Nocturia: What It Is, Why It Happens & How to Stop Nighttime Urination

Is the need to urinate waking you up at night? It's called nocturia, and it might be more than just a normal part of aging. In the video above, Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez, a urologist at Houston Methodist, explains when you should talk to a urologist.

"This can be common if you drink a lot of fluids before you get in the bed. But really, if you're limiting your fluids two hours before bedtime and you're waking up two or more times a night, it can pose a problem," says. Dr. Gonzalez.

If you have daytime symptoms

The most common type of nocturia occurs in people who experience bladder problems during the day. A urologist can help you determine if you have stress incontinence, overactive bladder or an enlarged prostate (also called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH). These conditions are highly treatable, giving you relief throughout the night as well as during waking hours.

If you urinate more at night

Your urologist may ask you to keep a diary of when and how much you urinate. If your body produces more than one-third of your urine volume at night, you may have a condition known as nocturnal polyurea. This can signal a more serious condition, such as obstructive sleep apnea, heart disease or heart failure, or swelling in the legs and feet. The underlying cause will need to be treated, which might mean visiting another specialist.

(Related: 6 Signs It's Time to See a Urologist)