Urinating in the Shower: Health Effects and the Science Behind It

Author: Wang Zhiting and Duan Yuechu

In daily life, urinating in the shower is quite common, but also controversial. Recently, urologists have conducted in-depth research on this phenomenon. Although the relevant results have not been published in traditional academic journals, they have triggered widespread discussion and thinking in the field of medicine and health. The results of the study are of great significance to the public's understanding of the relationship between daily behavior and health.

The study was jointly conducted by Dr. Karin Alber, a professor of urology at Sinai University in Los Angeles, and Dr. David Shusterman, chief physician at Modern Urology in New York City, and many other urology professionals. With their rich clinical experience and expertise, they conducted a comprehensive and detailed exploration of the health issues that may be associated with urinating in the shower.

Research results show that for most people, urinating in the shower is generally a safe behavior. From a physiological point of view, urinating in the shower is unlikely to cause serious health problems, nor will it easily cause sewer blockages. For example, under normal circumstances, the urinary system of the human body does not urinate in the shower environment in any essential way compared to in a regular toilet environment, and urine will flow smoothly into the sewer along the water flow. This result breaks the inherent concept of many people that urinating in the shower is unhygienic, and provides a scientific basis for people to re-understand this daily behavior.

In terms of the impact on the pelvic floor muscles, the study found some interesting phenomena. A common misconception is that women standing to urinate will not be able to relax their pelvic floor muscles due to posture problems, which will lead to incomplete bladder emptying. However, Dr. Shusterman's research shows that this statement is wrong. The urethral sphincter that controls the flow of urine out of the bladder is divided into two parts, one at the bottom of the bladder and the other near the pelvic floor. When people urinate forcefully, the pelvic floor muscles will indeed be subject to additional pressure due to the contraction of the sphincter, making it difficult to release urine. However, in a warm shower environment, the human body is more likely to relax the sphincter and allow urine to be discharged naturally, which helps to avoid the adverse effects of forced urination on the pelvic floor muscles. This finding has important guiding significance for women to understand the physiological mechanism of their own urinary system and the correct way to urinate, and helps women better maintain the health of their pelvic floor muscles.

Research has also gained new insights into the relationship between urination and infection. When the human body suffers from diseases such as urinary tract infection, bacteria will be present in the urine. Dr. Alber pointed out that even so, there is no need to worry too much about infection when urinating in a public shower, because the shower water can flush away the urine in time, reducing the risk of bacterial transmission. However, there are some special circumstances that need attention. For men with foreskin, if the foreskin is not pulled back when urinating, the urine may be trapped under the skin, creating conditions for fungal growth and increasing the risk of fungal infection; women need to open their labia to prevent bacteria in contaminated urine from being retained in the vagina. But overall, as long as you pay attention to these details, urinating in the shower will not significantly increase the chance of infection. This research result allows people to have a more scientific basis for judging the behavior of urinating in the shower under special health conditions, avoiding unnecessary panic and misunderstanding.

Regarding the risk of skin infection, although showering will flush urine away, there is still a certain risk of infection when contaminated urine comes into contact with an open wound. Dr. Shusterman explained that urine contains nutrients needed by bacteria and fungi. Once it comes into contact with a wound, it will provide a breeding environment for bacteria, hinder wound healing, and increase the possibility of bacterial infection. Therefore, for people with wounds, it is recommended to take protective measures, such as applying wet dressings to the wound to keep it clean and dry to reduce the risk of infection. This study reminds people to pay special attention to personal hygiene when there are wounds on the body. Even seemingly ordinary urination in the shower may have an impact on wound healing.

In addition, the study also found a psychological association phenomenon that may be triggered by urinating in the shower. Dr. Shusterman pointed out that if you urinate in the shower frequently, your brain may establish a connection between the sound of running water and the urge to urinate. For most people, this may be just a minor problem, but for people with overactive bladders, the sound of running water may trigger involuntary urinary incontinence. Dr. Alber suggested that if you want to eliminate this association, you can develop a habit of emptying your bladder before turning on the shower; for those who hear the sound of water but have difficulty urinating, they should see a doctor in time for an incontinence assessment so that a urologist can provide targeted treatment options, such as training to relax the bladder and strengthen the pelvic muscles. This research result provides new ideas and methods for solving urination problems caused by special physiological and psychological conditions.

Experts spoke highly of the research results. Dr. Alber said: "This study allows us to re-examine the daily behavior of urinating in the shower from a scientific perspective and correct many traditional misconceptions. It provides practical health advice to the public, helping people better understand the operation of their urinary system and how to maintain health in daily life." Dr. Shusterman also emphasized: "This study not only focuses on the safety of urinating in the shower, but also explores the physiological, psychological and infection risks involved behind it. Its results are of great value in raising public health awareness, guiding clinical practice and conducting further research on the urinary system."

However, it is important to note that the safety of urinating in the shower does not apply in bathtub and hot tub environments. Dr. Shusterman explained that warm and still bathtub water is an ideal environment for bacteria and fungi to grow, and urinating in the bathtub increases the risk of bacteria entering the urethra, further exacerbating bacterial growth. Therefore, it is recommended that people urinate after taking a bath to reduce the risk of infection and promptly flush out bacterial water that may have entered the bladder.

In summary, although urinating in the shower is safe in most cases, there are still some details and special circumstances that need attention. This research result provides comprehensive health guidance for the public, allowing people to treat this behavior more scientifically and rationally in daily life. It also provides a useful reference example for the urology field in the study of the relationship between daily behavior and health, which will help promote more in-depth research on the impact of lifestyle habits on health, thereby improving the overall health level and health awareness of the public.

Reference: Doctors say it's fine to pee in the shower/CNN