Nocturia in women

Frequent episodes of nocturnal voiding disturb the sleep and well-being of women. The prevalence of nocturia is more common in parous women and shows a linear increase with age, occurring in more than 50% of women > or =80 years old. Nocturia has a multifactorial origin that develops through a pathophysiologic mechanism of nocturnal polyuria or low functional bladder capacity or through a combination of both. Nocturia is also one of the most bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms and has a significant impact on quality of life. However, most women accept symptoms of nocturia as part of the aging process and few seek medical help. Treatments for nocturia (behavior modification and pharmacologic treatment) are effective in many cases, although it is important to tailor treatment to the underlying pathophysiology. This review discusses the impact of nocturia on women and reviews the current situation regarding the definition, prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition in this patient population.