In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleHow Often Is Normal?Symptoms That May Mean You’re Peeing Too Much or Not EnoughConditions That Affect How Often You Pee5 Ways to Pee Regularly (but Not Too Often)When to See a Health Care ProviderFAQs
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
How Often Is Normal?
Symptoms That May Mean You’re Peeing Too Much or Not Enough
Conditions That Affect How Often You Pee
5 Ways to Pee Regularly (but Not Too Often)
When to See a Health Care Provider
FAQs
All humans do this several times per day on autopilot. Since we were toddlers, it has just felt like a normal, fairly frequent part of every single day. But when was the last time you really sat to think about pee—and how and why it happens?
Just like all of us have different “normal” levels of gas production and our own"normal" number of poopsper week, humans pee at different rates. So we tapped health experts to help us tell what might signify that we’re staying hydrated—and when we might be peeing so much, it’s our body’s way of telling us something might be askew.
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The average person urinates about every 3 to 4 hours, for a total of 6 to 8 times per day; the experts we spoke to agree. Anywhere from 4 to 10 pees daily can be considered normal if that’s your routine.
We tend to feel a strong need to urinate when we have between 350 to 600 milliliters of urine in our bladder, addsBrooke Faught, D.N.P., WHNP-BC, a Franklin, Tennessee-based board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner. And when you feel the urge, don’t hold it—this can lead to bladder muscle damage over time, or in severe cases, recurrent urinary tract infections or a decline in kidney function, says April Adams Szafran, M.D., Ph.D., a urologic surgeon atNorthwest Community Healthcare, a part of NorthShore in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
“Generally, we urinate at regular intervals,” saysKristen R. Scarpato, M.D., an associate professor of urology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. “But some people may notice the need to go more or less regularly depending on a variety of factors. Urination can be a reflection of many activities in our bodies or factors in our environment.”
Our fluid and food intake, medications and certain health conditions can cause our pee performance to fluctuate.
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We each have our own fingerprint, our own “perfect” pair of jeans and our own usual amount of urination. So your best bet to know if something is “off” is to compare what you’ve done in the past to what you’re doing now.
“Listen to your body. If you feel that something is not right with your urination—you’re going more or less often, or different amounts than normal—talk to your doctor,” advises Scarpato. “While these changes may be OK, a shift in your urination levels may indicate that something is happening in your body that should be evaluated further.” (See “When to See a Health Care Provider” below for more.)
Szafran explains that many factors influence the volume and frequency of urine production. Everything from the time of day (while sleeping, the kidneys generally decrease activity and urine production) to body size (weight may play a role in urinary function) may impact how often you feel the need to urinate.
The following conditions may also be related to how often you pee.
Overactive Bladder (OAB)
This term refers to a group of bladder symptoms, including urinary frequency, strong urge to urinate and loss of urinary control (aka incontinence).
Diabetes
Some patients with diabetes experience an increase in the need to urinate, particularly how often they feel the need to go, clarifies Scarpato. When the kidneys detectextra sugar in the blood, they pump out more urine to try to chip in to help eliminate that sugar. At high levels, blood sugar can also seep into the urine, which can irritate the bladder and cause people with diabetes to pee more, say Scarpato.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
When a person has a urinary tract infection, the bacteria irritate the bladder lining, leading to that burning sensation that anyone who’s felt before will never forget. UTIs may also trigger bladder pain, even when you’re not peeing.
“This pain can make it hard for you to urinate or lead to leakage of urine. Sometimes, a UTI can cause you to need to go more frequently,” adds Scarpato.
Kidney Damage or Disease
Pregnancy
Hormones and heightened pressure on the abdomen and pelvis can increase urine frequency during pregnancy, Faught explains.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
When left untreated,obstructive sleep apneacan not only raise the risk for heart disease but can also result in feeling the need to wake up to urinate multiple times overnight, says Szafran.
Heart Disease
Enlarged Prostate
Males with an enlarged prostate, technically called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), often notice changes in their urination.
“If the prostate grows in a way that blocks the flow of urine, it can become difficult to empty the bladder. This may result in only small amounts of urine each time they go to the bathroom. Some men may need to go more frequently, about every one to two hours, particularly at night, due to difficulty emptying the urine,” says Scarpato.
The following strategies can be beneficial to help you hit the sweet spot of six or so pees per day.
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“If your urination habits are bothersome or become disruptive to daily activities, it’s time to consult your doctor,” says Faught. They may refer you to a urologist if needed.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should also check in with your M.D.:
The Bottom Line
If you notice any stark changes in how much or how often you urinate, check in with your doctor—especially if you experience any pain, an urgent need to pee, leakage when not trying to pee, blood in your urine, trouble peeing or persistent UTIs.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIt may be for you, but the average person pees every 4 hours or so. If you’re peeing more frequently than every 2 hours—or more frequently than is usual for you—consult your primary care doctor.Urinating more than 8 times per day is considered “frequent urination.” At this rate, peeing becomes a daily inconvenience and may be a symptom of an underlying condition. Again, speak to your doctor if you’re peeing more than 8 times per day (and that’s not common for you).The body absorbs and processes water fairly quickly, within about 30 minutes or less. Urine then collects in the bladder until it feels full and tells the body it’s time to pee.Going from a completely empty bladder to a completely full, amply sized bladder would take about 9 to 10 hours. It’s not advisable to hold in urine this long unless absolutely necessary. Aim to stay hydrated enough to pee once every 3 to 4 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
It may be for you, but the average person pees every 4 hours or so. If you’re peeing more frequently than every 2 hours—or more frequently than is usual for you—consult your primary care doctor.
Urinating more than 8 times per day is considered “frequent urination.” At this rate, peeing becomes a daily inconvenience and may be a symptom of an underlying condition. Again, speak to your doctor if you’re peeing more than 8 times per day (and that’s not common for you).
The body absorbs and processes water fairly quickly, within about 30 minutes or less. Urine then collects in the bladder until it feels full and tells the body it’s time to pee.
Going from a completely empty bladder to a completely full, amply sized bladder would take about 9 to 10 hours. It’s not advisable to hold in urine this long unless absolutely necessary. Aim to stay hydrated enough to pee once every 3 to 4 hours.
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