Senior medical practitioners have disclosed that people with trauma issues may be experiencing frequent urination at night.
Aside from trauma, urinary stones and neurological conditions were listed as other factors that could play a role when an individual is urinating frequently at night.
Speaking with PUNCH HealthWise, the experts in men’s and women’s reproductive health revealed that frequent urination at night had several causes.
A Professor of Urology, Sulyman Kuranga, said nocturia in men could be physiological or pathological.
“Frequent urination at night can have several causes. It might be physiological as men age due to changes in antidiuretic hormone levels. Other causes include infections, benign prostate enlargement, or even prostate cancer.
“For younger individuals, other factors like urinary stones, trauma, or neurological issues may play a role.
“Diabetes can also cause nocturia due to diabetic neuropathy affecting bladder function,” Kuranga, a former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, said.
The don, however, advised men to seek medical attention whenever there is a consistent pattern of frequent urination at night.
“If someone notices frequent urination at night without a clear reason, they should see a urologist. The doctor will investigate the prostate, ask about medical history, and check for conditions like diabetes or past trauma. Early diagnosis is critical, whether the cause is benign or cancerous,” the urologist said.
Also, a Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Dr. Modupe Adedeji, told our correspondent that age and life stages, including pregnancy and menopause, could cause frequent urination at night in women.
She said,“Age and life stages such as pregnancy and menopause can influence urination frequency. During menopause, hormonal changes weaken the bladder muscles and make women more prone to infections.”
The decrease in estrogen affects the mucosal lining, making the bladder more sensitive,” the gynaecologist said.
Giving more insight, Adedeji said there are many reasons why one could be urinating frequently at night.
“The simplest reason is if you like to take water before bedtime, it will disturb your sleep, making you wake up to urinate. That is just physiological.
“However, when we talk about the pathological aspects, the first thing that comes to mind is ruling out diabetes. Diabetes is a common reason for frequent urination at night.
“When diagnosing, we focus on nighttime urination because, during the day, fluid intake can influence frequency. On a normal day, you should have a sound sleep and only wake up early in the morning to urinate,” the female reproductive health expert said.
According to her, another cause is a urinary tract infection, especially in women, due to their short urethra.
“Symptoms include a burning sensation or pain when urinating and frequent trips to the restroom with little urine output.
“Pregnancy can also cause frequent urination, especially in early pregnancy when the growing uterus presses against the bladder,” Adedeji said.
