Here’s a secret that isn’t really a secret — Many people pee while showering . Maybe you are one of those people who don’t care as everything goes down the drain, or maybe you are one of those who consider it unhygienic.
When it comes to peeing in the shower, urologists consider the practice generally safe for both men and women.
“There are no downsides, and it’s just convenient for some people,” said Dr. Karyn Eilber, a professor of urology at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. “It’s really a personal preference that people don’t want to associate a place where you clean yourself in the shower with a place where you also urinate.”
Urinating in the shower is unlikely to create health problems, according to urologists, and is not likely to clog the drain. Still, there are certain situations where using the shower as a makeshift toilet might not be a good idea.
The effect on the pelvic floor muscles
A common argument against urinating standing up for women is that the position does not allow the pelvic floor muscles to relax, leading to strained straining and incomplete emptying of the bladder. However, Dr. David Shusterman, a urologist and physician-in-chief at Modern Urologist in New York, said this claim is not true.
The two muscles that control the flow of urine from the bladder are called urinary sphincters. One is at the base of the bladder and the other is near the pelvic floor. Shusterman said pelvic floor muscles weaken when people try to force urine. This is because straining tightens the sphincters and puts extra pressure on the pelvic muscles and bladder, making it difficult to release urine.
You can avoid this forced effort by peeing in the shower. “In a hot shower, it’s very easy to relax the sphincter and let urine out,” he said. “Contrary to claims that urinating in the shower is unhealthy, I think it is actually healthy.”
Infections
According to Eilber, urine becomes contaminated with bacteria when you have an infection, such as a urinary tract infection. Still, she said people shouldn’t worry about getting an infection if someone urinates in a public shower, as the shower water would wash away the urine.
“I wouldn’t worry so much about getting an infection from someone urinating in public bathing areas, I’d worry more about whatever mold or fungus you’re stepping on,” Eilber said.
The only caveat is if bacteria gets trapped on the skin during urination. Shusterman said men with a foreskin need to pull it back to urinate safely, and if they don’t retract it, urine can get trapped under the skin. This creates an environment conducive to mold growth, increasing the risk of yeast infections.
Women need to spread their labia apart to prevent bacteria from contaminated urine from becoming trapped inside the vagina. A shower would be helpful to wash away urine residue, he noted.
Because showers wash away urine, Eilber said it’s usually okay for urine to get on your legs and feet. However, when contaminated urine falls into an open wound, there is a low chance of infection, she said.
Urine is food for bacteria and fungi, Shusterman said. When it falls into an open wound, it can make healing difficult because the bacteria now have nutrients to continue growing, increasing the risk of bacterial infections. He advised placing a wet bandage on the wound to keep it clean and dry.
The urge to pee
If you’re constantly urinating in the shower, Shusterman said there’s a risk of developing a psychological association between the sound of running water and the urge to urinate. Because the two events happen together, the brain conditions itself to relax the bladder and sphincter when it hears the noise, allowing urine to leak.
Eilber said this association isn’t a big problem for most people, who simply find it convenient to urinate in the shower without thinking much about it. However, for people who already have an overactive bladder, she noted that the noise can trigger involuntary loss of urine. People with an overactive bladder will experience this urgency when they hear running water from a sink, toilet or shower.
If you want to eliminate this association, Eilber recommended making it a habit to empty your bladder before turning on the shower to avoid urinating. For people who feel the urge to urinate when they hear water but have difficulty doing so, Shusterman advised seeing a doctor to evaluate urinary incontinence. A urologist can provide specific treatments to relax the bladder and strengthen the pelvic muscles.
Avoid peeing in bathtubs
Urinating in the shower may not be bad, but the same doesn’t apply to bathtubs and whirlpools. Shusterman explained that warm, still water is a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. This increases the risk of bacteria entering your urethra when sitting in the bathtub. Urinating in the bathtub worsens bacterial growth, as the bacteria have more resources to thrive.
“Urine is a waste product for us, but for bacteria and fungi, it is food,” Shusterman added. He recommended urinating after bathing to avoid the risk of infection and eliminate any bacteria-laden water that may have entered the bladder.
Ultimately, where you decide to answer nature’s call is less important than when you do. Shusterman said people should always aim to urinate with a full bladder — between 400 and 600 milliliters of urine. So don’t hold back if you need to relieve yourself while washing your hair. Save a minute and consider it productive multitasking.
This content was originally published in Is peeing while showering bad? Experts explain the pros and cons on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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