Having to go to the bathroom constantly or at inconvenient times can be difficult. But for some it's a way of life. According to Dr. Scott Gilbert, Head of the Department of Urology at Colombia-Presbyterian in New York, frequent urination is defined as having to go to the bathroom more often than usual. There can be many causes for frequent urination, some fairly serious, others just a sign of aging.
Urinary Tract Infections
The most common cause of frequent urination in normally health individuals is a urinary tract infection. A urinary tract infection causes inflammation of the bladder. This inflammation allows less space for the bladder to hold the waste, thus you feel (and actually have) a greater need to urinate more often. Women are the prime targets of urinary tract infections but they can afflict anyone, and for a number of different reasons.
Overactive Bladder Syndrome
Overactive bladder syndrome, also called incontinence, happens when the bladder muscles contract uncontrollably. A person would not necessarily even have to go to the bathroom. If the bladder contracts, leakage is the unfortunate result. Overactive bladder syndrome is more often seen in the elderly and could actually be a harbinger of underlying problems such as cancer.
Pregnancy
Having a child in the womb takes up a lot of space. Because the uterus and the bladder sit right next to each other in the body, areas that were previously occupied by the bladder are now taken up by the baby. That puts pressure on the bladder and causes the woman to urinate more often.
Acute Prostasis
A sudden inflammation of the prostate gland can also cause a person to urinate frequently. Commonly associated with STDs and E. Coli, acute prostasis is the product of a bacteria infection in the prostate. Although its diagnosis is fairly rare (two out of every 10,000 patients) the likelihood increases as people grow older, especially in men over 55 with an enlarged prostate.
Bladder Cancer
One of the most serious, and least common, reasons behind a frequent need to urinate is bladder cancer. Very little is known about the root causes of bladder cancer, however there are certain factors that increase the likelihood of diagnosis, including smoking. Because bladder cancer is a tumor, some of the bladder space is taken up, thus making urination more frequent.
