What Happens When You Hold Urine

Strong need to urinate but can’t get to the bathroom? You must have retained urine at some point, too, so we all are. Most often, it happens in a situation where it is impossible to get to the toilet. Try not to take this as a habit, as it can have negative consequences.

The need to urinate and toilet avoidance – a bad combination

These things can happen in your body when you need to urinate, but don’t go to the bathroom as soon as you should:

Urethritis

If you are the type of person who tends to postpone urination regularly when you are at work, for example, be careful. One of the consequences is urinary tract infections. And  in this case, it easily leads to bacterial inflammation that affects your urethra. 

The reason is simple: there are bacteria in the urine and if they stay in the bladder for a long time, they can lead to inflammation.

Kidney stone formation

Some people are prone to the formation of kidney stones or urinary stones. If this applies to you and you tend to hold back urine even if you have a severe need to urinate, you may just make your condition worse.

Small kidney stones can usually be excreted in the urine as long as they are very small. But  if they grow bigger, they can’t be eliminated this way, and you’ll end up in the operating room. 

To prevent kidney stone formation, it is important to drink plenty of water and go to the bathroom whenever your body tells you to, as this is the only way you can remove the waste that is in your kidneys without making the situation worse.

Cystitis

If you resist the need to urinate, the walls of the bladder become inflamed, leading to a condition known as bladder inflammation.

If you experience pelvic pain, and if only a small amount comes out when you urinate, you may need to see a doctor. These symptoms you suffer are traditional symptoms of cystitis.

The bladder swells

While it might seem like the opposite, your bladder has a very limited capacity and restraint will only make it swell.

Your bladder can hold about three cups of water, so remember this if you drink a lot and know you won’t have a chance to get to the bathroom in the near future. This is worth remembering if you are even at a business meeting or sitting on a bus.

There are receptors in our brains that are responsible for sending us a signal when we need to go to the bathroom. A ivot itself can trigger urination if necessary.

The return of urine to the bladder and urethra

This is perhaps the most serious consequence of all. If you tolerate the need to urinate for too long, eventually your body will not remove it but instead return urine to the urethra and kidneys, which can cause severe inflammation.

Swelling of the abdomen

If you do not get urine out in time, you will feel swollen and uncomfortable. In addition to this, your body gets used to storing fluids and you can’t use the toilet as easily as before.

In addition to discomfort, urinary retention can also cause inflammation,  so it’s best to just go to the bathroom when you need to.