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On an average people urinate four to eight times a day. Of course this number can go up or down depending on the amount of water you drink, how much you sweat, the external temperature and the food you eat. On an individual basis, you will be aware of whether you are urinating more than usual or if your need to urinate has increased.

Frequent urination may or may not be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Urinating more than eight time a day and more than twice in the night
• Incomplete evacuation of the bladder caused by hesitancy or spasms during the flow of urine
• Recurring pressure in the bladder and a feeling of urgency to urinate immediately
• Incontinence or the inability to control the flow of urine leading to accidents and leakages
• Dribbling of urine even after finishing urination
• Straining to urinate completely
• Pain or burning sensation during urination
• Bed-wetting
• Blood in urine

Causes of Frequent Urination: Any condition or disease that affects the urinary tract can cause frequent urination. This includes the kidneys, the ureters (the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder), the bladder and the urethra. Possible causes of frequent urination include:

• Urinary tract infections
• Trauma or injury to the urinary tract
• Damage to the nerves or muscles of the urinary tract
• Certain drugs and medications such as diuretics
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney stones
• Kidney infections
• Diabetes (type 1 and type 2)
• Interstitial cystitis
• Over consumption of alcohol or caffeine
• Carbonated drinks or items that contain artificial sweeteners
• Enlargement of the prostate gland
• Radiation treatment to the abdomen or pelvis
• Urinary incontinence
• Overactive bladder syndrome
• Pregnancy
• Menopause
• Stroke or other neurological diseases
• Ovarian cysts
• Imbalance of calcium levels in the body
• Renal failure
• High blood pressure
• Psychological causes such as stress and anxiety

Treatment: The first course of action when it comes to treating frequent urination is to determine the cause of the condition. If there is an underlying medical condition causing the increase in frequency, treatment will be customized to cure that particular disease or ailment. For example, if the cause of frequent urination is diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels and take the necessary medications to treat the disease. Prostate problems are usually treated with medications such as alpha-blockers and 5ARIs (5-alpha-reductase inhibitors) to reduce the growth of the prostate gland. Frequent urination caused by pregnancy will require changes to your diet and fluid intake. Hormonal treatments will help treat frequent urination during menopause. Bladder retraining may help people who have suffered a stroke or have an overactive bladder.

If there is no medical condition causing the problem, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the frequency of urination. These include:

• Bladder Retraining: This training involves holding in your urine for longer time that you are used to. This is usually done in small increments of time and slowly helps decrease the need to urinate frequently.
• Kegel Exercises: These are exercises to tone the pelvic floor muscles that control the flow of urine. You have to squeeze and relax the muscles you use to stop and start the flow of urine. This should be repeated three or four times a day on a regular basis for the best results.
• Change your Diet: Avoid foods that irritate your bladder such as artificial sweeteners, carbonated drinks, alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods. Do not drink too much water (more than 8 to 10 glasses) if you find yourself urinating too often. Also stop drinking fluids four to five hours before you sleep to reduce nighttime urination.

Home Remedies for Frequent Urination: There are also natural treatments for an increase in urinary frequency. These include:

• Drink plenty of cranberry juice to help flush out any urinary tract infections and reduce the need to urinate often.
• Make a concoction of basil leaves, water and honey and drink this every morning on an empty stomach to boost immunity and fight of any infections.
• Probiotics found in yoghurt can help cleanse the system internally and balance out any overgrowth of bacteria or fungi that may be causing an infection.
• Increase your intake of vitamin C rich foods that help flush out the system and boost your immunity.
• Fresh carrot or grape juice can help clean the urinary tract and flush out impurities.
• Eat a handful of pumpkin seeds to improve bladder health.
• St. Jonh’s Wort is an herb that effectively treats frequent urination especially in women.
• Foods high in fiber also help reduce constipation that may affect bladder functioning. Increase your consumption of fiber rich foods and reduce foods that have diuretic properties.

You should consult a doctor in case you find that the infection has not cleared off even after a week or two. Make sure that you avoid any sexual contact during this time.

References:

1. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003140.htm