urologist who can help you determine what’s going on and potentially start bladder training exercises. There are also several other minimally invasive treatments available, experts said, including medications, bladder Botox injections, and types of nerve stimulation, Kim said.
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