Joe Yates
A doctor who specializes in bladder conditions has revealed why peeing in the shower could actually be doing you more harm than good.
If you're anything like me, you'll have done number one in the shower - it's something we've all done at some point, usually because it's a bit of an effort to go out of the shower to use the toilet.
For me, it was due to a Brazilian TV commercial campaign by SOS Mata Atlântica, which encouraged residents to urinate in the shower in a bid to conserve water by avoiding unnecessary flushes of the toilet.
It claimed that by preventing just one flush a day more than 1,100 gallons of water could be saved annually in Mata Atlântica, south of the country.
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However, it was something never to be taken seriously, according to SOS's spokeswoman, Adriana Kfouri, said (via CBS) it was a 'way to be playful about a serious subject'.
But aside from being a bit disgusting, we shouldn't be doing it anyway as urogynaecologist Dr Teresa Irwin is advising against it.
Taking to TikTok, she posted a video warning people not to do it, captioning her clip: "I said what I said! Unless you're struggling with total bladder emptying you need to hear this."
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According to Dr Irwin, if you keep peeing in the shower, then every time you take one, then you'll condition your bladder to pee whenever you hear running water.
Kind of like Pavlov's dogs, but rather than salivating at the sound of a bell, running water will make you want to go to the bathroom.
She added: "So, whenever you're washing your hands, taking a shower, washing the dishes - if there's running water your bladder is going to be salivating because it wants to go and pee."
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Backing up her point, the Orchard Clinic goes on to say that it could cause bigger problems down the line, like urinary incontinence.
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"Over time, your bladder starts acting on these unnecessary triggers, and the urge becomes harder to control," it says. "What seems like a small habit can contribute to urinary incontinence, where your body struggles to keep things in check when it should."
Peeing while standing in the shower can weaken your pelvic floor muscles, making it harder to control whenever you feel the call of nature when out in public.
To strengthen your muscles, the Orchard Clinic suggests always sitting down whenever you pee, and add Kegal exercises into your everyday routine.