Peeing in the shower: you either do it or you don't. Some people think it's completely normal, for others it's a major bummer.
If you're in the pro-weed camp, you might argue that urinating in the shower can be good for the environment and even save millions of liters of water every year.
However, it turns out that for women, showering can have harmful side effects.
One doctor stated that unhygienic urination while standing up can cause pelvic floor problems in people with a vagina.
What's more, you may start to associate the sound of running water with the need to pee.
Taking to TikTok Obstetrician-Gynecologist from Texas, Dr. Emma Qureshey, said: “It's one thing, not very hygienic, but more importantly, it destroys the pelvic floor, and it can also cause mental associations where you hear water running and suddenly have to run to the bathroom.”
A now-viral video in which Dr. Emma lists things she would never do as an OB-GYN has received over 700,000 views and hundreds of comments from people shocked by the statement.
“Wow, you learn something new every day,” wrote Mari B.
Stealth Queen added: “Sometimes I feel like I'm doing everything wrong.”
Red_Bull_56 wrote: “Well, shoot! Are you telling me that's why I have a damaged pelvic floor?
The claim is not new. In 2021, physical therapist Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas said in her own viral TikTok: “If you pee in the shower, turn on the faucet or turn on the shower, and then sit on the toilet to urinate while the shower is on, you create an association in your brain between the sound of water and the sound of flowing water. I have to pee.
She continued that the sound of the water and its association with urination could later “cause leaks” – and BMS Menopause Specialist and partner of your general practitioner Dr. Deepali Misra-Sharp I don't agree.
Talking to Metro says there are “some potential concerns” with urinating near running water or in a shower, but explains that it becomes more of a problem when it becomes a “regular habit.”
“Urinating in response to the sound of running water can over time trigger a Pavlovian response – conditioning the bladder to feel the need to urinate whenever it hears water. This can cause problems such as urinary urgency or leakage, especially in people who are prone to bladder problems,” she said.
Regarding the effects of urinating in the shower or standing up on women and people with vaginas, she says that “occasional urination in the shower is unlikely to cause harm” but warns that peeing while standing “is not ideal ” because it is more difficult to completely empty the bladder.
Citing one of the few studies on pelvic floor muscle training and “the importance of good posture for optimal bladder function,” he says, “When the body is in a relaxed position, the pelvic muscles can work efficiently to ensure complete emptying of the bladder.”
In turn, if women and those with vaginas have an improper posture when urinating, such as standing, “this can strain the pelvic floor muscles and lead to incomplete emptying of the bladder, which over time can contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction and urinary problems such as urinary urgency.” for urine or leakage.” '
Dr Misra-Sharp continues to say that NICE guidelines and other studies on urinary incontinence have shown that even if you practice pelvic floor exercises such as Kegels, poor posture or urinating when the body is not fully relaxed, it “can counteract these efforts by leading to to problems such as pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence.”
Pelvic floor exercise tips
All women and vagina owners over the age of 12 should exercise their pelvic floor muscles regularly as it can help prevent and alleviate the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction.
Here's how to exercise your pelvic muscles:
- Sit on a chair or toilet with your knees slightly apart
- Tighten and lift your pelvic floor muscles as if trying to hold back from urinating
- After tensing for 10 counts, allow your body to relax for five counts before tensing again
- Repeat this eight times, and after two minutes, start counting faster between each compression
- For best results, do this three times a day
Therefore, it would be best if next time you take a shower and feel the need to urinate, hold it until you go to the toilet.
If you're concerned about your pelvic floor health, Dr. Misra-Sharp recommends doing pelvic floor exercises such as Kegels.
Do you have a story you can share?
Contact MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk by email.
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