The Urination Habit That Could Be Affecting Your Bladder
Author Name:Dandelion Medical Animation
Youtube Channel Url:https://www.youtube.com/@DandelionMedicalAnimation
Youtube Video URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygNGq0YGBLo
Title: The Urination Habit That Could Be Affecting Your Bladder
Author Name: Dandelion Medical Animation
Description: thing pelvic floor therapists and urogynecologists keep saying: Don’t push when you pee.
Your bladder isn't supposed to need your help.Your pelvic floor is working for you every single day — Treat it kindly. Don’t make it fight against pressure it wasn’t designed to handle.
Copyright by Dandelion Medical Media Animation
Transcript:
(00:00) Hey, quick question. When you pee, do you just let it happen or do you give it a little help, a push, a strain, that come on, hurry up, squeeze so you can get out of the bathroom faster? If you're doing the second one, you're not alone. A lot of us power pee. We're busy. We're in public bathrooms. We're rushing between meetings or kids activities. It feels efficient.
(00:30) But here's the thing pelvic floor therapists and urogynecologists keep saying, don't push when you pee. Your bladder isn't supposed to need your help. Day and night, the bladder fills with urine and sends a signal to the brain asking, [music] is this a good time to pee? Eventually, your brain decides, okay, now [music] is a good time.
(00:56) Then, pelvic floor and urinary sphincters relax. The bladder muscle contracts and urine flows out. [music] When the bladder senses it's finished emptying, it stops [music] squeezing. Your internal sphincter, an involuntary muscle, closes [music] and your external sphincter, a voluntary muscle, also closes subconsciously back to its normal resting state.
(01:26) [music] It's a beautifully coordinated system. Bladder contracts, pelvic floor relaxes, urine flows. No squeezing required. When you push or bear down, you're basically reversing that coordination. >> [music] >> You're forcing urine through a partially closed door. Pushing tightens [music] the pelvic floor forcing the urine out instead of releasing it naturally.
(01:54) >> [music] >> And if you repeatedly rely on straining, it can become part of a pattern where the pelvic floor doesn't relax properly during urination. >> [music] >> That creates extra pressure in your abdomen and on the pelvic floor. Over time, [music] that habit can train your muscles the wrong way. What can go wrong? You may feel like you haven't completely [music] emptied your bladder.
(02:19) And you may have to go again soon after. Your stream may become interrupted. Or you may start feeling like you need to push every time you pee. If the bladder doesn't empty properly, urine left behind can increase the risk of urinary problems, including urinary tract infections. [music] And there's another issue.
(02:45) Your pelvic floor has to know when to tighten >> [music] >> and when to let go. It supports your pelvic organs. It helps [music] control urine and bowel movements. And it also plays a role in sexual function and core stability. Chronic straining can weaken the pelvic floor and supporting ligaments. >> [music] >> That increases the chance of leaking when you cough or sneeze.
(03:09) And, especially in women, [music] pelvic organ prolapse, where organs start to drop. It can also contribute to hemorrhoids >> [music] >> because you're raising pressure in the same area. In short, the shortcut can create longer-term problems. So, what should you do instead? Sit all the way down.
(03:32) Don't hover over the toilet seat. A lot of people hover because they're worried the seat isn't [music] clean and they might pick up germs. That concern is understandable, [music] but hovering forces your hips and pelvic floor muscles to stay tense the whole time, which makes it harder for them to relax. >> [music] >> If the seat looks dirty, take a few extra seconds to wipe it with toilet paper or a disinfectant [music] wipe.
(03:57) Many people carry a small pack for this reason. Or use a paper seat cover if one is available. Then, sit fully. The actual risk of catching an infection from a toilet seat is very low. Most experts say the bigger problem is the tension hovering creates in your pelvic floor. Feet flat on the floor or on a little stool if that helps you lean forward comfortably.
(04:26) Soften your belly. Take a couple of slow breaths. In through the nose, let the belly expand, out through the mouth. Think let go rather than push out. If the stream is slow to start, lean your torso forward a bit and [music] keep breathing. Don't force the last drops. If you still feel like there's more urine left, try something called double voiding.
(04:55) [music] Stand up. Walk around for a few seconds. Then, sit back down, relax, and try again. No straining. Just another chance for your bladder to empty naturally. And if you've been pushing when you pee for years, don't panic. The important thing is whether you regularly need to push to urinate. Especially if you also have difficulty starting, a weak or interrupted stream, pain, urgency, leakage, or a persistent feeling that your bladder isn't empty.
(05:29) Those symptoms deserve a conversation with a doctor or pelvic floor physical therapist because there can be many different causes, from a simple habit to pelvic floor dysfunction, infection, or in men, prostate-related changes. Getting help early is smarter than waiting. The good news is that most of us can retrain this.
(05:53) It just takes [music] awareness. Next time you're in the bathroom, pause for 3 seconds. Soften. Breathe. Let the bladder do its job. Your pelvic floor is working for you every single day. Treat it kindly. Don't make it fight against [music] pressure it wasn't designed to handle. That's it. Simple change. Big difference over time.
Author Name:Dandelion Medical Animation
Youtube Channel Url:https://www.youtube.com/@DandelionMedicalAnimation
Youtube Video URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygNGq0YGBLo
Title: The Urination Habit That Could Be Affecting Your Bladder
Author Name: Dandelion Medical Animation
Description: thing pelvic floor therapists and urogynecologists keep saying: Don’t push when you pee.
Your bladder isn't supposed to need your help.Your pelvic floor is working for you every single day — Treat it kindly. Don’t make it fight against pressure it wasn’t designed to handle.
Copyright by Dandelion Medical Media Animation
Transcript:
(00:00) Hey, quick question. When you pee, do you just let it happen or do you give it a little help, a push, a strain, that come on, hurry up, squeeze so you can get out of the bathroom faster? If you're doing the second one, you're not alone. A lot of us power pee. We're busy. We're in public bathrooms. We're rushing between meetings or kids activities. It feels efficient.
(00:30) But here's the thing pelvic floor therapists and urogynecologists keep saying, don't push when you pee. Your bladder isn't supposed to need your help. Day and night, the bladder fills with urine and sends a signal to the brain asking, [music] is this a good time to pee? Eventually, your brain decides, okay, now [music] is a good time.
(00:56) Then, pelvic floor and urinary sphincters relax. The bladder muscle contracts and urine flows out. [music] When the bladder senses it's finished emptying, it stops [music] squeezing. Your internal sphincter, an involuntary muscle, closes [music] and your external sphincter, a voluntary muscle, also closes subconsciously back to its normal resting state.
(01:26) [music] It's a beautifully coordinated system. Bladder contracts, pelvic floor relaxes, urine flows. No squeezing required. When you push or bear down, you're basically reversing that coordination. >> [music] >> You're forcing urine through a partially closed door. Pushing tightens [music] the pelvic floor forcing the urine out instead of releasing it naturally.
(01:54) >> [music] >> And if you repeatedly rely on straining, it can become part of a pattern where the pelvic floor doesn't relax properly during urination. >> [music] >> That creates extra pressure in your abdomen and on the pelvic floor. Over time, [music] that habit can train your muscles the wrong way. What can go wrong? You may feel like you haven't completely [music] emptied your bladder.
(02:19) And you may have to go again soon after. Your stream may become interrupted. Or you may start feeling like you need to push every time you pee. If the bladder doesn't empty properly, urine left behind can increase the risk of urinary problems, including urinary tract infections. [music] And there's another issue.
(02:45) Your pelvic floor has to know when to tighten >> [music] >> and when to let go. It supports your pelvic organs. It helps [music] control urine and bowel movements. And it also plays a role in sexual function and core stability. Chronic straining can weaken the pelvic floor and supporting ligaments. >> [music] >> That increases the chance of leaking when you cough or sneeze.
(03:09) And, especially in women, [music] pelvic organ prolapse, where organs start to drop. It can also contribute to hemorrhoids >> [music] >> because you're raising pressure in the same area. In short, the shortcut can create longer-term problems. So, what should you do instead? Sit all the way down.
(03:32) Don't hover over the toilet seat. A lot of people hover because they're worried the seat isn't [music] clean and they might pick up germs. That concern is understandable, [music] but hovering forces your hips and pelvic floor muscles to stay tense the whole time, which makes it harder for them to relax. >> [music] >> If the seat looks dirty, take a few extra seconds to wipe it with toilet paper or a disinfectant [music] wipe.
(03:57) Many people carry a small pack for this reason. Or use a paper seat cover if one is available. Then, sit fully. The actual risk of catching an infection from a toilet seat is very low. Most experts say the bigger problem is the tension hovering creates in your pelvic floor. Feet flat on the floor or on a little stool if that helps you lean forward comfortably.
(04:26) Soften your belly. Take a couple of slow breaths. In through the nose, let the belly expand, out through the mouth. Think let go rather than push out. If the stream is slow to start, lean your torso forward a bit and [music] keep breathing. Don't force the last drops. If you still feel like there's more urine left, try something called double voiding.
(04:55) [music] Stand up. Walk around for a few seconds. Then, sit back down, relax, and try again. No straining. Just another chance for your bladder to empty naturally. And if you've been pushing when you pee for years, don't panic. The important thing is whether you regularly need to push to urinate. Especially if you also have difficulty starting, a weak or interrupted stream, pain, urgency, leakage, or a persistent feeling that your bladder isn't empty.
(05:29) Those symptoms deserve a conversation with a doctor or pelvic floor physical therapist because there can be many different causes, from a simple habit to pelvic floor dysfunction, infection, or in men, prostate-related changes. Getting help early is smarter than waiting. The good news is that most of us can retrain this.
(05:53) It just takes [music] awareness. Next time you're in the bathroom, pause for 3 seconds. Soften. Breathe. Let the bladder do its job. Your pelvic floor is working for you every single day. Treat it kindly. Don't make it fight against [music] pressure it wasn't designed to handle. That's it. Simple change. Big difference over time.
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