Are you waking up to go to the bathroom at night?
Dr. Rena Malik, a top urologist, explains that how often you need to urinate during the night depends on your age. She discussed this on Mel Robbins’ podcast, linking it to the health of your pelvic floor, which supports your organs and plays a role in bladder function.
Waking up to pee more than once a night could indicate an overactive bladder or weak pelvic muscles. Most adults urinate 6-7 times a day and sleep 6-8 hours without waking up. If you’re getting up more than once, it may signal nocturia. Dr. Malik suggests that people under 55 shouldn’t need to wake up at all, while those over 55 can expect to wake up once due to changes in urine production with age.
What and when you drink can also affect nighttime bathroom trips. Drinking a lot of water before bed or consuming caffeine—both bladder irritants—can increase urination. While Dr. Malik doesn’t recommend cutting out coffee entirely, she suggests experimenting with reducing intake, especially in the afternoon.
To avoid nighttime trips to the bathroom, it’s best to stop drinking fluids several hours before bed. For older adults, frequent bathroom visits can increase the risk of falls or injuries, such as hip fractures, which can have serious health consequences.
