Urgent Urination

About the Symptom

Feeling the sudden need to urinate. Individuals with urinary urgency describe having to hurry to the restroom to avoid an accident.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Fever
• Gross hematuria
• Recent weight loss
• Melena (black stools)
• Edema
• Urinary frequency
• Jaundice
• Difficulty urinating
• Vomiting of blood

Possible Causes

Generally, Urgent urination can be related to:

• Diabetes Insipidus

  A disorder in which the body cannot properly regulate water levels. The cause is damage to either the kidneys or the pituitary gland in the brain.

• Cauda Equina Tumor

  These are tumors that develop within and below the lumbar spine and involve the "cauda equina" which is a bundle of nerve roots located at the lower end of the spinal cord. These tumors may originate from the lumbar spine or may have spread from other parts of the body. They are diagnosed with MRIs and CT scans after patients come to the physicians with pain and sometimes limb weakness or abnormal sensations.

• Neurogenic Bladder

  A condition where nerves supplying the bladder are damaged. Causes include injury to the spinal cord and nerve diseases like Parkinson's disease and Multiple sclerosis.

• Interstitial Cystitis
• Overactive Bladder
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
• Parkinson's Disease
• Psychogenic Polydipsia
• Pollakiuria

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Urgent urination may be related to these serious diseases:

• Acute Prostatitis

  The sudden inflammation of the prostate gland that can be caused by a bacterial infection.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Have you experienced a sudden urge to urinate?
• When did you first notice the sudden urge to urinate?
• How often do you experience a sudden urge to urinate and find yourself rushing to the bathroom?
• How is your sudden urge to urinate now?

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