Over the years, working out at night has received a negative reputation for its potential to interrupt sleep. But if you slumber soundly after a midnight workout, there is no reason to think that you should not exercise late into the night. Although rumors swirl that these late night sweat sessions could cause frequent urination, there is no direction correlation between the two.
Simple Answer
The simple answer is no, exercising late at night does not cause frequent urination. In fact, there really is no direct link between exercise and urination. During exercise, your muscles do release lactic acid. Although lactic acid has received a negative reputation over the years, it can actually be quite beneficial during your workout. During exercise, your body can use lactic acid as fuel to provide additional energy. After exercise, any lactic acid that was not used needs to be excreted. As a result, you may notice a slightly increased rate of urination after exercising at any time of the day.
Frequency Is Possible
Although exercise does not have a direct correlation to frequent urination, that big bottle of water you gulp down during exercise certainly does. After water is consumed, it moves quickly through the body. As water travels in the blood, the body absorbs the amount of water it needs to function properly, and all excess water is excreted through the urine. Although exercise certainly increases your body's need for hydration, you will likely drink more water than your body actually needs. As a result, the body must excrete this extra water much more frequently than normal. So if you drink copious amounts of water during your late night workout, it will certainly result in frequent urination that probably wakes you up several times through the night.
Prevention
If your frequent urination is caused by hydration, there really is not much you can do to prevent the problem. Remaining hydrated is absolutely essential for a safe and effective workout. The American Council on Exercise recommends drinking at least 8 ounces of water 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after exercising. While you are working out, aim to drink 7 to 10 ounces every 10 to 20 minutes. If you are drinking much more water than the recommend amounts, you might be able to cut down on your intake to potentially curb the frequent urination problem.
Considerations
Keep in mind that every person's body is different, and fitness and medical advice must be adapted to your own personal situation. Just because late night workouts do not regularly cause frequent urination, anything is possible. If you notice episodes of frequent urination following your nighttime exercise sessions, speak with your physician to determine the cause and treatment for the problem.
