Drinking water can make you urinate more often because the kidneys continuously adjust the amount of water and other substances in the blood. When you take in more fluid than your body needs at that time, the kidneys remove the excess and produce more urine, which eventually fills the bladder.
How often a person urinates varies. It depends on how much they drink, what they drink, medications they take and whether they have an underlying health condition. Cleveland Clinic says most adults typically urinate about six or seven times a day, although there is no single number that applies to everyone.
What happens after you drink water?
The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The kidneys filter the blood and produce urine, which travels through the ureters to the bladder. The bladder stores the urine until it is released through the urethra.
As the bladder fills, signals are sent to the brain, creating the urge to urinate. The frequency of urination therefore depends partly on how quickly the kidneys produce urine and how much urine the bladder can comfortably hold.
Drinking a large amount of water in a short period can therefore lead to more frequent trips to the bathroom. Drinking enough water is important for normal urinary function, but drinking more than the body needs can increase bladder activity.
Water is not usually the problem
Frequent urination after drinking plain water does not necessarily mean that the water is irritating the urinary tract or that something is wrong with the bladder.
Other drinks can have a stronger effect. Alcohol and caffeine can increase urination, while carbonated drinks and some other beverages may irritate the bladder in some people. Caffeine is found in drinks such as coffee, tea, cola and energy drinks.
The amount of fluid consumed also matters. Drinking large quantities, particularly over a short period, can naturally result in more urine.
When frequent urination may need attention
Frequent urination can sometimes have causes unrelated to how much water a person drinks.
Mayo Clinic lists urinary tract infections, overactive bladder, diabetes, pregnancy, certain medications, alcohol, caffeine and excessive fluid intake among the possible causes. Conditions affecting the kidneys, bladder or the way the bladder functions can also lead to increased urination.
Diabetes is one condition that can cause both increased thirst and frequent urination. When blood glucose levels are too high, glucose can enter the urine and draw additional water with it, increasing urine production.
A person who suddenly begins urinating much more often without an obvious change in fluid intake should discuss the symptoms with a health professional, particularly if they persist or interfere with sleep and daily activities.
Watch for other symptoms
Frequent urination accompanied by pain or burning during urination, blood in the urine, fever, pain in the lower abdomen or side, difficulty emptying the bladder or loss of bladder control warrants medical attention.
There is also no need to deliberately reduce water intake simply to avoid using the bathroom. Drinking too little can lead to concentrated urine and may irritate the bladder. NIDDK recommends drinking enough fluids to stay hydrated, with water as the main choice for most people, while noting that people with certain conditions such as kidney or heart failure may need individualized fluid advice.
For most healthy people, needing to urinate after drinking water is simply part of how the urinary system maintains the body’s fluid balance. Persistent or unexplained changes in urination, however, can be a sign of an underlying problem and should be evaluated rather than treated by simply changing the type of water or taking supplements.
