Health Tips

I believe all of us had this moment where we need to hold our pee in our long road trip where there aren't any resting stops, in the midst of a movie climax or you just want to wait until you have reached home because you are not comfortable with the toilet. Admit it, everybody did it! Having the ability to hold your pee is a basic function of your bladder to avoid awkward situations such as peeing in your pants or bed. 

Let’s talk about the bladder

Figure 1: Human Bladder Anatomy from shutterstock.com

Your bladder is like a container in your body that helps store the urine before it is full to pass out. Your kidneys will filter out waste into the urine and is transferred into the bladder via the ureters. Your bladder can hold up to almost 2 cups of water. 

Before filling to the brim, your body will signal your brain to look for a toilet, which usually you will still be able to hold your urine until you are ready to release it. The sac-like organ has the ability to expand more than the usual volume of urine. While during urination, the walls of the bladder will be contracting and the pelvic floor muscle will be relaxing at the same time to allow urine to be pushed out of the bladder.

Table 1: Table shows the change in average bladder size of human and the time to fill the bladder in each stages of age. 

What can happen if you hold your pee too frequently?

Well holding your pee for an hour or two, once in a while is fine. But eventually, it can be a health hazard if you hold your pee too frequent and long while it becomes a habit. 

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) where it can cause pain in your kidney, bladder, ureters and urethra. An infection occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract and cause infection.

• Pain can happen in the pelvic floor muscle as it may stay partially clench and lead to cramps due to prolong the holding back the urge of urination 

• Stretched bladder where the bladder unable to contract normally to void due to infrequent withholding the urination.

• Weaken pelvic floor muscle as some may not be able to hold the urine as well and may find yourself urinating before reaching the toilet. 

Please visit a doctor if you are experiencing any of the above signs.

Some tips for good bathroom habit 

Occasional delaying is normal to avoid peeing in your pants before reaching the bathroom, Here are some habits you should take note of to maintain good bladder health.

• Pee right after waking up: Your bladder is usually full after storing up the urine at night during your sleep, make sure you empty your bladder before stepping out of the house to avoid looking for toilet in the public.

• Plan for regular bathroom breaks: Try to go to the bathroom every 2-3 hours to avoid a full bladder and help you reach the toilet in time.

• Go to the toilet before changing location: Make sure to visit the bathroom before leaving for another location which can help avoid the urge to pee in the car trip. 

• Do not wait until it is too late: Even in the midst of a busy schedule, it would be great if you just take a small break from your work to go to the toilet.

I have the urge but I can’t seem to urinate?

If you are experiencing the above, it could actually be an underlying medical condition. Some people, especially older men may experience difficulty in urinating although they have the urge to. It could be a sign for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The condition is due to the enlarged prostate that is obstructing the passage of urination, preventing the bladder from being emptied completely. This often leave the person still having the urge to pee even after going to the toilet. Though, you should consult a doctor before self diagnosing. 

For more information about benign prostatic hyperplasia over here https://www.doc2us.com/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia-bph or you may look into urinary incontinence with this link https://www.doc2us.com/index.php/urinary-incontinence-in-elderly 

Conclusion

Though holding your pee occasionally does not bring huge consequences but there is risk of infection in your urinary system if it becomes a habit. So, DOC2US reminds everyone to regularly empty your bladder and adapt to healthier bathroom habits. Though, if you find yourself urinating too frequently or too little, you should speak to a healthcare professional.

References

https://www.healthline.com/health/holding-pee#your-bodys-response

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-can-you-go-without-peeing#pee-table

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-control-problems/symptoms-causes

https://www.geisinger.org/health-and-wellness/wellness-articles/2018/03/29/21/13/stop-holding-it-in-4-bodily-functions-you-should-let-out#:~:text=Holding%20your%20urine%20for%20too,due%20to%20bacteria%20build%2Dup.

https://www.keckmedicine.org/is-it-dangerous-to-hold-in-your-pee/

https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/u/urinary-incontinence

Written by

Ms Shannon Lip