Peeing in the shower might seem like a harmless, time-saving habit, but a doctor explains why most women should think twice about it. In addition to being handy, there is the part of potential health risks that many people do not see.
1. Bladder Control and Muscle Confusion
Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas, a pelvic floor physical therapist, points out that peeing in the shower might train your bladder to be connected with the sound of running water. The continuous urination might result in weak pelvic muscles and, therefore, urine leakage, particularly during the urination of other activities such as those (like washing hands or doing dishes).
2. Hygiene Concerns
Even though urine is usually sterile when it comes out of the body, it can still be mixed with skin bacteria and with the shower. In women, this creates an increase in the risk of getting a urinary tract infection (UTI) as their urethras are shorter and closer to the anus and get microbe exposure by mistake.
3. Potential for Bad Habits
If you get into the habit five times that you peeing in the shower, it might become a habit for you to leave some urine in the bladder (without the need to do so) when you are in the toilet, leading to a higher incidence of urinary tract infections.
4. Environmental Impact (If You Flush)
It is believed by many that peeing in the shower saves water simply because it reduces toilet flushing frequency; however, if you still need to flush (or if urine rests in stale shower water), you eliminate this advantage. Moreover, the remaining urine can be a communication factor, thereby provoking the smell and the formation of scum in the shower over time.
The Conclusion
Whereas one rainy day pee may not do much damage, regularly doing it could result in pelvic floor dysfunction or hygiene issues. Dr. Thomas-Jeffrey strongly suggests that to keep the bladder healthy and muscle control proper, one should pee in the toilet.
