Nocturia (Urinating at Night)

What is nocturia?

Nocturia is the medical term for waking up one or more times at night to urinate (pee). The number of times you wake up to urinate a 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?

You can manage nocturia by:

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

When should I contact my care team?

Nocturia is not a medical emergency, but it can cause issues with daily life due to lack of sleep. If you wake up more than four times a night or are having a hard time with daily tasks during the day, call your care provider to talk about your nocturia.