It might sound simple, but how long you spend on the toilet says a lot about your health.
Here is how long it should take to pee and when you should see a doctor.
Holding it in too long can damage your bladder
Regularly waiting until you’re desperate can stretch your bladder too much. Over time, this can make it less effective at emptying completely.
Ignoring the urge can lead to serious infections
If you keep holding in urine, you’re at greater risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Untreated UTIs can develop into dangerous kidney infections.
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Peeing too often can be a problem too
Going to the bathroom all the time might mean you have an overactive bladder. This means your body signals you to pee even when your bladder isn’t full.
Could it be your prostate?
If you often feel the need to pee but only pass a small amount, or it’s hard to start, it could be a sign of an enlarged prostate — or even prostate cancer.
Signs of advanced prostate cancer
When prostate cancer grows enough to press on the urethra, you might notice frequent nighttime urination, a weak flow, or the feeling that your bladder never empties completely.
Red flags for a UTI
Pain or burning when peeing, blood in your urine, cloudy pee, or lower back pain can all be signs of a urinary tract infection that shouldn’t be ignored.
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Talk to your doctor without shame
Bladder and urination issues are common and nothing to be embarrassed about. If you suddenly need to pee much more often, or something feels off, see your doctor.
The magic number
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology found that it should take about 21 seconds to fully empty your bladder.
Spending much longer could mean you’re holding it in too long.
It applies to all mammals over 3kg
It’s not just humans — all mammals over 3 kilograms tend to empty their bladders in around 21 seconds.
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They won an award for it
The team behind the 21-second rule received a satirical IG Nobel Prize in 2015 for unusual scientific achievements after analyzing videos of animals peeing.
This article is based on information from The Sun.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.