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Urination - excessive amount

Definition

Excessive amount of urination means that your body makes larger than normal amounts of urine each day.

Alternative Names

Polyuria

Causes

An excessive volume of urination for an adult is more than 2.5 liters (about 67 fluid ounces or about 2.6 quarts) of urine per day. However, this can vary depending on how much water you drink and what your total body water is. This problem is different from needing to urinate often.

Polyuria is a fairly common symptom. People often notice the problem when they have to get up during the night to use the toilet (nocturia).

Some common causes of the problems are:

Less common causes include:

Also, your urine production may increase for 24 hours after having tests that involve injecting a special dye (contrast medium) into your vein during imaging tests such as a CT scan or an MRI scan.

Home Care

To monitor your urine output, keep a daily record of the following:

  • How much and what you drink
  • How often you urinate and how much urine you produce each time
  • How much you weigh (use the same scale every day)

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your health care provider if you have excessive urination over several days, and it is not explained by medicines you take or drinking more fluids.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions such as:

  • When did the problem start and has it changed over time?
  • How often do you urinate during the daytime and overnight? Do you get up at night to urinate?
  • Do you have problems controlling your urine?
  • What makes the problem worse? Better?
  • Have you noticed any blood in your urine or change in urine color?
  • Do you have any other symptoms (such as pain, burning, fever, or abdominal pain)?
  • Do you have a history of diabetes, kidney disease, or urinary infections?
  • What medicines do you take?
  • How much salt do you eat? Do you drink alcohol and caffeine?

Tests that may be done include:

Gallery

Bladder catheterization - female
A catheter (a hollow tube, often with an inflatable balloon tip) may be inserted into the urinary bladder when there is a urinary obstruction, following surgical procedures to the urethra, in unconscious patients (due to surgical anesthesia, coma, or other reasons), or for any other problem in which the bladder needs to be kept empty (decompressed) and urinary flow assured. The balloon holds the catheter in place for a duration of time.
Bladder catheterization - female
A catheter (a hollow tube, often with an inflatable balloon tip) may be inserted into the urinary bladder when there is a urinary obstruction, following surgical procedures to the urethra, in unconscious patients (due to surgical anesthesia, coma, or other reasons), or for any other problem in which the bladder needs to be kept empty (decompressed) and urinary flow assured. The balloon holds the catheter in place for a duration of time.

References

Elsamra SE. Evaluation of the urologic patient: history and physical examination. In: Partin AW, Domochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 1.

Landry DW, Bazari H. Approach to the patient with renal disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 106.

Last reviewed July 26, 2021 by Kelly L. Stratton, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team..

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