Do you ever find yourself needing to pee a lot more than usual right before your period arrives? If so, you’re not alone – this is an incredibly common sensation. But why does it happen? What could be causing this seemingly random urge? And is there anything you can do to get some relief? This article takes a deep dive into the causes and solutions behind this pre-period peeing phenomenon. We’ll explore the medical explanations and potential treatments, arming you with the knowledge you need to take control of your body and your menstrual cycle. So, if you’re tired of feeling like you’re constantly running to the bathroom, read on and find out what’s behind your increased urge to pee before your period starts.
Why Do I Pee So Much Before My Period?
There are a few reasons why you might be seeing more before your period. The main one is that your body is getting ready for menstruation by flushing out extra fluid. Another possibility is that you’re drinking more fluids than usual in anticipation of your period. And if you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), it can also cause increased peeing. So if you’re noticing an increase in the number of times you go to the bathroom, it’s worth checking in with your doctor to rule out any underlying causes.
Causes Of Pre-Period Peeing
1. Flushing Out Excess Fluid
As we’ve already mentioned, your body is flushing out the extra fluid before your period. This is to prepare the uterus for the changes that come with menstruation. This can be a bit of a shock to your system if you haven’t been used to it before – and that’s why it can lead to an increase in peeing before the start of your period.
2. Drinking More Fluids Than Usual
As you get closer to getting your period, you may find yourself drinking more fluids than usual in preparation for the change in your body’s fluid balance. It’s worth pointing out that this doesn’t mean you need to drink something like gallons of water! Any increase in peeing will likely be tiny, so don’t worry too much about it!
3. A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
A urinary tract infection can lead to increased peeing during the days leading up to your period – and it’s an infection in the urinary tract that causes the urge to pee. This is because it can irritate your bladder and cause you to feel a need to pee. If you notice that you have increased peeing before your period, it’s worth checking with your doctor about whether you have a UTI.
4. Underlying Health Conditions
Sometimes, there are underlying health conditions that can lead to increased peeing before your period – so it’s worth making sure that any underlying causes of this aren’t contributing too much to the problem. For example, if you’re underweight and haven’t been eating enough, or if you have diabetes and haven’t been taking enough insulin, then this could be playing a role in your increased urge to pee before your period starts.
5. Lower Levels Of Hormones
Some women find that they tend to pee more when they’re on the lowest level of their menstrual cycle (known as “prolactin”). The hormone prolactin is the main hormone that helps to control the production of breast milk and ovulation – so if you’re not ovulating, or if you’re on a low level of prolactin, this could be leading to increased peeing before your period starts.
6. Pregnancy
Pregnancy can cause an increase in peeing before your period. It’s thought that this is because pregnancy can lead to an increase in fluid retention – and fluid retention can cause a need to pee!
7. Taking Certain Medications
Certain medications can lead to an increase in peeing before your period. This includes medicines used for epilepsy, asthma, and high blood pressure. If you have any of these conditions and notice an increase in your urge to pee during the days leading up to your period, it’s worth speaking with a doctor about whether there are other underlying causes of this – such as excess fluid retention (see point 5 above).
8. Stress
Stress can also play a role in increased peeing before your period. Stress puts us under a lot of pressure, and it can cause us to feel a need to pee – even if we’re not feeling the need to pee. This is because stress can affect our body’s ability to control our bladder and bowels, so we may find ourselves with an increase in “emptying” while we’re stressed
How To Manage Pre-Period Urination
Diet And Lifestyle Changes
There are some dietary and lifestyle choices that can help reduce the frequency and urgency of urination. First, you should increase your water intake. This can help prevent urinary tract infections, reduce the sensation of needing to go, and make your menstrual cycle more comfortable overall. Next, you should avoid caffeine, carbonated beverages, and alcohol as much as possible. These substances can make you feel more frequent urges to urinate, which can make the pre-period urgency even worse. You should also make sure you’re getting enough fiber in your diet. This can help prevent constipation, which is a common cause of increased frequency and urgency of urination.
Kegel Exercises
Kegel exercises are an easy way to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and help reduce urinary frequency and urgency. To perform Kegels, contract your pelvic floor muscles for 5 seconds, and then relax for 5 seconds. Repeat this 10 times at a time, several times per day. You can also do Kegel exercises anytime you feel the urge to urinate, even if you don’t feel that the urge is related to a lack of pelvic muscle strength. Kegel exercises can be especially helpful at the end of your period when you’re feeling better and closer to your normal self. Once your period is over, it’s also a good idea to keep up your pelvic floor muscle exercises. Doing so can help prevent urinary incontinence and other issues in the future.
Bladder Training
Bladder training involves regularly monitoring your urine output and limiting the amount you empty your bladder. You may have heard of this technique as an option for people with incontinence, but it can also help reduce pre-period urinary frequency. Bladder training is best done while you’re not menstruating. Once your period begins, you’ll have additional factors, like blood flow and cramping, to consider. Bladder training involves monitoring your urine output and limiting the amount you empty your bladder. While doing this, you should also stay hydrated. Bladder training can be helpful for women who experience urgency, but it’s not for everyone.
Herbal Remedies
Some herbal remedies can reduce the frequency and urgency of urination and make your period more comfortable. Some herbs that can help include blessed thistle, dong Quai, black cohosh, and raspberry leaf. You can take these herbs in capsule form or brew them as tea and drink about 2 cups per day. It’s also a good idea to discuss with your doctor whether these herbs are safe to take. It’s possible that one or more of them could interact with other medications you’re taking, such as ursolic acid. Bladderwrack, a type of seaweed, may also be helpful. In one study, women who took bladderwrack had a significant reduction in urinary frequency and urgency compared to women who took a placebo.
Use A Heating Pad
Using a heating pad can help ease cramps and reduce the urge to urinate. Heating pads can be particularly helpful if you have pain during your period. If you choose to use a heating pad, be careful not to overdo it. You should only use a heating pad for about 30 minutes at a time, and you should discontinue use if you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseous.
Diuretics
Diuretics are medications that increase urination. These drugs can help manage pre-period urination, but they can have some side effects. Diuretics are particularly helpful for women who experience increased urinary frequency and urgency due to constipation. While diuretics can help reduce the amount of time that you spend in the bathroom, they can also leave you dehydrated. Drink lots of water when taking diuretics, and make sure to eat a healthy diet to get the right amount of nutrients.
Over-The-Counter Medications
Over-the-counter medications, like ibuprofen, can help relieve cramps and reduce the urge to urinate. If you choose to take over-the-counter medications, be sure to follow the directions carefully and consult your doctor if your symptoms worsen or don’t improve. Bladder-relaxing medications can also reduce the urge to urinate and can be helpful for women who experience urgency due to constipation.
Prescription Medications
If lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications aren’t enough, your doctor may recommend prescription medications. Some examples of prescription medications for pre-period urinary frequency include hyoscine butylbromide, tolterodine, and darifenacin. If you choose to take a prescription medication, be sure to follow the directions carefully and be aware of any potential side effects.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
If your other options aren’t working, pelvic floor physical therapy may help reduce pre-period urinary frequency and urgency. In one study, women who took part in physical therapy experienced a significant improvement in symptoms compared to women who took a placebo. Physical therapy can help strengthen pelvic floor muscles, improve bladder control, and reduce pain. It can also be helpful for women of all ages, including women who have experienced childbirth and women who have experienced menopause.
Conclusion
Pre-period peeing is a common condition that affects many women during the menstrual cycle. It is caused by changes in hormone levels and can be controlled by staying hydrated, relaxing, and taking pain relief as appropriate. While pre-period peeing isn’t something to worry about, it can be annoying and inconvenient.
