There are many ways to refer to urinating — whether it’s having a wee, emptying the tank, or taking a wizz. Still, whilst peeing multiple times in a day can be completely normal, it’s more than easy to wonder how much is too much.
A consultant urologist has revealed that your age plays a big role in how many trips to the toilet you should be making. While things like tea, coffee, alcohol and fizzy drinks can all make you need the loo more than usual, it turns out that getting older is the biggest factor in how often you should expect to go.
Talking to Metro, Hamid Abboudi, consultant urologist at New Victoria Hospital, explained: “Across a patient’s life span, there are likely to be several changes to toilet habits.”
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As for what’s actually a healthy range, here’s what Abboudi says you should expect at different stages of life.
For children, the numbers are on the higher side. He said: “Young children may urinate 8 to 14 times a day, which decreases to 6-12 times for older children”.
Peeing more often than that could be down to things like anxiety, constipation, caffeine, allergies or even a small bladder capacity.
Teenagers usually go between four and six times a day. During puberty, hormonal changes can mean more frequent visits, but Abboudi reassured that most of the time this is 'nothing to worry about and will naturally clear up'. If it doesn’t, however, frequent urination could point to an infection, diabetes, excessive caffeine use or in rare cases, something more serious.
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Adults under 60 will generally go between six and nine times a day, with Abboudi adding that it’s common to go once in the night as well. He said: “Women tend to urinate more frequently than men,” pointing to one study that found women average 5.6 times per day while men average 4.8.
Pregnancy is another factor, with the baby putting pressure on the uterus, while urinary tract infections are also a frequent cause of extra trips.
Once you hit 60, things are likely to change again. According to Abboudi, older adults may find themselves going up to ten times a day. Kidney function declines with age, bladder muscles weaken, and medications such as diuretics can all increase the need to go.
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On top of that, the NHS says nocturia — regularly needing to get up during the night to pee — becomes more common as people age. For men, in particular, a growing prostate can also put pressure on the bladder and lead to more frequent urination.
It’s worth remembering that everyone is different, but there are warning signs to look out for. Abboudi recommends getting checked if you notice blood in your urine, a sudden change in your usual habits, or if you find yourself waking up more than once each night. He also advised that smokers should be extra cautious about any changes in pattern, as they face a higher risk of bladder cancer.
So, while there’s no single number that works for everyone, knowing the normal range for your age can help you spot when something isn’t right.
Ben Williams