How does the male urinary system work?
Just as in women, your kidneys filter out all the waste products and excess water from your blood to make urine. This passes down two thin tubes, called ureters, to your bladder. Once it’s full, you get that familiar urge, find a loo, relax your muscles and the urine travels down the urethra in the penis and out of your body.1
Of course, it’s not always so simple. Find out the answers to some common urinary questions bothering men.
How often should I be peeing every day?
Most adults go to the loo around six or seven times a day, but between four and 10 is considered normal. Any less than this and you may be dehydrated. Any more and it could be a sign of an underlying condition such as diabetes, a urinary tract infection or enlarged prostate – the gland at the base of your bladder.
Look at your urine – ideally it should be straw colour. If it’s darker, you need to drink more liquids such as water, juice or herbal teas. Note that alcohol is a diuretic, which makes you go more frequently and can lead to dehydration.
Dehydration can cause headaches in the short term and increase risk of urinary infections and kidney problems over time. See your GP if… you’ve noticed a sudden change in your urinary habits for no obvious reason, or if you have other unexplained symptoms such as back pain, blood in your urine or a change in its colour or smell, problems controlling the flow, pain on peeing, tiredness, weight loss, blurred vision or increased hunger or thirst.
Just as in women, your kidneys filter out all the waste products and excess water from your blood to make urine. This passes down two thin tubes, called ureters, to your bladder. Once it’s full, you get that familiar urge, find a loo, relax your muscles and the urine travels down the urethra in the penis and out of your body.1
Of course, it’s not always so simple. Find out the answers to some common urinary questions bothering men.
How often should I be peeing every day?
Most adults go to the loo around six or seven times a day, but between four and 10 is considered normal. Any less than this and you may be dehydrated. Any more and it could be a sign of an underlying condition such as diabetes, a urinary tract infection or enlarged prostate – the gland at the base of your bladder.
Look at your urine – ideally it should be straw colour. If it’s darker, you need to drink more liquids such as water, juice or herbal teas. Note that alcohol is a diuretic, which makes you go more frequently and can lead to dehydration.
Dehydration can cause headaches in the short term and increase risk of urinary infections and kidney problems over time. See your GP if… you’ve noticed a sudden change in your urinary habits for no obvious reason, or if you have other unexplained symptoms such as back pain, blood in your urine or a change in its colour or smell, problems controlling the flow, pain on peeing, tiredness, weight loss, blurred vision or increased hunger or thirst.