Understanding the Science: Can You Get a UTI From Holding Your Pee
Urinary Tract infections (UTIs) are an uncomfortable experience, widely affecting a huge part of the population.
Withholding your urge to urinate is often seen as a sufficient cause of Urinary Tract Infections.
However, there are a lot of underlying factors that determine the incidence of a UTI caused by holding your pee.
In this article, let us explore the answers to the question, “Can you get a UTI from holding your pee?”
Can holding your pee cause UTI
Simply holding in your pee cannot be the sole reason to cause UTI.
However, if there is a history of UTIs, holding your pee can increase the risk, especially in women.
Moreover, if you do not urinate often, the bacteria in your urinary tract are more likely to multiply and cause infection.
There are no strict rules against holding your pee, but most doctors advise against withholding urination for extended periods as it may cause fatigue in your bladder muscles.
Besides holding your pee, not drinking enough water is a major cause of Urinary Tract Infections.
When you do not drink plenty of water, your bladder takes longer time to fill, making it an ideal place for UTI-causing bacteria to multiply.
How much can your bladder hold
A healthy man can hold up to 700 ml, and a woman can hold upto 500 ml of urine in their bladder.
However, the impulse to urinate arises when the bladder is 200-350 ml full.
Thus, holding your urine for some time is generally harmless without any effects.
The bladder can also stretch and accommodate an even larger volume of urine in times of emergency.
It is impossible for your bladder to burst because of the pressure of accumulated urine unless there is a blockage of the outlet caused by some infection.
Therefore, holding your pee cannot cause a UTI under all normal circumstances.
Although withholding the urge to urinate cannot cause UTIs, it can have other complications.
This inability to urinate might indicate a blockage within your urinary system or potentially signify a serious underlying neurological concern.
Possible complications
Holding the urge to pee can have several complications if done often.
Pain after urination
Regularly ignoring the urge to urinate causes bladder discomfort and hurt when you finally pee.
Urination after a long time keeps the bladder muscles clenched, which can cause pelvic pain temporarily.
Bladder stretching
Holding your pee can eventually stretch your bladder, making it difficult for the bladder to contract while peeing normally.
Extra measures like a catheter may become necessary in cases of bladder stretching.
Urinary Incontinence
Regularly withholding urination causes pelvic floor muscle weakening, leading to Urinary Incontinence.
Urinary Incontinence is the condition when a person involuntarily leaks urine.
Some exercises like Kegels can help to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
What if you need to hold your pee
It is always better to use the restrooms when the urge to pee arises.
However, there are situations where we may have to refrain from urinating for a certain period, depending on our circumstances.
Here are a few tips that you can use to divert your mind from the urge to urinate for some time:
- Engage in tasks that need active attention
- Stay in a sitting position
- Keep yourself warm as cold conditions increase the urge to urinate
- Distract yourself by using social media or reading a book
These tips temporarily buy you time before you can rush to the restroom to relieve yourself.
Takeaway
Just holding your pee can never be a source of UTI infections, as the bladder can have much more urine than expected.
However, holding your urine for extended periods slightly increases the risks of UTI as the bacteria get time to multiply in the bladder.
Rather than holding your pee, drinking less water causes UTI infections.
Some complications of holding your pee include painful urination, bladder stretching, and Urinary Incontinence.
If you need to hold your pee, you can postpone going to the restroom by distracting your mind by reading books, sitting down, and engaging in social media.
So rather than wondering, “Can you get a UTI from holding your pee?” it is better to wonder how to stay hydrated enough to prevent a UTI.
The difference between holding your pee once and holding it regularly and a history of UTI condition are the determining factors for UTI.
Consult your doctor for a personalized treatment and diagnosis if you notice UTI symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do you have to hold your pee to get a UTI?
In most cases, holding your pee does not cause a UTI for any period. It is more probable that the pressure of withholding urination overpowers your voluntary efforts to control it much before it can harm your bladder.
Can you get a UTI from constantly holding your pee?
Holding your pee does not cause UTI, but controlling it for prolonged periods increases its chances of happening if you already have a prior history of UTI. If you constantly hold your bladder from peeing, it can suffer from complications like bladder stretching and Urinary Incontinence.
How do you get rid of a UTI from holding your pee?
Most UTIs, if caused by holding your pee, need treatment like any other UTI. The usual treatment includes a dosage of antibiotics and symptomatic medications for fever and pain caused by the infection. Consult your physician if you observe any symptoms of UTI.
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