How often is it normal to wake up to urinate?
The medical term is nocturia. There isn’t one strict number that applies to every age, but getting up once a night is generally considered normal, and nighttime urination becomes more common as we get older.
G
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS
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A useful age-related guide is:
Under 50: 0–1 time per night is generally considered normal.
L
Leeds Community Healthcare
50s–60s: 1–2 times can occur normally, particularly as nighttime urine production increases with age.
L
Leeds Community Healthcare
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70s: Around 2 times a night can be normal for some people.
G
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS
90s: Some people may get up as many as 3–4 times a night, although frequent waking shouldn’t automatically be dismissed as simply “old age.”
G
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS
When should you pay attention?
If you regularly wake two or more times, particularly if this is a new change, it may be worth discussing with a doctor—especially when it is disturbing your sleep. Possible causes include drinking a lot in the evening, caffeine or alcohol, certain medications such as diuretics, an enlarged prostate, overactive bladder, urinary infection, diabetes, heart problems, or sleep disorders.
U
Urology Health Magazine
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For men, a gradually worsening need to urinate at night accompanied by a weak stream, difficulty starting, or a feeling that the bladder isn’t empty can be associated with an enlarged prostate.
G
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS
Don’t severely restrict fluids just to avoid nighttime urination. Staying adequately hydrated is important. Reducing caffeine and large amounts of fluid close to bedtime can help some people.
G
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS
And if you have blood in your urine, pain/burning when urinating, fever, or a sudden major change in urination, you should seek medical assessment rather than assuming it’s normal aging.
W
whittington.nhs.uk
+1
If you tell me your age and how many times you normally wake up each night, I can put that number into context.
G
L
U
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