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Know why you may have a constant urge to pee, but can’t empty your bladder

A range of conditions can cause the constant urge to pee! Read this article to find out its causes and tips to deal with frequent urination conditions.
A woman with urinary incontinence
Urine colour says a lot about your health. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Dr Swetha M.P Published: 23 Nov 2022, 08:59 am IST
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Making rounds of the bathroom to empty your bladder throughout the day is a sign that you are dealing with frequent urination. This can be a signal for several things happening inside your body. For instance, it can be a sign of infection or pregnancy. It can even happen due to physical changes. Frequent urination can feel disruptive and annoying and thus requires your immediate attention. Before that, you need to know about the possible causes of a constant urge to pee.

4 conditions that cause frequent urination:

1. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

UTIs happen when bacteria enter the urinary tract. They can affect any part of the urinary tract, but they usually affect the bladder. This condition is also known as cystitis.

causes of a constant urge to pee
There are many things responsible for UTIs as well. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

2. Pregnancy

Frequent urination is one of the early signs of pregnancy as hormones lead to increased blood flow in the pelvic area. Later in the pregnancy, women feel an urge to frequently urinate as the fetus puts pressure on the bladder.

3. Overactive bladder

People with overactive bladders feel a frequent urge to urinate even when there is little urine. Studies suggest that an overactive bladder makes the muscles squeeze more than usual and thus leads to frequent urination.

Also read: Are you urinating frequently? Let’s find out how often should you be peeing

4. Bladder, prostate, or ovarian cancer

In some rare cases, frequent urination indicates cancer in the bladder, prostate, and ovary. The symptoms of UTI and cancer in these areas are quite common which makes it harder to diagnose on your own and thus, this requires immediate medical attention.

Diagnosis

If you are experiencing frequent urges to urinate without being able to empty your bladder, it can be a sign of a urinary tract infection. In such a case, your doctor advises you to go for a urinalysis to determine whether or not you have a UTI. This is a simple urine test that checks if there is any bacteria or infection present in your urine. If it is UTI, then your doctor will prescribe you some antibiotics to treat the condition.

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causes of constant urge to pee
There are several women, who experience frequent urination. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

To treat conditions like prostate enlargement, doctors recommend benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treatment that can be worked out with your doctor in which a combination of medication and bladder training can help you get through the problem.

For pregnant women, basic kegel exercises are recommended to relieve the symptoms. As benign prostatic hyperplasia may be prescribed by your doctor.

Here are some tips to deal with the constant urge to pee:

You can follow certain preventative measures like:

1. Have a soothing warm bath whenever you feel the need to pee.
2. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes, especially pants and undergarments.
3. Drink plenty of fluids.
4. You should avoid caffeine and alcohol as much as possible.

causes of constant urge to pee
Frequent urination can be controlled. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Takeaway

The feeling of the constant urge to pee can be very uncomfortable. You should seek the help of your doctor without feeling embarrassed about it. Generally, there is an underlying cause that needs to be treated. The most common cause is a UTI which can be treated. Do not ignore any symptoms as they can lead to severe infections.

Your doctor will be able to guide you on the methods of treatment and the lifestyle changes you need to make to resolve the issue. Drink healthy fluids regularly and if you feel the urge to pee, follow through whenever you need to and don’t hold it in.

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About the Author

Dr Swetha MP is a gynaecologist who completed her MBBS from MS Ramaiah Medical College (2008) and DGO from M S Ramaiah Medical College (2012). With her experience of over a decade, she is well-versed in simple and complex gynaecological and obstetric surgeries. Her legacy in handling several complicated cases independently make her among the best gynaecologists and IVF doctors in Bangalore. She has a special interest in High-Risk Pregnancy Care, Normal Vaginal Delivery (NVD), Menopause, Infertility Evaluation, Laparoscopy, Hysterectomy, Ovarian surgery, Vaginal Surgery, PCOD screening, and Adolescent counselling. She is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Motherhood Hospitals.

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