For many Australians, the morning shower is a sacred ritual—a time to wake up, gather your thoughts, and prepare for the day ahead. But there’s a surprisingly common habit that’s raising eyebrows among medical professionals.
It might seem harmless (and, let’s be honest, convenient), but doctors are now sounding the alarm about the potential long-term health risks of this everyday shortcut.
If you’re among the estimated 60–80 per cent of people who admit to occasionally relieving themselves under the running water, you might want to think twice before making it a regular part of your routine.
American urogynaecologist Dr Teresa Irwin recently took to social media to warn her 90,000 followers about the hidden dangers of urinating in the shower. According to Dr Irwin, this habit can actually ‘train’ your brain and bladder in ways that may come back to haunt you.
‘It’s kind of like Pavlov’s dog training,’ she explains. ‘Every time you hear running water, your bladder starts to ‘salivate’ because it wants to go and pee.’ In other words, by regularly peeing in the shower, you may inadvertently teach your body to associate the sound of running water with the urge to urinate.
Over time, this can lead to a phenomenon known as ‘urge incontinence’—a sudden, intense need to urinate that can be difficult to control. Everyday activities like washing your hands, doing the dishes, or even hearing rain on the roof could trigger an inconvenient dash to the loo.
While the running water effect can impact anyone, women face additional risks when it comes to peeing in the shower. Dr Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas, a Boston-based pelvic floor therapist, points out that women’s bodies simply aren’t designed to urinate standing up.
‘Your pelvic floor isn’t going to relax properly, which means we’re really not going to be emptying our bladder super well,’ she says.
This incomplete emptying—known as urinary retention—can lead to a build-up of urine in the bladder, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and, in rare cases, even kidney problems if infections travel upwards.
Men, on the other hand, have the support of the prostate gland when urinating standing up, which helps with bladder emptying. Women don’t have this anatomical advantage, making the habit riskier for them.
It’s not just your bladder that could be at risk. Doctors also warn that urinating in the shower could increase the risk of skin infections, especially if you have any open cuts or wounds on your lower body.
While the risk is relatively low (since the shower water should wash most bacteria away), it’s still something to keep in mind, especially for those with compromised immune systems or healing wounds.
Some people argue that peeing in the shower saves water and is therefore better for the environment. While it’s true that you might save a flush or two, the potential health risks may outweigh the environmental benefits, especially if it leads to medical issues down the track.
While the occasional slip-up probably won’t do any harm, making a habit of peeing in the shower could set you up for bladder troubles down the track—and for women, the risks are even greater.
As with many things in life, it’s best to listen to your body and follow the advice of medical professionals.
Have you ever been caught out by a surprising health warning like this? Do you have any tips for maintaining good bladder health? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
Also read: Why bringing your phone in the shower might be a bad idea
I got as far as “hearing rain on the roof can urge you to pee” What a load of BS. I gave it away after that. I have never peed in the shower, and don’t intend to, and running shower doesn’t urge me to…dear oh dear.
Started at toilet training.
Parents would run tap water into the vanity when children are on the potty to encourage them to wee.
Didn’t seem to affect them growing up into adulthood.
LOL, talk about gross … you ain’t here nothing yet. When I was called up for National Service free time was exceptionally precious. When revielli sounded we had to get out of bed standing at attention with our bed sheets and pillow on our body before the music stopped. That was to make sure that you made a perfect bed each day and not sleep on the floor. It was then a race to the communal bathroom block to shave, brush your teeth, shower and have a pee before getting fully dressed before being marched to the breakfast room leaving your room in perfect order. To save time …. one would pee and your brush teeth at the same time! After all, one could not do a communal pee in the shared shower block, could one? And to this day, no, I don’t need to pee when I see a toothbrush!