Peeing in the shower may be something you do from time to time without giving it much thought. Or maybe you do it but wonder if it’s actually OK. Maybe it’s something you’d never consider doing.
So, is it OK to pee in the shower?
For environmentally conscious folks, it’s not only OK, it’s great for the planet because it conserves water that would be used to flush the toilet.
Water conservation aside, however, you may wonder if it’s safe or sanitary, since the shower is a place you want to emerge from cleaner than when you entered.
The truth is that while urine isn’t as clean and pure as some people think it is, most of the time it’s not likely to cause health problems especially for women if you occasionally opt for the shower drain instead of the toilet bowl. We’re here to explain why!
Peeing in the shower
By peeing in the shower, you save quite a bit of water. So it’s better for the environment to do so. However, it can have adverse effects on your body, pelvic physiotherapist Ylenia Degli Esposti explains to Linda. She says that doing it every once in a while isn’t a big deal but it shouldn’t become habitual. This could train your brain to associate the sound of running water with a full bladder.
Nerve damage
If you pee in the shower often, you’ll immediately feel as if you need to pee every time you hear running water. Degli Esposti also explains that this is the reason you shouldn’t turn on the faucet to try to make yourself pee. This has the same effect on your brain and bladder. On top of that, peeing in the shower on a daily basis can lead to nerve damage. There’s a chance that this will result in a lowered continence. In this case, any other underlying medical issues could lead to a lessened control of your bladder.
Peeing sitting down
This posture when peeing is also bad for your body. Your pelvic floor muscles can only truly relax when you’re seated. This will allow you to fully empty your bladder. This is especially true for women because men’s anatomy allows them to pee more easily when standing. But it’s also recommended for them to pee sitting down. Only when sitting down can be uncomfortable, like after giving birth, is it recommended to pee standing up.
Bladder won’t be completely empty
We mentioned before that you can only truly empty your bladder when sitting down. This is extremely important for lowering your risk of bladder problems. Not doing so can result in a bladder infection because you’re not peeing out all the bacteria. These bacteria can stay behind in your bladder and cause a urinary tract infection.
References: tips-and-tricks.co, healthline.com
