Skip to main content

July 20, 2026

Why am I peeing so much? 7 possible reasons you’re urinating more than usual

Brittany Jackson, NP

Medically reviewed by:
Brittany Jackson, NP

Dealing with frequent urination can be quite a burden. It can even be inconvenient and embarrassing at times. Fortunately, it’s a common problem that can be resolved with treatment or by changing certain behaviors.

Visiting the bathroom repeatedly for pee breaks can be a hassle — especially if you’re not sure why it’s happening. If you’re pregnant or drinking lots of water, peeing a lot is completely normal. However, there are some instances where peeing too often could signal a more serious underlying issue.

If you’ve been using the restroom more than usual lately, learning the true reason as to why could help you find relief — and cut down on numerous pee breaks.

Here are seven reasons you may be peeing so much, along with how to find a WellMed provider near you.

Become a patient

Our primary care team is here to give you the focused support you need.

Find a clinic

1. Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Frequent urination is a common symptom of a UTI. UTIs occur when bacteria from your skin or rectum enter the urethra and infect the urinary tract.1 Bacteria can cause the urinary tract to become inflamed and irritated, leading to frequent urination.

UTIs result in more than eight million visits to U.S. doctors every year. They affect about 60% of women and 12% of men, and tend to be more common in older adults and young children.1, 2

Symptoms of a UTI include1:

  • Frequent urination (peeing more often than usual)
  • Pain or burning sensation when urinating
  • Blood in the urine
  • Cramping or pressure in the lower abdomen
  • Feeling an urge to pee when the bladder is empty

UTIs can often be effectively treated with antibiotics. Some cases may resolve on their own, but doctors suggest seeking treatment right away to avoid complications.

Steps you can take to prevent future occurrences of UTIs include1:

  • Drinking lots of water
  • Urinating immediately after sexual activity
  • Wiping from front to back (if you’re female)
  • Avoiding the use of douches, sprays and powders near the genitals

2. Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the top causes of unexplained frequent urination. This chronic condition affects more than 29% of people over the age of 65 and occurs when blood sugar levels remain consistently high.3

In diabetes, the kidneys work harder than usual to remove excess sugar from the bloodstream. The kidneys will pull water from other bodily tissues to dilute the sugar, thereby creating more urine. This can cause you to pee more frequently.

Other common symptoms of diabetes include4:

  • Extreme tiredness
  • Fatigue
  • Increased hunger
  • Increased thirst
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
  • Blurred vision
  • Slow wound healing

There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be properly managed with a combination of medication and healthy lifestyle behaviors.

3. Enlarged prostate

An enlarged prostate occurs when the prostate gland grows larger than normal. This condition is benign and isn’t caused by cancer. It occurs in 29% to 33% of men aged 65 and older.5

Urinary problems are common with an enlarged prostate. As the gland grows, it can put excess pressure on the bladder and urethra, causing more frequent peeing.

Symptoms of an enlarged prostate include5:

  • Urinating more often than usual
  • An urgent need to peev
  • Pain when urinating
  • Waking up at night to pee (known as nocturia)
  • Dribbling at the end of urination
  • Difficulty emptying the bladder

An enlarged prostate may be treated with medications, surgery and healthy lifestyle changes. Regular exercise is especially helpful, as a lack of exercise is a known risk factor for this condition.5

4. Kidney infection

A kidney infection is a type of UTI. It typically occurs when a UTI in the bladder spreads to one or both kidneys due to inadequate, delayed or incomplete treatment.6 Kidney infections are less common than bladder UTIs, but usually more serious.1

Symptoms of a kidney infection include7:

  • Frequent urination
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Dark, cloudy or bloody urine
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Pain in the back, side or groin

Most kidney infections begin as bladder infections and can be prevented with similar prevention methods.8 Drinking plenty of fluids, peeing when the need arises and wiping from back to front can all help reduce the risk for a kidney infection.

5. Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control or the leaking of urine by accident. It is common in older adults — particularly women — due to weakened muscles in and around the bladder.9

Weakened bladder muscles can often cause you to pee more frequently, as they cannot support a large amount of urine.

There are different types of urinary incontinence. The most common types are9:

  • Stress incontinence. This occurs when activities such as exercise, jumping, coughing, sneezing, laughing and lifting heavy objects place excess pressure on the bladder.
  • Urge incontinence. This happens when you have a sudden need to urinate and can’t hold it long enough to make it to the bathroom.
  • Overflow incontinence. This happens when small amounts of urine leak from a full bladder. This type often occurs with specific conditions, such as an enlarged prostate or diabetes.
  • Functional incontinence. This type occurs in older adults with other health conditions that make it difficult for them to move quickly enough to reach a restroom.

If urinary incontinence is causing you to pee too much, your doctor may suggest trying a series of at-home remedies. Bladder training, pelvic floor exercises and lifestyle changes are common first-line treatments for preventing leaks.10

Other options for treating loss of bladder control10:

  • Medications
  • Medical devices, such as a catheter
  • Bulking agents, to reduce leaking
  • Electrical nerve stimulation to improve bladder reflexes
  • Surgery

Some Medicare plans cover treatments for urinary incontinence — including sacral nerve stimulation, reports The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.11 This treatment stimulates the nerves controlling the bladder muscles, which helps reduce leaking. Your provider can talk to you more about this treatment and determine whether you’re a good candidate.

6. Certain medications

Frequent urination is a known side effect of some medications.

For instance, diuretics (also known as water pills) are intended to make you urinate more frequently. Diuretics are designed to help the kidneys remove excess salt and water from your body in the form of urine.12 These medications are often prescribed to treat high blood pressure and fluid buildup (known as edema).

Other medications that may cause you to pee often include12:

  • Muscle relaxants
  • Sedatives, including benzodiazepines
  • Opioids
  • Antihistamines
  • Alpha-adrenergic antagonists
  • Calcium channel blockers
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
  • Tricyclic antidepressants
  • SGLT2 inhibitors

Check your medications to see whether frequent urination is listed as a side effect. If you recently started using a new medication, mention your concerns about peeing too frequently to your doctor.

7. Anxiety

Anxiety and nervousness can make you visit the bathroom more often. This occurs as part of the body’s fight-or-flight response to stress.

At times of anxiety and stress, your body releases more adrenaline and other stress-related hormones to help you deal with the threat.13 Faster heart rate, rapid breathing and muscle tension are common symptoms of anxiety that can affect bladder control.14 Your body may also fully empty its bladder and bowels as a way to prepare itself for danger ahead.

Dealing with anxiety and stress regularly can eventually affect your bladder health. Anxiety also increases the risk for heart disease and reduces quality of life.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have anxiety that won’t go away. Anxiety disorders affect around 19.1% of U.S. adults, and between 10% and 20% of older adults.15, 16 Common treatments include talk therapy, medication and healthy lifestyle changes.17

When to see a doctor

Dealing with frequent urination can be quite a burden. It can even be inconvenient and embarrassing at times. Fortunately, it’s a common problem that can be resolved with treatment or by changing certain behaviors.

See your doctor if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms along with frequent urination18, 19:

  • Fever or chills
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Vomiting
  • Back or side pain
  • Pain when urinating
  • Increased thirst or appetite
  • Fatiguev
  • Discharge from the penis or vagina
  • Dark, bloody or cloudy urine
  • Waking up at night to pee
  • Leaking urine (incontinence)

Your doctor can discuss your symptoms and review your medical history to find out why you may be peeing more than usual.

Steps you can take at home

If you’ve been peeing a lot lately but don’t think you have a serious medical condition, try the following steps to reduce trips to the bathroom. If your urinary behaviors do not improve, it may be time to see your doctor.

  • Avoid drinks that make you pee too much. This includes alcohol and caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea and soda.
  • Avoid drinking too many fluids before bedtime. Aim to stop drinking around two hours before you go to sleep to avoid waking at night to pee.
  • Do pelvic floor exercises. Kegels, squats and bridges can help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, which may reduce bladder problems.
  • Do bladder training. This involves holding your pee longer than usual and making fewer trips to the bathroom.
  • Check your medications. Frequent urination may be a side effect.
  • Exercise regularly. This strengthens your muscles while reducing the risk for diabetes, anxiety and an enlarged prostate. Frequent urination is a symptom of these conditions.
  • Manage diabetes. Sticking to your diabetes treatment regimen is important for controlling your blood sugar levels. Talk to your doctor if you need more help with managing diabetes.
Our doctors and care teams listen closely, focus on what matters to you and partner with you to support your overall well-being — helping you live your healthiest life. Find a doctor

If you have concerns about your urinary habits, it’s always okay to mention them to your doctor. Your doctor can talk to you in more detail about the potential cause and the next best steps you can take to find relief.

Contact WellMed today at (888) 781-WELL or visit our website to find a doctor near you.

Resources

Conditions & diseases Articles
Back to Top

Data use: We use cookies and similar tools to make your use of this website easy and to keep it working properly. We may share data about you and how you use the site with third parties, such as analytics and marketing partners. Learn more in our Privacy Policy (Opens in new window) and Terms of Use (Opens in new window). By continuing to use the site, you agree to this.