Frequent urination: Experts reveal the reason why you pee more often as you get older

If you've been feeling like you're going to the bathroom way more as you age, you're not wrong. Here's why.

Frequent urination the reason why you pee more often as you get older
© Tim Mossholder
Frequent urination the reason why you pee more often as you get older

While there is no set rule for how often should you be peeing every day, keep in mind that peeing too much could be a problem. On the other hand, if you find yourself going to the bathroom way more often than before, it could just be a by-product of the ageing process.

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Yes, like everything in your body, even your pelvic health goes through changes due to ageing. As reported by Huffpost, here are some things that happen to your body as you age, which leads to you urinating more frequently as you get older.

Note that this list is not exhaustive, and do consult your medical service provider if you are in distress.

Decline in estrogen

As people enter the early stages of menopause, called perimenopause, estrogen levels falls. This could lead to physical effects such as breast tenderness, frequent urinary tract infections and bone loss.

Along, with this, the tissues supporting the bladder wall start become weaker and stiff. This increases the frequency of urination.

Urinary Tract Infections or UTIs in older people might not have symptoms like pain, unlike when one is younger. But UTIs could also be responsible for the increased urge to urinate.

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Conditions such as type 2 Diabetes or even prolapsed pelvic organs can lead you to pee way more Claire Mueller

Smaller bladder

As women age, their bladder becomes less stretchy, and stiffer. This smaller bladder means that you might have to go to the bathroom way more often than before. As pelvic physical therapist, Sara Reardon explains,

The amount of urine it takes for someone to get the urge to go is less with aging and the amount of urine the bladder can hold is less.
Often this is why aging women get diagnosed with Overactive Bladder because the bladder becomes more sensitive and shrinks.

Larger prostrate

As men get older, the size of the prostate naturally increases. This leads to the urethra getting squeezed. As Forbes explains,

so that instead of peeing through a fire hose, you’re peeing through a cocktail straw instead.

Constipation

Yes, ageing can lead to people being more constipated, which can cause you to pee more often. The colon in this case puts pressure on the bladder, making you want to visit the toilet.

So do pay attention to your diet.

Medications & Caffeine

Certain medications people might take to address things such as high blood pressure, could have the side-effect of making you want to pee.

Along with this, consumption of caffeine, soda or even chocolates might lead to you having to pee frequently.

Along with all the above, conditions such as type 2 Diabetes or even prolapsed pelvic organs could lead you to pee way more often than before.

Read more:

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This is why men should wipe after peeing

Here is the dangerous reason why you should never pee in swimming pools

Sources used:

Huffpost: 'So THAT'S Why You Have To Pee More Frequently As You Get Older'

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