Do you get up several times during the night to go to the bathroom? It’s not serious, but it is inconvenient. We spoke with Professor François Desgrandchamps, head of the urology department at Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris, to find out more.

Getting up once or twice a night to go to the bathroom is annoying but perfectly normal. More than that, and it starts to become irritating! Fortunately, there are solutions, explains Professor François Desgrandchamps. “From the age of 50, about 80% of people get up once a night to urinate, and about 40% twice,” says Professor Desgrandchamps. “It’s not serious, but it is bothersome.” Beyond that (or if getting up every night bothers you), there are some steps you can take to limit this nocturnal polyuria, or pollakiuria, to use its scientific name.

Small or large volumes?

To determine the cause, and therefore the measures to take, this is the first question to ask yourself. Generally, you know if you get up to urinate frequently (polyuria) or very infrequently (polakiuria). If you want to refine things, keep a voiding diary. “For 24 hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 a.m. the following morning, urinate into a measuring cup and measure the amount each time,” advises Professor Desgrandchamps. You can also use the free app Mictionary.ie.