Nocturia (Urinating at Night)

What is nocturia?

Nocturia is the medical term used to describe waking up one or more times at night to urinate (pee). The number of times you wake up to urinate per night can change. Nocturia is common and how often you wake up (the frequency) increases with age for both men and women. Certain types of cancer and some cancer treatments can increase the chance of nocturia. Nocturia impacts the amount of sleep you get, which can affect your quality of life, productivity, and long-term physical and mental health.

How is nocturia managed?

Management of nocturia includes:

• Decreasing caffeine and alcohol intake.
• Limiting or not taking in fluid 2-3 hours before you plan to go to sleep.
• Medication can be prescribed by your provider.

When should I contact my care team?

Nocturia is not a medical emergency, but it can cause difficulties with daily life due to lack of sleep. If you are waking up more than four times per night or find that you are having a hard time functioning during the day, contact your care provider to discuss your nocturia.