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Urination - excessive at night

Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Female urinary tract
Female urinary tract
Male urinary tract
Male urinary tract

Alternative Names    Return to top

Nocturia

Definition    Return to top

Excessive urination at night is a condition in which you wake up several times during the night to urinate. Waking up several times a night to urinate is called nocturia.

Considerations    Return to top

Normally, urine decreases in amount and become more concentrated at night. That means, most people can sleep 6 to 8 hours without having to urinate.

But, persons with nocturia get up more than once during the night to urinate. Because of this, those who have excessive urination at night often have disrupted sleep cycles.

Causes    Return to top

Home Care    Return to top

Keep a diary of how much fluid you drink, how often you urinate, and urine output. Record your body weight at the same times and on the same scale daily.

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

Make an appointment with your doctor if:

What to Expect at Your Office Visit    Return to top

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask questions about your nighttime urination, such as:

Electrolytes and fluids will be monitored over a period of time.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

Treatment depends on the cause. If excessive nighttime urination is due to diuretic medications, you may be told to take your medication earlier in the day.

References    Return to top

Asplund R. Nocturia, nocturnal polyuria, and sleep quality in the elderly. J Psychosom Res. 2004 May;56(5):517-25.

Update Date: 6/5/2007

Updated by: Marc Greenstein, DO, Urologist, North Jersey Center for Urologic Care, Denville, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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