Internal Medicine, by video or in person
Frequent Urination
The signs, the danger signs that mean hospital now, and how to see a doctor by video from anywhere in Nigeria.
Signs to look for
Frequent Urination
- Needing to urinate much more often than you used to
- Waking up two or more times a night to urinate
- Feeling thirsty all the time and drinking more than usual
- Burning or pain when passing urine, or cloudy or smelly urine
- A weak or interrupted stream, or feeling the bladder has not emptied (in men)
How often people pass urine varies, and many adults do not need to get up at night at all. Going more often than usual is worth looking into when it is new, when it wakes you up night after night, or when it comes with thirst, burning or a weak stream. The common causes are simple: tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcohol, drinking a lot in the evening, and pregnancy. The ones a doctor wants to rule out are diabetes, where sugar in the blood pulls water into the urine and makes you thirsty; a urine infection; an enlarged prostate in men over about 50; an overactive bladder; and some medicines, such as water tablets for blood pressure. A urine test and a blood sugar test answer most of the question, and both can be booked without a referral.
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Symptoms
- Needing to urinate much more often than you used to
- Waking up two or more times a night to urinate
- Feeling thirsty all the time and drinking more than usual
- Burning or pain when passing urine, or cloudy or smelly urine
- A weak or interrupted stream, or feeling the bladder has not emptied (in men)
- A sudden, strong urge to go that is hard to hold
When to See a Doctor
Go to a hospital or emergency department now if frequent urination comes with extreme thirst, vomiting, fast breathing, drowsiness or confusion, because this can be dangerously high blood sugar; if you cannot pass urine at all and your lower tummy is swollen and painful; or if you have a fever with shivering and pain in your back or side, which can mean a kidney infection. See a doctor within days if you are thirsty and passing a lot of urine, losing weight without trying, passing blood in your urine, have burning when you urinate, or are a man waking at night with a weak stream.
Treatment options
- A urine test for infection, sugar and blood
- A fasting blood sugar or HbA1c test to check for diabetes
- Antibiotics when a urine infection is confirmed
- Cutting down tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcohol, especially in the evening
- Treatment for diabetes or an enlarged prostate when either is found
- Bladder training for an overactive bladder
- A review of medicines, such as water tablets, that increase urine
Common Questions
Frequent urination at night is a sign of what?
Often nothing more than drinking late, especially tea, coffee or alcohol. In men over about 50 it is commonly an enlarged prostate. Diabetes, a urine infection, heart or kidney problems and some medicines can also cause it. A urine test and a blood sugar test are the first checks.
Is frequent urination a sign of diabetes?
It can be. Diabetes causes frequent urination with thirst, tiredness and sometimes weight loss or blurred vision. A fasting blood sugar or an HbA1c test will show it, and both are simple blood tests.
Is frequent urination normal in pregnancy?
Yes, it is common from early pregnancy and again near the end. See a doctor if it burns, smells, comes with fever or back pain, or you are very thirsty, because a urine infection or diabetes in pregnancy needs treating.
Can a doctor help by video?
Yes. A doctor can take a full history by video, order a urine test and a blood sugar test at a laboratory near you, and tell you whether you need to be examined in person.
Need Help?
A doctor on a video call, who advises on the right test and treatment, and tells you if you need to be seen in person.
See a doctor by videoIf any of the danger signs on this page applies, go to the nearest hospital now instead.
Find a verified internal medicine specialist near you.
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The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Diabetes. NHS. Patient information.
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs). NHS. Patient information.
- Enlarged prostate. NHS. Patient information.
- Urinary incontinence. NHS. Patient information.
- Lower urinary tract symptoms in men: management (CG97). National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Clinical guideline.
Links last checked 5 November 2026.
Medical Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.