Kerap Kencing: Causes, Night-Time Peeing & What Helps

Kerap kencing (frequent urination) means needing to pee more often than is normal for you, during the day, at night (nocturia), or both. It is very common and is often caused by drinking habits, caffeine or an overactive bladder, but it can also be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI), diabetes (kencing manis) or pregnancy. In a Malaysian survey of more than 4,600 adults, 57.3% woke at least once a night to pee, yet only about 1 in 4 of them had sought medical advice. Simple steps such as cutting down on caffeine, bladder training and pelvic floor exercises often help, but see a doctor if it comes with pain, blood in the urine, fever, or constant thirst.

How often is it normal to pee?

There is no single "correct" number, because how often you pee depends on how much you drink, what you drink, the weather and how active you are. A joint terminology report by the International Urogynecological Association and the International Continence Society notes that, traditionally, seven times during waking hours has been seen as the upper limit of normal, though it may be higher in some people.

Doctors use these terms:

• Increased daytime frequency: peeing more often during the day than you consider normal.
• Nocturia: waking up one or more times at night because you need to pee.
• Urgency: a sudden, strong need to pee that is hard to put off.

A change from your usual pattern matters more than the exact number. If you are suddenly peeing much more than before, or it is affecting your sleep, work or social life, it is worth finding out why.

Punca kerap kencing: what causes frequent urination?

Frequent urination is a symptom, not a disease. These are the most common causes and the clues that point to each one:

According to the NHS, caffeine and alcohol can make your kidneys produce more urine and irritate your bladder. But not drinking enough can also cause problems: strong, concentrated urine can irritate the bladder and make it more overactive.

Punca kerap kencing bagi perempuan

Women are more likely to have frequent urination because of the changes their bodies go through:

• Pregnancy. Needing to pee more often than usual, without pain, is an early sign of pregnancy. Pregnancy also increases the risk of UTIs.
• After childbirth. Pregnancy and vaginal birth can weaken the pelvic floor muscles that help control the bladder, leading to leaks and urgency.
• UTIs. Women have a shorter urethra than men, so bacteria reach the bladder more easily. If you keep getting UTIs, read our guide to UTI symptoms and prevention.
• Fibroids and prolapse. Large fibroids or a prolapse (when the bladder bulges into the vagina) can press on the bladder.
• Menopause. The NHS lists needing to pee more often, UTI-like symptoms and urinary incontinence among the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.

A study of 573 women attending a gynaecology clinic in Negeri Sembilan found that 19.1% had symptoms of overactive bladder. It was linked to older age, having had many births or large babies, prolapse, and being more than 5 years past menopause. More than half of the women with symptoms had not sought treatment because they did not think it was necessary.

Kerap kencing malam: why do you pee at night?

Waking up one or more times at night to pee is called nocturia. It is very common in Malaysia. A 2019 survey of 4,616 Malaysian adults found:

• 57.3% woke at least once a night to pee;
• it was more common in people with high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease or overactive bladder;
• 37.3% of those affected had trouble getting back to sleep about half the time or more;
• 56.7% of all respondents did not know that night-time peeing can be a medical condition, and only 25.2% of those with nocturia had seen a doctor about it.

Common reasons for kerap kencing malam include drinking a lot in the evening, kopi or teh late in the day, alcohol, an overactive bladder, diabetes and some medicines. The NHS suggests drinking less in the hours before bed, while still drinking enough during the day. If waking up to pee is ruining your sleep, see our guide to susah tidur, and talk to a doctor, especially if you also have high blood pressure or diabetes.

Cara hilangkan kerap kencing: what helps

The right approach depends on the cause, but these steps, recommended by the NHS, help many people:

1. Keep a bladder diary for at least 3 days. Write down what and how much you drink, how often you pee, roughly how much, and any leaks or urgent moments. This helps you and your doctor spot patterns.
2. Cut down on caffeine and alcohol. Tea, coffee, cola and energy drinks can increase urine and irritate the bladder. Our guide to Malaysian drinks compares common choices.
3. Drink enough, but time it well. Do not cut back on water so much that your urine becomes dark, as this can irritate the bladder. Drink less in the hours before bed.
4. Try bladder training. Learn to gradually wait a little longer between feeling the urge and going to the toilet. A course usually lasts at least 6 weeks.
5. Do pelvic floor exercises. Squeeze the muscles you would use to stop peeing, hold, then relax. The NHS recommends at least 8 squeezes, at least 3 times a day, for at least 3 months.
6. Treat constipation and keep a healthy weight, as both put pressure on the bladder.

Pelvic floor exercises are well supported by evidence. A 2018 Cochrane review of 31 trials found that women with stress urinary incontinence who did pelvic floor muscle training were about eight times more likely to report being cured than those who did not (56% versus 6%).

What about rawatan tradisional? There is little good evidence that herbal remedies cure frequent urination. If you choose to try one, check that it is registered with the Ministry of Health (see how to verify KKM registration), tell your doctor, and do not use it instead of getting checked for a UTI or diabetes.

Ubat kerap kencing: medical treatment

There is no single ubat kerap kencing at the pharmacy, because treatment depends on the cause:

• UTI: a pharmacist or doctor can advise; antibiotics may be needed for some infections.
• Diabetes: controlling blood sugar usually reduces peeing and thirst.
• Overactive bladder: if bladder training does not help, a doctor may prescribe antimuscarinic medicines such as oxybutynin or tolterodine (side effects can include dry mouth, constipation and blurred vision), or mirabegron.
• Night-time peeing: a doctor may consider low-dose desmopressin, which reduces the amount of urine the kidneys make at night.
• Stress incontinence: if exercises are not enough, there are surgical and other options.

Cranberry and D-mannose. The NHS says there is some evidence that daily cranberry products or D-mannose may help prevent bladder infections from coming back. They do not treat an infection that has already started, and they do not treat overactive bladder or diabetes. Cran-Max cranberry probiotics are a daily supplement to support urinary tract health; if you have pain, fever or blood in your urine, see a doctor first. Learn more in our guide to cranberry probiotics.

Kerap kencing tanda apa? When to see a doctor

Get medical help urgently if frequent urination comes with:

• blood in your pee (bright pink, red or dark brown);
• a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery;
• pain in your back just under the ribs, or lower tummy pain.

See a doctor if:

• you are peeing much more than you usually do and you do not know why;
• you also feel thirsty all the time, very tired or are losing weight without trying, which can be signs of diabetes;
• you leak urine, or the urge is so strong you cannot hold it;
• waking up to pee is disturbing your sleep most nights;
• you have pain in your bladder or lower tummy that keeps coming back;
• you have severe pain in your side or lower back that comes and goes, which may be a kidney stone;
• you are pregnant and have pain or burning when peeing.

A doctor will usually ask about your symptoms and drinking habits, check a urine sample, and may test your blood sugar. Do not feel embarrassed: bladder problems are common and usually treatable.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How many times a day is it normal to pee?

There is no single exact number, because it depends on how much you drink, the weather and your activity. An international terminology report notes that, traditionally, peeing seven times during waking hours has been seen as the upper limit of normal, though it may be higher in some people. What matters most is a change from your usual pattern, or peeing so often that it disrupts your day or sleep.

What causes frequent urination (punca kerap kencing)?

Common causes include drinking a lot of fluids, caffeine or alcohol, a urinary tract infection (UTI), an overactive bladder, pregnancy, diabetes, weak pelvic floor muscles after childbirth, constipation, menopause, some medicines, and fibroids pressing on the bladder. In men, an enlarged prostate is a common cause.

Kerap kencing tanda apa?

Frequent urination can be a sign of a UTI if it comes with burning or pain when peeing, of diabetes (kencing manis) if it comes with thirst, tiredness and weight loss, or of early pregnancy if you have missed a period. Often it is caused by drinking habits or an overactive bladder rather than a serious illness.

Why do I pee a lot at night (kerap kencing malam)?

Waking up one or more times at night to pee is called nocturia. Common reasons include drinking a lot in the evening, caffeine or alcohol late in the day, an overactive bladder, diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease. A Malaysian survey found that more than half of adults wake at least once a night to pee, but only about a quarter of them had sought medical advice.

Is frequent urination a sign of pregnancy?

Yes. Needing to pee more often than usual, without pain or discomfort, is one of the early signs of pregnancy, together with a missed period, nausea, tiredness and sore breasts. If you might be pregnant, take a pregnancy test from the first day of your missed period.

How do I stop frequent urination (cara hilangkan kerap kencing)?

First find the cause. Helpful steps include keeping a bladder diary for at least 3 days, cutting down on caffeine and alcohol, drinking enough water but less in the hours before bed, bladder training to slowly lengthen the time between toilet visits, pelvic floor exercises, treating constipation and keeping a healthy weight. See a doctor if it does not improve.

When should I see a doctor about frequent urination?

See a doctor if you are peeing much more than usual, it affects your sleep or daily life, you leak urine, or you have signs of diabetes such as constant thirst and weight loss without trying. Get help urgently if you have blood in your pee, a high temperature or shivering, or pain in your back just under the ribs.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor or pharmacist. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

• Urinary incontinence — NHS
• Urinary incontinence: causes — NHS
• Urinary incontinence: diagnosis — NHS
• Urinary incontinence: non-surgical treatment — NHS
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) — NHS
• Symptoms of type 2 diabetes — NHS
• Enlarged prostate — NHS
• Bladder pain syndrome — NHS
• Symptoms of menopause and perimenopause — NHS
• Signs and symptoms that might mean you're pregnant — NHS
• Haylen BT, et al. An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology for female pelvic floor dysfunction. Neurourol Urodyn. 2010;29(1):4-20.
• Yow HY, et al. Prevalence of nocturia among community-dwelling adults: a population-based study in Malaysia. BMC Urol. 2021;21(1):95.
• Ahmad SM, Aznal SS, Tham SW. Prevalence of overactive bladder syndrome (OABS) among women with gynaecological problems and its risk factors in a tertiary hospital, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Malays Fam Physician. 2015;10(2):2-8.
• Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;10(10):CD005654.