Excessive volume of urination means that you release abnormally large amounts of urine each day. The medical term for this condition is polyuria.
An excessive volume of urination for an adult is more than 2.5 liters of urine per day.
Polyuria is a fairly common symptom, which is often noticed when you have to get up to use the bathroom at night.
If you are concerned about the amount you urinate, keep track of the following every day:
Call your doctor if you have excessive urination over several days, and it is not explained by medications or an increase in fluids.
Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, including:
Tests that may be done include:
Polyuria
Gerber GS, Brendler CB. Evaluation of the urologic patient: History, physical examination, and the urinalysis. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 3.
Landry DW, Bazari H. Approach to the patient with renal disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 116.
Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Scott Miller, MD, Urologist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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