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Urinating is a natural and daily action. However, many girls and women do not proceed in the best way to relieve themselves. Explanations.
Are you peeing properly? While this may seem like a strange question, it is still important for your health, since this action occurs several times a day.
Recently, the issue was even brought to light by a TikTok video of a content creator who was coming out of a gynecological exam. Before the exam, the nurse allegedly asked her to go to the bathroom, but to ““do not push to expel urine” while advising him to breathe and release the urine effortlessly.
A revelation for the young woman who realizes that she actually evacuates urine by pushing, and has done so since childhood.I think I’ve been peeing sideways my whole life” she wonders. She is not wrong.
Getting relief is about relaxing your muscles, not the other way around.
On this point, in fact, the experts seem unanimous. Relieving oneself is not a matter of pushing.Peeing is more about relaxing the pelvic floor muscles and allowing the sphincter to relax, while the brain causes the pelvic floor muscles to the bladder contract to eliminate urine”explains Lopa Pandya, gynecologist, reconstructive surgeon and medical advisor at Aeroflow Urology to the Parade website. “Peeing is more of a relaxing action than a pushing action” she adds, specifying that if this is not the case, it is better to change your method.
Why shouldn’t we push?
So there is a right way to urinate. “A more natural evacuation of urine allows the brain to communicate properly with the bladder muscle itself to contract and communicate with the urethra to open and allow urine to come out,” explains Dr. Carolyn Botros, urogynecologist. But is “pushing” really that bad? Can this reflex be harmful to us if we don’t know how to do otherwise? Yes, experts say.
“It’s so easy to be in a hurry to pee and move on.”she continues. “But ultimately, this can lead to problems emptying the bladder properly. Which can increase the risk ofurinary tract infection” warns the doctor.
That’s not all. By pushing and contracting your muscles you increase the risk of developing a “overactive bladder“ which increases the effort to expel urine, but also the frequency with which you urinate or the effort required to empty your bladder.
Changing the method is possible
The good news is that it is still possible to return your bladder to normal functioning by revisiting your toilet visits. According to the site, to urinate properly, you must therefore manage to relax your pelvic floor muscles instead of contracting them. Here are a few tips that can help you:
- Find the right posture in which you are relaxed. For some, this will consist of leaning slightly forward, others will feel the need to elevate their feet;
- Using diaphragmatic breathing, which involves inhaling deeply through the nose while inflating the belly before expelling the air slowly through the mouth can also;
- Running water from a faucet can help provide natural, relaxing relief;
- Finally, experts advise paying attention to timing. If possible, you should not hold back from going to the toilet when you have a pressing need. Similarly, you should not go “just in case” without feeling the urge.
Finally, if all else fails and you are unable to relax your muscles, the expert advises consulting a physiotherapist who specializes in the pelvic floor. They will be able to identify exercises that will help relax this muscle.
Slideshow: What your urine reveals about your health