If nighttime urination is your main problem, some practical changes may help depending on the underlying cause.
1. Reduce Fluids Before Bed
If your doctor has not prescribed a specific fluid schedule, avoiding large amounts of fluid immediately before bedtime may reduce nighttime trips.
Don’t severely restrict fluids, however. Dehydration can create its own problems.
2. Limit Evening Caffeine
Coffee, tea, energy drinks, and other caffeinated beverages can increase urination and may also interfere with sleep.
Try reducing caffeine later in the day.
3. Be Careful With Alcohol
Alcohol can increase urine production and make nighttime urination worse for some people.
4. Empty Your Bladder Before Bed
Going to the bathroom immediately before sleeping may help reduce the likelihood of waking soon afterward.
5. Discuss Medications With Your Doctor
Some medications, particularly certain diuretics (“water pills”), can increase urination.
Never stop or change a prescribed medication without medical advice, but ask whether the timing or medication itself could be contributing to nocturia.
Treatments for an Enlarged Prostate
If BPH is causing significant symptoms, effective medical treatments are available.
Depending on the severity of symptoms, a doctor may recommend:
Lifestyle Changes
For mild symptoms, changes in fluid intake, caffeine, alcohol, and bathroom habits may be sufficient.
Prescription Medication
Several medications can improve urinary symptoms.
Some relax the prostate and bladder outlet, while others can gradually reduce prostate size.
Procedures
For men with severe symptoms or complications, minimally invasive procedures or surgery may be considered.
The appropriate treatment depends on prostate size, symptoms, overall health, medications, and other factors.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Persistent urinary symptoms shouldn’t simply be attributed to aging.
Make an appointment if you regularly experience:
- A weak urine stream
- Difficulty starting urination
- Frequent nighttime urination
- Urgency
- Incomplete bladder emptying
- Increasing urinary frequency
- Recurrent urinary problems
A healthcare professional can determine whether BPH is actually responsible.
Evaluation may include a medical history, physical examination, urine testing, and other tests when appropriate.
When Urination Becomes an Emergency
See more on the next page
