The rules you thought you never needed to know… about WEEING!

You probably assumed you knew everything about peeing because you’ve been doing it for decades.

But experts say we’re still doing it wrong.

And even more worryingly, it can have painful consequences.

Chris Blick, a urological surgeon at Princess Grace Hospital in London, explains exactly what you should and shouldn’t do the next time you feel like going.

Don’t force yourself to wait

The average bladder holds between 400ml and 600ml – about half a liter – and people usually urinate four to eight times a day.

However, this varies depending on fluid intake and bladder size.

But one rule for everyone is: go when you have to go, otherwise you risk getting a bladder infection, Mr. Blick said.

He says, “In general, you shouldn’t force yourself to wait until you really want to pee.”

“Sometimes this technique can be used as part of bladder training to help patients with overactive bladder.”

“Too much retention can be painful, and if you have a urinary tract infection, you can feel discomfort.”

“Retaining urine regularly can cause your bladder to distend over time.”

… But don’t go too often

However, the opposite – going too often – can also cause a whole host of problems.

Many people rush to the toilet before a long car ride to make sure they have emptied their bladder.

Although sometimes safe, forcing yourself to urinate frequently can cause you to urinate more often.

Mr. Blick says, “In general, if you don’t need to urinate, don’t try.”

“This potentially leads your bladder to empty when it’s not needed and can create a habit that leads to unwanted urinary frequency.”

“Sometimes, for example before a long journey, we can try to urinate when we are not full, and this is unlikely to have any consequences.”

Never force it or you risk painful consequences

It is also important for women to relax before going to the toilet, he says.

If you have to force your urine after relaxing, this may be a sign of constipation.

Mr. Blick says, “You don’t have to push when you urinate.”

“The bladder works most efficiently when the pelvic floor is relaxed and the bladder muscle automatically contracts, resulting in urination.”

Pushing too hard can weaken your pelvic floor and even lead to prolapse – when one or more organs in the pelvis slip out of their normal position and bulge into the vagina – if you push down for a long period of time, says Mr. Look.

He added: “If you are struggling to urinate, this could be a sign of constipation and you should see your doctor or urologist.”

Always sit (unless you’re a man)

The habit of hovering over the toilet seat can also lead to prolapse, he says.

This is because swimming causes a weaker flow of urine, which encourages women to ““Suspension or pressure,” which “if prolonged, can contribute to sinking,” says Mr. Look.

This is because women, unlike men, do not have a prostate gland, which supports the male bladder when they urinate while standing.

“Moving over the toilet seat helps prevent the bladder from emptying completely because the position tightens the pelvic floor,” he says. “This means that not all of the urine can be emptied from the bladder.”

But for men, if they are young and healthy, it does not matter whether they urinate sitting or standing, because there is no difference in the rate of flow or the speed at which the bladder is emptied.

However, Mr Blick says men suffer from lower urinary tract symptoms such as high temperature, cloudy urination and sudden urination – may benefit from increasing blood flow and emptying the bladder.