Each person has a different pattern of urination based on a variety of factors, including their fluid intake, activity level, weather, drinking habits, and overall health. In general, if you drink a lot of fluids, you may need to urinate five to six times per day.

About 400–600 ml of urine can be stored in the bladder before you feel the need to urinate. The bladder wall will expand as the bladder fills, alerting the brain to urinate.

Is it safe to hold back urination?

Some conditions may cause you to delay urination. It is usually safe to delay urination as long as your urinary tract is in good condition. You should use the restroom every three to four hours while you are awake and moving around.

However, delaying urination for an extended period of time or too frequently can be dangerous in some situations, such as those involving men with enlarged prostates, people with kidney problems, those who have urine retention, and pregnant women.

The impact of holding back urination

Refusing to urinate frequently has a number of effects on the body, such as:

Pain and discomfort

Holding urine for a long time can lead to increased pressure in the bladder. This can cause pain or discomfort in the bladder. This discomfort can also affect your activities.

Risk of urinary tract infection

The development of bacteria in the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys is the primary cause of urinary tract infections. Holding back urination for too long can create an environment that promotes bacterial growth, particularly if bacteria have already entered the urinary tract.

Holding back urination for extended periods of time can allow bacteria to grow in the bladder. If the bacteria multiply and enter the kidneys or urethra, it will lead to more serious infections.

Urinating on a regular basis helps flush bacteria from the urinary tract. Holding urine can increase the risk of bacteria remaining and causing infection.

Bladder stretching

Holding back from urinating for too long can cause the bladder to stretch. This stretching can make it difficult or impossible for the bladder to contract strongly enough to pass urine normally.

Overstretching the bladder can also result in a decrease in bladder capacity, which means that the bladder may not be able to hold a normal amount of urine and may be unable to control urine release.

Pelvic floor muscle damage

Holding back urination can also cause pelvic floor muscle damage, resulting in a variety of problems, including urinary incontinence. The urethral sphincter muscle is one of the pelvic floor muscles that helps to keep the urethra closed and prevents urine leakage. If this muscle is weakened or damaged, you will have difficulty controlling the flow of urine and may begin to wet the bed frequently.

Kidney stones

Continuously delaying urination can contribute to the formation of kidney stones, particularly in people who have risk factors for kidney stones. Holding back urination increases the concentration of minerals in urine, including calcium, uric acid, and oxalate. This increase promotes the formation of crystals and kidney stones.

Holding urine cannot always be avoided. However, if you have a strong urge to urinate, go to the nearest toilet right away and do not delay. If you experience discomfort even after urinating, discover blood in the urine, or the urine smells bad, you should immediately consult a doctor.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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