Frequent urges to urinate in women

Pollakiuria is frequent urination. It is detected most often in women. Let's consider the main causes of the painful condition, diagnostic methods and elimination.

Emptying the bladder is a normal process of functioning of any living being. It is the removal of excess fluid from the body through the urinary system. The frequency with which it is necessary to visit the toilet depends entirely on the characteristics of each person, the amount of liquid consumed and a number of other factors. Average statistics indicate that an adult can go to the toilet to pee about 10 times a day. If this figure is exceeded, then you should pay attention to your health.

Regular urges are included in the concept of dysuric syndrome. The pathology includes symptoms of urinary incontinence, changes in the properties and quantity of urine, false urges, urinary retention, abdominal pain. According to the international classification of diseases ICD-10, the disorder belongs to the category:

XVIII Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

• R30-R39 Symptoms and signs involving the urinary system
• R35 Polyuria – frequent urination, nocturnal polyuria (nocturia). Psychogenic polyuria is excluded.

Regular urge to go to the toilet causes serious discomfort, interfering with normal life. If this symptom is short-term, for example 1-2 days, then you should not worry. But if the situation drags on and progresses, then you should seek medical help.

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Causes frequent urination in women

There are many factors that lead to urinary system disorders. The causes of frequent urge to urinate in women in most cases are associated with pathological processes in the organs and structures of the urinary system. The unpleasant condition can arise due to the following reasons:

1. Pathologies of the urinary system (infectious and inflammatory diseases).

• Cystitis - the urge to go to the toilet is accompanied by burning and cutting pains. After emptying the bladder, there remains a feeling of its fullness, which forces you to go to the toilet again. Urine becomes cloudy, acquires an unpleasant odor.
• Urethritis - bowel movements cause severe pain. The pain is burning with itching and stinging.
• Pyelonephritis - manifests itself as dull aching pains in the lumbar region. When the painful condition worsens, a sharp rise in temperature, chills, increased weakness, and nausea are observed.
• Urolithiasis - in this case, the desire to urinate is associated with stones in the bladder. The urge to go to the toilet occurs quite suddenly and can be provoked by physical activity. It is also possible for the stream to be interrupted before the bladder is empty. Pain appears in the lower abdomen and above the pubis, both at rest and during movement.
• Weakness of the muscular wall of the bladder - the urge to go to the toilet is sharp, a small amount of fluid is released.
• Overactive bladder – nervous experiences and stress provoke the urge to empty the bladder. This condition has a central origin – pathological excitability of the nervous system.
• Candidiasis - thrush is a fairly common cause of an unpleasant condition. It occurs against the background of a weakened immune system, poor nutrition, hormonal imbalance, constant stress. It is accompanied by cheesy vaginal discharge, itching, burning, pain during intercourse.

2. A secondary symptom of various diseases of the body.

• Uterine myoma is a benign tumor that compresses the bladder. The disease develops gradually. There are menstrual irregularities, painful sensations in the lower abdomen, uterine bleeding, etc.
• Uterine prolapse – occurs due to weakness of the ligamentous apparatus. Characterized by displacement of organs and tissues of the small pelvis. Manifested by pain in the lower abdomen, heavy menstruation.
• Renal failure – develops due to chronic lesions of the excretory system. Most often associated with pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, glomerulonephritis, polycystosis. The urge to go to the toilet makes itself known both during the day and at night.
• Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disease. It causes intense thirst, itchy skin, increased weakness and fatigue.
• Diabetes insipidus is associated with dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary system. The daily volume of excreted fluid can increase to five liters. Patients suffer from severe thirst, dry skin and mucous membranes, and sudden and rapid weight loss.
• Spinal cord injuries – any mechanical impact on the spine can provoke pollakiuria and a number of other pathological symptoms.
• Cardiovascular diseases - cardiac insufficiency is accompanied by severe swelling, which goes away at night through increased urination.

3. Physiological reasons.

• Features of nutrition and diet – consumption of liquids and products with diuretic properties.
• Stress and nervous experiences cause oxygen starvation, which leads to the urge to go to the toilet.
• Taking medications - most often these are diuretics, which have a diuretic effect.
• Early pregnancy – the growth of the uterus leads to compression of the bladder.
• Hypothermia of the body is characterized by compensatory increased frequency of urination.

If the causes of the unpleasant condition are related to pathologies of the genitourinary system or diseases of the body, then complex diagnostics and treatment are indicated. In the case of physiological factors, treatment is not carried out. As a rule, after self-elimination of provoking situations, the condition normalizes.

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Risk factors

Regular urge to go to the toilet causes significant discomfort of both physical and psychological nature. Risk factors for this unpleasant condition are most often associated with:

• Stress, nervous experiences, depressive state.
• Use of drugs with a diuretic effect.
• Drinking plenty of water, herbal teas, juices, coffee.
• Improper nutrition: fatty foods, salty, spicy, seasonings.
• Long-term hypothermia of the body, especially the feet.
• Pregnancy.
• Age-related changes (menopause).
• Menstruation.
• Infection due to poor hygiene of the intimate area.
• Regular consumption of beer and other alcoholic beverages.

In most cases, when the above factors are eliminated, the process of urination is normalized.

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Pathogenesis

Frequent urination is most often associated with diseases of the lower urinary tract. The pathogenesis of pollakiuria is based on irritation of the mucous membrane of the urethra or the urinary bladder triangle (the area of the bottom of the bladder, between the mouths of the ureters and the internal opening of the urethra). If there is an inflammatory process, then when urinating, a burning sensation, stinging, and pain are felt.

Irritation of the bladder triangle causes contractions of the organ, which leads to constant and in some cases painful urges to urinate. The pathological condition may be the result of an upper urinary tract infection. In this case, the painful condition is associated with a decrease in the kidneys' ability to concentrate urine.

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Epidemiology

Many women face the problem of urinary disorders. Statistics indicate that about 29% of girls of reproductive age and about 24% of women in the premenopausal period suffer from bladder dysfunction.

Let's consider the frequency of occurrence and dynamics of development of an unpleasant symptom:

• Women 18-35+ – this age category usually faces urinary tract infections. Due to untimely diagnosis and treatment, the acute condition becomes chronic, manifested by frequent urges to go to the toilet to pee.
• Women 45+ – menopausal age is characterized by decreased production of estrogens (female sex hormone). Because of this, congestion may occur in the pelvis, as well as various urination disorders, decreased physical activity, constipation, and weight gain. Many women aged 50-55 experience overactive bladder syndrome and stress urinary incontinence.

Statistical data make it possible to compare the signs of pollakiuria with the age characteristics of the patient.

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Symptoms

The anatomical and physiological structure of the urethra means that women are the ones who most often encounter dysuric syndrome. Symptoms of pollakiuria depend on its underlying cause, the patient's age, and the characteristics of her body.

In most cases, patients complain of the following symptom complex:

• Pain and burning, incomplete emptying of the bladder (cystitis).
• Burning sensation after urination (urinary tract infection).
• Elevated body temperature with dysuria (venereal diseases, urogenital tuberculosis).
• Discomfort in the lumbar region (pyelonephritis).
• Discharge of pus during urination (chlamydia, gonorrhea).
• Pain in the lower abdomen (gynecological diseases, genitourinary tract infections).
• Frequent urge to urinate and delayed menstruation (pregnancy).
• Pain at the end of urination (urethritis, cystitis).

The above symptoms are a reason to seek medical help. Without appropriate treatment, the disease will progress and the symptoms will gradually increase.

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First signs

On average, an adult visits the toilet 6-10 times a day, and can freely control the process of urination. The first signs of the disorder are manifested by an increase in the number of visits to the toilet. Against this background, symptoms may arise that indicate pathological processes in the body:

• Burning, stinging and pain when urinating.
• Itching and burning in the vagina and external genital area.
• Frequent urination in women without pain.
• Increased body temperature.
• The release of urine with an unpleasant odor and a cloudy consistency.
• Pain in the lower abdomen.
• Frequent urination during menstruation.
• General weakness and increased fatigue.
• Appetite disorders.
• Frequent urination as the first sign of pregnancy.

If the regularity of going to the toilet and the accompanying symptoms disrupt the normal rhythm of life, then you should seek medical help.

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Diagnostics frequent urination in women

Since pollakiuria is not an independent disease, but occurs due to other pathologies, then a comprehensive diagnosis of frequent urges to urinate is necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis. For women, examinations begin with a visit to a gynecologist and a number of other specialists (psychologist, psychotherapist, nephrologist, endocrinologist).

1. Collection of anamnesis

At this stage, the doctor determines whether the disorder is a consequence of a disease of the genitourinary tract or other organs and systems. Often, the pathology is associated with sexually transmitted diseases.

The doctor may also ask you to keep a urination diary for several days. The patient needs to record the amount of liquid drunk per day, the frequency of visits to the toilet, and the presence of accompanying symptoms. This will allow you to more accurately determine the cause of the disorder.

2. Physical examination

The doctor measures the body temperature, blood pressure, pulse. The abdomen is palpated with special attention to the kidneys and hypogastrium. The lower back is also examined and palpated. During a gynecological examination, atrophy of the tissues of the external opening of the urethra, prolapse of its walls, or a benign neoplasm such as a caruncle may be detected.

3. Laboratory and instrumental studies

The patient is prescribed a set of various tests. Most often, this is an express urine test using test strips, microscopy and urine culture, microscopy of discharge from the urethra, and even a pregnancy test. It is also necessary to take blood tests to determine the general condition of the body and the presence of inflammatory processes. An ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs is mandatory.

If the complex of the above examinations does not allow a final diagnosis to be made, then differential diagnostics is carried out.

Tests

Laboratory tests for pollakiuria are performed both at the diagnostic stage and during treatment. The main tests prescribed to patients are:

• Complete blood count – blood sugar level, glucose tolerance, glycosylated hemoglobin. Allows to exclude diabetes mellitus.
• Biochemical blood test – determines the amount of uric acid, creatinine, urea. Exceeding the norm of these indicators indicates pyelonephritis or the development of urolithiasis.
• Clinical urine analysis is the most important study. It allows to detect inflammatory processes in the kidneys and bladder. It determines the number of leukocytes and erythrocytes. The detected protein indicates a pathological condition. If there is mucus, this is a sign of urolithiasis.
• Urine test according to Nechiporenko – determines the number of leukocytes, erythrocytes, cylinders and other components, the presence of which may indicate the cause of the disorder.

In addition to the above-mentioned tests, cultures and microscopy of discharge from the urethra are performed.

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Instrumental diagnostics

A comprehensive approach to determining the causes of bladder dysfunction in women necessarily includes instrumental diagnostics. This method consists of the following mandatory examinations:

• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs.
• Ultrasound of the bladder.
• Ultrasound of the kidneys.
• Uroflowmetry is the determination of the rate of urine flow.
• Comprehensive urodynamic study.

If necessary, additional examinations may be prescribed, such as:

• Survey and excretory urography. The first method is an X-ray of the body area at the level of the kidneys, and the second is an X-ray of the kidneys and urinary tract using intravenous administration of a radiopaque substance.
• Computed tomography is an X-ray method that allows obtaining a layer-by-layer image of tissue.
• Cystography is an X-ray of the bladder after it has been filled with a special substance.
• Urethrography is an X-ray examination of the urethra after filling it with a special substance.

Instrumental diagnostics, in combination with the results of the analyses, allow us to draw conclusions about the possible causes of the painful condition.

Differential diagnosis

Dysuric syndrome develops for many reasons, differential diagnostics allows to establish the true factors of the disease state. Pollakiuria is most often compared with the following disorders of the genitourinary system:

Disease	Characteristic	Additional symptoms
Neurogenic bladder dysfunctions:
Hyperreflexive	Complex of dysuric symptoms (pollakiuria, incontinence, enuresis).	Encopresis (fecal incontinence)
Hyporeflexive	The urge to urinate is absent or weak, urinary retention.	Constipation
Microbial inflammatory diseases of the urinary system:
Cystitis (acute, chronic)	Pain when urinating, stinging, burning, enuresis, frequent false urges.	Discomfort in the lower abdomen, elevated body temperature, blood in the urine.
Pyelonephritis (acute, chronic)	Frequent painful urge to urinate, burning, stinging, itching.	Elevated body temperature, dyspeptic disorders, abdominal and lower back pain, high blood pressure.
Urolithiasis	Stones cause pollakiuria, pain when emptying the bladder, and intermittent flow.	Painful sensations like colic, irradiation of discomfort to the genitals.
Vesicoureteral reflux	Symptoms of urethritis and pyelonephritis, pain in the side and lower back.	The addition of a secondary infection and signs of intoxication of the body.
Injuries:
Bladder rupture	With an intraperitoneal rupture, it is difficult to go to the toilet, as urine enters the abdominal cavity. Urination is painful with the release of small portions of liquid, blood impurities.	Pain in the lower abdomen, irritation of the peritoneum, nausea and vomiting, sharp pain and swelling above the pubis.
Urethral injury	Retention of urine combined with frequent urges, a feeling of distension in the perineum.	Bleeding from the urethra, hematomas in the perineal area.
Malformations of the urinary and reproductive systems:
Infravesical obstruction	Regular urge to go to the toilet, urinary incontinence, weak intermittent stream.	Secondary infection.
Urethrocele	Retention of urine with false urges due to incomplete closure of the bladder neck.	Dull aching pain in the lumbar region.
Diverticulum of the urethra or bladder	The fluid is released in drops after urination, but when pressing on the swelling in the lower abdomen, urine comes out in a stream.	Tumor formation in the pubic area, elevated body temperature.

In addition to the above-mentioned pathologies, differentiation is made with diseases of other organs and systems: cardiovascular lesions, central nervous system disorders, venereal diseases and much more.

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Treatment frequent urination in women

The first step in treating frequent urination in women is to determine the cause of the disease.

• If the painful condition is caused by an infection, then antibacterial drugs are prescribed.
• In case of disorder due to improper functioning of the pelvic organs, therapy is aimed at restoring their normal functioning.
• If pollakiuria occurs due to diuretics, you should stop taking the medication and consult a doctor. The doctor will select similar medications, but without side effects.
• In case of inflammatory pathologies of the genitourinary system, patients are prescribed antibiotics and uroseptics.
• In diabetes mellitus, the administration of insulin is indicated, and in diabetes insipidus, hormones to stimulate the production of vasopressin.
• For neuroses, calming and sedative drugs and physiotherapeutic procedures with a relaxing effect are used.
• For the treatment of fistulas, congenital or acquired defects of the genitals, urolithiasis or various neoplasms, surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal drugs or chemotherapy are indicated.
• To correct hormonal imbalance, replacement therapy is carried out.

Complications and consequences

Left untreated, frequent urination in women causes serious consequences and complications. First of all, it is a significant deterioration in the quality of life. Frequent urges to go to the toilet interfere with normal life and can cause psycho-emotional disorders. In addition, if this symptom is left to its own devices, it will lead to chronicity of the diseases that caused it.

Consequences and complications of pollakiuria:

• Inflammatory lesions of the urinary and reproductive systems.
• Inflammation and irritation of the skin and mucous membranes due to regular contact with urine.
• Secondary infection.
• The occurrence of an accompanying symptom - fecal incontinence.
• Ulcerative lesions and painful cracks in the intimate area.
• Apathy and depression.
• Increased irritability.
• Violation of sexual life.

Problems can also arise due to the therapy prescribed by doctors. For example, many women are prescribed urethral agents to treat dysuric syndrome in early pregnancy. The effects of these drugs can cause both miscarriage and pathological abnormalities in fetal development. Consequences are observed when using antibacterial drugs. They kill healthy microflora, causing diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system, nervous disorders.

Complications arise from improper treatment of bladder dysfunction. This happens due to incomplete diagnostics and misdiagnosis, for example, when not all tests were prescribed. Because of this, all efforts are directed at eliminating a non-existent problem, while the real factors continue to progress.

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Prevention

Frequent urination in women, regardless of whether it occurs with painful sensations or not, causes significant discomfort and disrupts normal life. Prevention of the disorder is based on the prevention and timely elimination of factors that provoke it.

Basic preventive recommendations:

• Seek medical help and treat any illnesses promptly to prevent them from becoming chronic. Have annual preventive examinations with a gynecologist and other specialists.
• Maintaining intimate hygiene. The female urethra is short and wide, which allows pathogens to reproduce freely. This causes frequent inflammatory reactions and infections, and as a result - cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis. Also, do not forget about hygiene and protection during sex. Many sexually transmitted diseases cause dysuric syndrome.
• Give preference to underwear made of natural fabrics, as synthetic material promotes the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms and disruption of normal microflora. When using daily pads, change them every 3-4 hours.
• The optimal daily volume of water should be within 2 liters. Thanks to this, the body receives a sufficient amount of liquid and does not develop stagnation. Do not abuse coffee, tea or alcoholic beverages.
• Pollakiuria can develop with excessive consumption of products that increase contractile activity and irritation of the walls of the bladder, i.e. have a diuretic effect. Improper nutrition can cause constipation, provoking frequent false urges to go to the toilet. A healthy diet is the key to the well-coordinated work of the body and normal well-being.
• Avoid hypothermia and strengthen your immune system to fight opportunistic flora. Give up bad habits that undermine your health. For example, smoking reduces the protective functions of the immune system and worsens the functioning of the urinary system due to the intake of nicotine smoke.
• Maintain physical activity. To strengthen the pelvis and the muscle tissues of the genitourinary system, do special gymnastics, for example, Kegel exercises.
• Normalize your body weight, as excess weight is one of the factors that provoke problems with the genitourinary and endocrine systems.

By following the above recommendations, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing pollakiuria and other disorders of the body.

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Forecast

Frequent urination in women with timely diagnosis and treatment has a favorable outcome. The prognosis depends on the factors that caused the disorder, the presence and severity of concomitant symptoms, and the individual characteristics of the patient's body. As a rule, early diagnosis allows you to eliminate the problem without the development of any complications. Advanced pollakiuria becomes chronic, causing painful symptoms, periodic episodes of exacerbations, a significant deterioration in the quality of life, and even psychological disorders.

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