Why do I pee so much on my period?

While on your period you might come to notice that you often pee a lot. You may therefore be wondering to yourself “Why do I pee so much on my period?”.

This is not something strange. Many women or females experience the need to urinate more often while they are on their monthly cycle (period). 

Usually, when this happens, there is nothing to be concerned about. However frequent urination that cannot be controlled can be caused by other things or even certain health conditions.

Fluid retention may also be a cause of why you pee so much when you are on your period. The hormone progesterone causes fluid retention before your period. When progesterone levels drop and you begin your period, there is a lot of extra fluid to get rid of. 

This article will get to know what causes you to pee so much, if it’s a normal thing to happen and if you should be worried. 

Menstruation (period)

Menstruation, or period, is normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of a woman’s monthly cycle. Every month your body prepares for pregnancy and if no pregnancy occurs, the uterus sheds its lining. 

The menstrual blood is partly blood and partly tissue from inside the uterus. It leaves the body through the vagina.

In addition to bleeding from the vagina, abdominal pain, pelvic cramps, lower back pain, sore and bloated breasts, food cravings, mood swings, headache, and fatigue are all experienced during menstruation. 

Is it normal to pee a lot during your period?

Yes, it is normal to pee a lot during your period, and here is why.

Progesterone is a hormone involved in the menstrual cycle. It is released by the ovaries and it is very vital for menstruation and pregnancy and increases especially a week or two before your period starts. High progesterone levels increase fluid retention. 

Before you start your period, your progesterone levels drop, giving your body a signal to release all the fluids it has been holding on to.

This also explains why you might feel bloated during the week leading up to your period. So, it is very normal for you to pee a lot during your period. 

Are there any other causes of why I pee a lot during my period?

Yes, other factors can cause you to pee a lot when you are in your period. Let’s take a look at some of these factors or conditions that cause you to pee a lot when you are in your period. 

Urinary tract infection may make you pee a lot

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the bladder, kidneys, ureters, or urethra. Escherichia coli, a type of bacteria that lives in the bowel and near the anus, causes most UTIs.

UTI symptoms include pain, abdominal pain, mild fever, urinary urgency, and frequency. Treatment involves the use of antibiotics.

So having a urinary tract infection can cause you to pee a lot while on your period.

Type 2 diabetes can lead to frequent urination

This is a chronic condition that affects the manner in which your body processes blood sugar (glucose). With type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or resists insulin. 

Symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. In some cases, there may be no symptoms.

Type 2 diabetes can be managed through a healthy diet, exercise, medication, and insulin therapy (when necessary).

Type 2 diabetes causes frequent urination and so if you suffer from this, it might be the cause of your frequent peeing during your period. 

Certain medications can cause you to pee a lot

There are some medications that are taken purposefully to increase the volume and number of times of urination. Such medications are called diuretics and they can be used in the treatment of several conditions including heart failure, kidney failure, hypertension, and a lot more.

Therefore, if you happen to be taking any of such medications while having your menses then you are likely to be peeing a lot more than usual.

If you are not sure whether the increase in the number of times that you urinate or the volume of your urine is due to any of the medications you are taking, then just speak to a pharmacist to confirm that or otherwise.

How often can I pee when I am on my period?

There is no specified number of times to pee or use the washroom when you are on your period. The number of times you pee depends on your fluid intake, stress and hormone levels, and physical activity. 

Peeing about 6 to 10 times while on your period is however considered normal. If you feel the need to use the bathroom more than that, then try consulting a doctor or speak to a qualified health professional to see if there is any problem that you might not be aware of. 

What can I do to stop peeing a lot while on my period?

There are things you can try to reduce the number of times that you pee while on your period. The easiest thing to do is to monitor or watch what you are drinking and eating.

Also consuming caffeine during your period can make you pee a lot when you are on your period. 

If the increase in urination is a result of any of the other factors or conditions mentioned above then you would have to treat it accordingly in order to prevent you from peeing a lot during menstruation.

Should I be worried about how much I am peeing?

If peeing a lot interrupts your daily activities, then you might want to talk to a doctor. An overactive bladder (caused by weak muscles, nerve damage, infection, alcohol, etc) can also be a cause. 

Moreover, if it is more than the range (6 to 10 times per day) mentioned earlier then you should be worried. If it is however within or below the range then there is nothing to be worried about. 

Apart from peeing a lot, what else can I experience during my period?

There are other things you might experience during your period. For example, you might experience constipation during your period

Constipation can happen during your period and health experts believe it is all to do with the hormone progesterone, which is produced during the luteal phase of your monthly cycle (period).

The luteal phase is the part of the menstrual cycle that occurs between ovulation and your next period or the days on which your bleeding starts.

One of the roles of progesterone is to impair the smooth muscle contractions in the uterus so women don’t deliver prematurely if they become pregnant but this can also affect your bowel movement. 

Your gastronomical tract’s smooth muscle is also impaired by the hormone which means that during the luteal phase, your bowels are not moving as they normally should. 

The takeaway from this article 

Peeing a lot during your period is perfectly normal. However, if the frequency is at an alarming rate, then it could indicate the presence of something else.

You might be suffering from health conditions such as urinary tract infections or type 2 diabetes and other health conditions. So, visit a doctor or qualified health professional to get to know the exact cause of this.