Most People Are Guilty of Doing This in the Shower — But Experts Warn It’s Incredibly Dangerous: ‘Don’t Do It’
What you do in the shower is your business — but according to health experts, there’s one habit many people should stop immediately: urinating while showering.
In a now-viral TikTok video with over 1 million views, a healthcare expert warned that relieving yourself in the shower — particularly while standing — can be harmful, especially for women.
“Hot take, but don’t pee standing up in the shower or anywhere for that matter,” TikTok user @kingsley.502 wrote. “Ladies, you are training your bladder that it’s okay to empty while standing. Don’t do it! This could cause bladder leakage.”
As expected, reactions flooded the comment section.
“My body created a human… I’m gonna let her tinkle wherever she likes,” one commenter joked.
“I can’t even enjoy the simple pleasures in life,” wrote another frustrated user.
“Meanwhile sitting for too long messes with our pelvic floor. So what is actually okay anymore?” someone else asked.
According to a survey, nearly a quarter of Americans admit to peeing in the shower regularly — so this revelation came as an unwelcome surprise to many. However, other medical professionals supported the warning.
“It’s not very hygienic, but more importantly, it can damage your pelvic floor,” explained Dr. Emma Qureshey, a Houston-based OBGYN, in her own TikTok. “It can also create a mental association between running water and needing to urinate — which may lead to problems like urge incontinence.”
And it’s not just a concern for women.
Men who regularly pee standing up may also face issues. Gerald Collins, a consultant urological surgeon at Alexandra Hospital in Cheshire, England, explained that urinating while seated is likely the most efficient and healthy method.
“The pelvis and spine muscles are most relaxed when sitting,” he said. “Sitting is probably the most effective way of doing it.”
Standing to urinate may also contribute to benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition in which the prostate and surrounding tissue enlarge and obstruct the urethra.
Despite the health risks, social stigma still surrounds sitting to pee — especially for men. In Germany, men who sit down to urinate are sometimes mocked with the term “Sitzpinkler,” a derogatory word implying they are weak or effeminate.
Whether it’s a matter of convenience or routine, experts say it may be time to rethink your bathroom habits — especially when you’re in the shower.
