Have you ever wondered why you’re told not to hold in your urine? Let’s talk about the real science

[00:00:00]Holding in your pee does not magically create bacteria. So, why does everyone say that increases your risk of having a UTI? Let's talk about the actual science as a biomedical engineer who studies female reproductive health, which means that you need to hit follow so you never miss one of my future videos. So, your bladder is not just a storage tank for urine. One of its main functions is to help flush bacteria out of the urinary tract. And every day, bacteria from your skin, the environment, intimacy, bowel movements, and just existing as a human can make their way towards the urethra.

[00:00:29]And most of the time, that doesn't become a problem because when you're urinating, you are creating a flushing mechanism that helps push those bacteria back out before they have any chance to settle in and multiply. But, when you hold your pee in for a really long time, you're reducing how often that flushing is happening. So, it's not that holding your pee in suddenly creates bacteria, it's that you're giving bacteria that's already there more time and opportunity to stick around. But, that's not the only thing that's happening. A lot of people don't realize that as your bladder continues to fill, it stretches.

[00:01:00]And eventually, your bladder muscles and pelvic floor muscles are working overtime to keep everything in. And for some people, especially if this becomes a habit, that can contribute to dysfunctional voiding patterns where they don't completely empty their bladder when they finally do go to pee.

[00:01:14]And leftover urine can become another issue because bacteria loves warm, moist environments. So, the concern isn't that you hold your pee at 9:00 a.m. and suddenly get a UTI by 5:00 p.m. because bacteria grew out of nowhere. The concern is that repeatedly delaying urination can reduce your body's natural ability to flush bacteria out, may contribute to incomplete emptying in some people, and can create an environment where bacteria have a better chance of multiplying. So, think of urination as one of your body's built-in defense mechanisms. That's the best way to explain it. And every time that you pee, you're not just getting rid of urine. You are helping to clean out your urinary tract. So, if you've ever wondered why doctors, nurses, medical professionals, or your mother have all told you that you need to stop holding in your urine, now you actually understand the scientific reason as to why.