Related to this topic: Patient+ | Equipment | Books | Your Experience | Other resources | Glossaries
Print options: Printer friendly version of this leaflet (html)     Other options:  AddThis Social Bookmark Button (what's this?)

PatientPlus articles are written for doctors and so the language can be technical. However, some people find that they add depth to the articles found in the other sections of this website which are written for non-medical people.

Urinary Frequency

Description

The basic causes of urinary frequency can be divided into 3 groups:

  1. Polyuria when too much urine is being produced
  2. Instability of the detrusor mechanism
  3. Inability of the bladder to stretch

However, urinary frequency strictly speaking occurs when there is an increased need to urinate more often without a concomitant increase in the volume of urine.

Epidemiology

The prevalence increases with age and is more common in women. In the elderly it is very common in both sexes.

Causes

Presentation

Symptoms

  • Other urinary symptoms
    • Dysuria
    • Urgency
    • Haematuria
    • Nocturia
    • Hesitancy
    • Dribbling
    • Abdominal pain
    • Urinary incontinence (may suggest detrusor instability or may relate to inability to get to the toilet on time; also common in pregnancy)1
  • Also question about systemic symptoms e.g. weight loss, fever etc

Signs

  • May be normal
  • Look for a distended bladder
  • In women vaginal examination may be appropriate
  • In men digital rectal examination should be performed
Investigations

Definite

  • Mid-stream urine for dipstick, microscopy, culture and sensitivities and pregnancy testing as appropriate

Blood tests

  • Full blood count, renal function, liver function, glucose calcium
  • PSA in men

Imaging

  • This will depend on the clinical suspicion
  • Bladder, renal and ureteric ultrasound
  • CT scan or IVU looking for ureteric stones
  • Bladder flow studies and cytometry
  • Cystoscopy

Other

Urinary tract symptoms may also be associated with sexually transmitted infections. One study found that the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in sexually active adolescent females to be as high as 33%. This was associated with positive urine samples for leucocytes and blood.2

Management

Depends on the underlying cause and may range from a course of antibiotics to removal of bladder neoplasm.

Overactive bladder

Clinical syndrome with one or more of the following

  • Urgency
  • Frequency
  • Nocturia
  • Incontinence

Patients have an immediate need to empty the bladder, which comes on suddenly.

Treatment involves the anticholinergic drugs oxybutynin and tolterodine. However these drugs have troublesome anticholinergic side effects. Newer agents currently being investigated include antispasmodics and and selective anticholinergic agents.3

Document References
  1. Wesnes SL, Rortveit G, Bo K, et al; Urinary incontinence during pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Apr;109(4):922 [abstract]
  2. Huppert JS, Biro F, Lan D, et al; Urinary symptoms in adolescent females: STI or UTI? J Adolesc Health. 2007 May;40(5):418 [abstract]
  3. Epstein BJ, Gums JG, Molina E; Newer agents for the management of overactive bladder. Am Fam Physician. 2006 Dec 15;74(12):2061 [abstract]
Acknowledgements EMIS is grateful to Dr Gurvinder Rull for writing this article. The final copy has passed scrutiny by the independent Mentor GP reviewing team. ©EMIS 2007.
DocID: 499
Document Version: 1
DocRef: bgp87
Last Updated: 21 Jun 2007
Review Date: 20 Jun 2009








Disclaimer: Patient UK has no control of the content of the above links. Inclusion does not imply endorsement by Patient UK.

Advertise on this site



Disclaimer: Patient UK has no control of the content of the above links. Inclusion does not imply endorsement by Patient UK.

Advertise on this site

PS - Health and Poverty

Perhaps the biggest cause of ill health in the world is poverty. Help to Make Poverty History. For example, why not lend some of your money to disadvantaged communities to enable them to trade their way out of poverty through schemes such as Shared Interest.

See also MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East for details and links to campaigns against poverty.

^ Top of Page