
I get up to pee almost every hour every night – help! It can't be normal
OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice.
Today, Dr Zoe helps a reader who gets up to pee almost every hour every night.
2
Q) I've had a lot of trouble down below, with a prolapse, overactive bladder and bleeding.
I go for a wee hourly at night.
Can you advise?
A) Many people suffer in silence with these types of urogynaecological issues, so thank you for writing in to me.
It's very important that women feel they can be open and speak up about issues like this, so often seen as taboo and brushed under the carpet.
It really frustrates me when I hear terms such as, 'It's part of being a woman' or even, 'Women's problems . . . ', because it's not normal and there are treatments.
There are lifestyle measures that can be advised, such as pelvic-floor training and avoiding things that irritate your bladder – think caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks, for example.
In addition, there are several medications that can treat an overactive bladder – and alternative treatments, such as pessaries to help support the pelvic organs.
In some cases, surgery is deemed the best treatment strategy but of course this is only if it fits with the patient's own wishes.
Sometimes it is a case of trying several things to see what works.
The 4 best moves to beat incontinence, boost your sex life & flatten your tummy
The main message is, please do not suffer in silence or believe this is a normal part of being a woman. Please seek support, advice and treatment from your GP so that you can live with the best quality of life.
Are you curious about side effects, whether they could be right for you, or how to best eat while on them?
Send me your questions for a Live Q&A on the hot topic. No question is too big, small or silly.
Send your questions to health@thesun.co.uk
What is urinary incontinence?
There are several types of urinary incontinence:
Stress incontinence: when urine leaks out at times when your bladder is under pressure; for example, when you cough or laugh. Causes include weakening or damage to the muscles used to prevent urination, such as pelvic floor muscles and the urethral sphincter.
Urge (urgency) incontinence: when urine leaks as you feel a sudden, intense urge to pee, or soon afterwards. This is usually the result of overactivity of the detrusor muscles, which control the bladder.
Overflow incontinence (chronic urinary retention) – when you're unable to fully empty your bladder, which causes frequent leaking. This could be caused by a blockage in your bladder, preventing it from emptying fully.
Total incontinence – when your bladder cannot store any urine at all, which causes you to pass urine constantly or have frequent leaking. This could be caused by a problem with the bladder from birth, a spinal injury or a small hole that can form between the bladder and nearby area (fistula).
Pregnancy, childbirth, obesity, increasing age (although incontinence is not an inevitable part of aging) and a family history of incontinence.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scottish Sun
36 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Addiction to ketamine rises eight-fold in a decade as powerful tranquiliser becomes popular with Gen Z
Doctors say heavy use can cause liver disease and permanently damage the bladder and kidneys GENERATION K Addiction to ketamine rises eight-fold in a decade as powerful tranquiliser becomes popular with Gen Z DOCTORS have sounded the alarm over an eight-fold rise in ketamine addiction in a decade. The powerful tranquilliser is popular with Generation Z because of its relatively low cost, experts say. Advertisement 1 Addiction to ketamine has risen eight-fold in a decade, experts have warned Credit: Getty Clinics in England treated 3,609 people of all ages for addiction last year, eight times more than 426 in 2014, figures reveal. Ketamine, also referred to as 'K' or 'Ket', numbs pain and can cause a trippy high. Dealers sell it in powder form for around £20 to £40 a gram compared with £40 to £60 a gram for low-quality cocaine. Doctors say heavy use can cause liver disease and permanently damage the bladder and kidneys. It is linked to constipation, depression and loss of mental sharpness. Advertisement Many medics fail to understand how addictive it can be, an NHS report said. Led by Dr Irene Guerrini of the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, it called the drug's prevalence 'concerning'. It said: 'As ketamine use increases, more individuals are seeking treatment for addiction. 'Long-term use can seriously harm both physical and mental health, diminishing quality of life, affecting personal relationships and impairing academic or professional performance.' Advertisement Dr Guerrini called for stricter guidelines on how the NHS uses the drug and more funds for treatment and prevention. Ministers are considering uprating 34878330from a Class B to Class A drug.


The Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Sun
Addiction to ketamine rises eight-fold in a decade as powerful tranquiliser becomes popular with Gen Z
DOCTORS have sounded the alarm over an eight-fold rise in ketamine addiction in a decade. The powerful tranquilliser is popular with Generation Z because of its relatively low cost, experts say. Clinics in England treated 3,609 people of all ages for addiction last year, eight times more than 426 in 2014, figures reveal. Ketamine, also referred to as 'K' or 'Ket', numbs pain and can cause a trippy high. Dealers sell it in powder form for around £20 to £40 a gram compared with £40 to £60 a gram for low-quality cocaine. Doctors say heavy use can cause liver disease and permanently damage the bladder and kidneys. It is linked to constipation, depression and loss of mental sharpness. Many medics fail to understand how addictive it can be, an NHS report said. Led by Dr Irene Guerrini of the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, it called the drug's prevalence 'concerning'. It said: 'As ketamine use increases, more individuals are seeking treatment for addiction. 'Long-term use can seriously harm both physical and mental health, diminishing quality of life, affecting personal relationships and impairing academic or professional performance.' Dr Guerrini called for stricter guidelines on how the NHS uses the drug and more funds for treatment and prevention. Ministers are considering uprating 34878330from a Class B to Class A drug.


Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Women's supplements brand O Positiv explores sale, sources say
NEW YORK, June 11 (Reuters) - O Positiv Health is exploring a sale that could value the women's health supplements company at around $1 billion, according to three people familiar with the matter. The founder-owned business is working with investment bank Jefferies on the sale effort, said the sources, who added that O Positiv is projecting $275 million of revenue this year after generating around $225 million in 2024. The sources cautioned that no deal was guaranteed, and spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private information. Jefferies declined to comment. O Positiv did not respond to a comment request. Siblings Bobby and Brianna Bitton launched O Positiv in 2018. The company makes vitamins and probiotics that address a variety of health concerns, from PMS and menopause symptoms to vaginal and gut health. The products are sold on the company's website, as well as through retailers including Walmart (WMT.N), opens new tab, Target (TGT.N), opens new tab and Amazon (AMZN.O), opens new tab. Consumer health companies and private equity firms alike have put more emphasis on investing in the women's health space in recent years, which has created a significant pool of buyers for brands founded by entrepreneurs. Such deals include Pharmavite buying Bonafide in November 2023 and L Catterton, in partnership with actress Naomi Watts, acquiring Stripes Beauty last year.