Going seven times a day is average, but more or less can be OK, too, as long as you’re not experiencing drastic changes

It seems like little kids have to use the bathroom all the time. But the older you get, the less often you’re expected to go.

So, how often should you pee, anyway? Is once every hour OK? What about every two hours? Three?

There isn’t just one answer when it comes to how often nature should call, says urologist Raevti Bole, MD.

“Some might urinate 10 times a day, and that’s perfectly OK if it’s not bothersome to you,” Dr. Bole says. “Others may go only four times over a 24-hour timeframe, and that’s also usually fine.”

The same goes for every digit in between, too. But why is there such a range, and what causes that range to fluctuate?

How often you have to pee depends on:

  • How old you are
  • What you drink and how much you drink
  • Your health, including medical conditions you have, medications you take and whether you’re pregnant

“What’s normal for one person may be quite different for someone else,” she notes.

Dr. Bole explains more about how often you should pee, including what may signify cause for concern when it comes to peeing too much (or too little).

Why there’s such a range in what’s considered ‘normal’

Everyone’s body and habits are different — and even your own body and habits can differ from day to day!

“The average number of pee breaks from morning to night usually falls around seven, but your restroom trip count can vary widely based on a variety of factors,” Dr. Bole says. “And it’s not unusual to have high- or low-flow urine days.”

She runs us through the factors that influence how often you have to pee:

  • Bladder capacity:Your bladder is a hollow, stretchy organ that stores urine. Each person’s capacity (aka how much it can hold) varies, ranging from 350 to 600 milliliters (or 1.5 to 2.5 cups).
  • What you drink: “Alcohol and caffeinated drinks can have a diuretic effect, meaning they make you pee more,” she explains. “Certain drinks or foods can also stimulate or irritate the bladder, causing the urge to urinate more frequently.”
  • How much you drink:This is a simple case of volume in, volume out. The excess fluid you drink needs someplace to go, so the more liquid you consume, the more likely you are to have to pee a lot — and on days when you’re not hydrated enough, you won’t pee as much.
  • Age: “As you get older, you’re more prone to getting up to pee in the middle of the night,” Dr. Bole says. “This may be caused by an enlarged prostate or decreased production of a hormone that helps concentrate urine so you can hold it until you wake up in the morning.”
  • Medications: Certain medications, especially those taken for high blood pressure, are diuretics, which means that they make you pee more often.
  • Pregnancy: “When you’re pregnant, your body’s fluid levels increase, and that extra fluid eventually filters out,” Dr. Bole explains. ”Your uterus grows to support the pregnancy and presses on your bladder, which may also cause you to need to pee more often.”

When is it an issue?

When it comes to peeing, there’s no definitive “normal” that fits all — but there’s probably an individual normal for you.

“Any significant changes could be a signal from your body that something is off,” Dr. Bole warns. This includes:

  • Increased or decreased urination that doesn’t match up with the amount of fluids you’re drinking
  • Changes in the color of your pee (for example blood-colored urine)
  • A new and strange smell to your pee that doesn’t go away when you drink more fluids

A sudden increase in urinating could be caused by:

On the other hand, a pronounced decrease in the need to pee could be a sign of issues, like urinary retention, when the bladder doesn’t empty the way it should. In men, decreased urination can be a sign of prostate problems.

“Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns about how often you’re urinating,” she advises, “particularly if an unusual and unexplained pattern develops and lasts more than a few days.”

One last thing: If you do make an appointment to speak with a healthcare provider, expect at least one of that day’s restroom stops to take place at their office. You’ll likely be asked to give a urine sample for analysis.