It can be extremely disruptive to your day and sleep when you constantly feel like you have to pee. The constant feeling of having to pee often can have many different causes. Here are some of the most common reasons you may be experiencing the constant urge to urinate.
Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common, especially in women. UTIs are caused by bacteria in the urinary tract. Along with frequent urination, other common symptoms of a urinary tract infection include a burning sensation with urination, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, lower back pain, or lower abdominal pain. If a urinary tract infection is causing your urge to urinate, your doctor will prescribe you antibiotics to clear the infection, eliminating your symptoms.
Overactive Bladder
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition that causes a frequent and sudden urge to pee. The sensation can often be challenging to control and, in some cases, lead to urinary incontinence. Common symptoms of OAB include frequent and urgent urination, waking to urinate during the night and incontinence. OAB can be an embarrassing and bothersome condition, but there are treatments available to help control your symptoms, including medications, behavioral therapies, and lifestyle modifications.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy can cause women to feel the constant urge to urinate. In the early stages of pregnancy, hormones like progesterone and HCG can increase your need to urinate. Then, as the pregnancy progresses and the baby and uterus grow larger, more and more pressure is placed on the bladder, which also contributes to the frequent urge to urinate. These symptoms typically resolve quickly after the baby is delivered.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that affects your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar properly. When the body has too much excess sugar in the bloodstream, the kidneys must work harder to remove the extra sugar from the blood. Extra sugar is secreted in the urine, which causes increased urination when blood sugar levels are too high. If your frequent urge to urinate is being triggered by high blood sugar, other symptoms you may experience include increased thirst and unexplained weight loss. The good news is with proper diet and medication management, elevated blood sugars can easily be managed, which will then decrease the need to urinate as frequently.
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition that causes the prostate to become enlarged. BPH usually occurs as men age and can lead to frequent urination, urinary urgency, difficulty starting a urine stream, or a weak urine stream. The symptoms of BPH usually come on gradually and worsen over time. Many men choose to treat their frequent urge to pee with medications that help reduce the size of the prostate, which in return reduces the bothersome urinary symptoms.
Get Help From Your Doctor
The constant urge to pee can be frustrating and interfere with daily activities, but you do not have to keep feeling that way. If you are struggling with the constant urge to urinate, call us at 843.347.2450 to schedule an appointment today.