Treatment for Frequent Urination in Cleveland, OH

Many individuals can experience frequent urges to urinate. This sensation may be quite brief, or it can be a recurring issue that signals a more complex medical condition or disorder. The most difficult component of this equation is deciding just how many trips to the restroom are considered to be too many.

Conditions Related to Frequent Urination

Having consistent urges to urinate are not an especially concerning symptom, and may resolve on its own with a little bit of time or minor treatment from the specialists at Cleveland Urology Associates. Urinary frequency is most often associated with:

• Diabetes
• Consuming diuretics that naturally increase the body’s urge to urinate
• A urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Bladder or kidney stones
• A sexually transmitted disease (STD) or infection (STI)
• Anxiety
• Being pregnant
• Interstitial cystitis
• A growing tumor that is adding pressure to the bladder
• Effects of a stroke
• Urinary incontinence
• Overactive bladder (OAB)
• Bladder cancer
• Diverticulitis
• An enlarged prostate (BPH)
• Side effects from radiation treatment for cancer

It is common for patients to confuse frequent urination with several other symptoms and conditions mentioned in the list above, especially urinary incontinence and overactive bladder. There are key differences between each, such as urinary incontinence being a symptom that describes accidental leakage of urine, and overactive bladder being a condition caused by uncontrollable spasms in the bladder. While recurring urges to urinate are related to both urinary incontinence and OAB, they are certainly not the same.

When to See a Urologist About Frequent Urination

Many of the conditions already discussed can be resolved easily by a board-certified urologist at Cleveland Urology Associates. Unfortunately, there are also several more significant causes of urinary frequency that may require various procedures or surgical techniques to address.

It is always ideal to have your health concerns evaluated by a trained professional, and this is also true or issues of urinary frequency. However, not every individual who experiences recurring urinary urges will necessitate treatment for their symptoms.

How Is Frequent Urination Diagnosed?

In order to be classified as frequent urination, the person must have the need to urinate at least 7 times in a 24 hour period. This benchmark is how your urologist at Cleveland Urology Associates will begin their analysis of a patient’s symptoms, and this process will continue to include any other problems the person has encountered, and their personal or familial medical history.

After gathering this information, your urologist may order a few different tests to analyze the patient’s urinary functions and any potential inhibitors that may result in constant urges to urinate. Such tests typically include bloodwork and various types of urodynamic testing.

Treatment Options for Frequent Urination

A patient’s course of treatment will depend heavily on what other symptoms they experience in addition to urinary urgency, if any. If an individual presents any particularly concerning symptoms such as blood in the urine, fever, vomiting, or intense pain, then they are likely to be treated immediately to avoid serious complications. Even if the patient’s diagnostic testing results are inconclusive, there are many options to consider that can relieve their urinary urges on a day-to-day basis.

Lifestyle Changes

Forming positive habits can be very beneficial for many of our patients who struggle to control the functions of their bladder. Your urologist will generally recommend that patients:

• Refrain from eating or drinking several hours before bed to avoid waking in the middle of the night to use the bathroom
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Exercise regularly, especially to improve the strength of any pelvic muscles
• Maintain a high-fiber diet that will alleviate pressure on the urethra from constipated bowels

Bladder Training Techniques

Similar to practicing exercises to strengthen tissues throughout the pelvis, there are multiple ways in which men and women can retrain their bladder and regain control over this important organ.

Prescribed Medications

Many medications have proven successful at reducing a person’s urge to urinate. Not every medication will work as well for each individual, though patients do have the option to try several different solutions to find one that provides the greatest benefit to them.

Surgery for Urinary Frequency

If early treatment methods prove ineffective, or the patient suffers from significant damage to the bladder or pelvic region, your urologist may recommend surgery. There are minimally invasive procedures, such as the implantation of an assistive device that is designed to deliver electrical stimulation to the bladder muscles, which can control how often these tissues contract to retain or release urine. These minimally invasive methods are extremely effective, and also reduce the patient’s risk for potential complications after their procedure.