Waking Up to Pee in the Night: What’s Normal?

As you get older, you may notice that sleeping through the night becomes more difficult. For men, waking up to pee in the night can start to cause sleep disruptions. But what’s normal, and when should you be concerned that your nighttime bathroom habits are a sign of prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH)? Here’s what you need to know.

How Many Times are You Waking Up to Pee Each Night?

Getting up once in the night to use the bathroom is fairly common, especially if you like to drink a beverage or two with dinner. However, if you are waking up to pee two or more times each night, that could mean you have nocturia, one of the most common BPH symptoms. As such, it’s worth mentioning the issue to your doctor, to see if you should be evaluated for BPH.

What is BPH?

This condition refers to a prostate gland that has become enlarged for reasons other than cancer. Having an enlarged prostate is very common, affecting more than 50% of men after they turn 60. While not dangerous, the enlarged prostate gland can put excess pressure on the bladder, making it more likely that you’ll need to wake up and pee at night. Some men with BPH also have difficulties fully emptying their bladder, as the prostate gland can block urine’s ability to flow through the urethra. Others experience urgency, or struggle to start or stop the flow of urine. Some BPH symptoms can be managed with lifestyle measures or medication. But when you are waking up to pee multiple times each night, or when other symptoms are negatively impacting your quality of life, medical intervention may be appropriate.

Medical Procedures for Enlarged Prostate

If you have BPH and want to stop waking up to pee at night without undergoing surgery, we encourage you to explore Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE) at the Texas Prostate Institute. This minimally invasive procedure shrinks your enlarged prostate gland, and it can be performed without major incisions, allowing you to avoid general anesthesia and overnight hospital stays while dramatically reducing your risk for sexual side effects. You can learn more about PAE and your candidacy for this BPH treatment by requesting a consultation today.