Sitting or Standing to Pee: What Is Better for Men’s Health?
Men around the world and across social media remain deeply divided on whether to sit or stand when urinating.
A YouGov poll found that 10 percent of American men regularly sit down to pee, while 31 percent said they never do it.
- A study published in the journal Neurourology and Urodynamics tracked 52 healthy men to determine if posture affects urine volume or flow speed.
- Researchers found no clinically meaningful difference in total urine output or flow speed between sitting and standing for healthy young males.
- Urologists note that older men with obstructive prostate issues may empty their bladders more effectively by sitting.
What the Clinical Experiment Found
Researchers tested 52 healthy male participants aged 18 to 39 with no prior health issues to settle the debate. Men were divided into two groups who alternated between sitting and standing to urinate, separated by a 24-hour washout period. Men’s Health reported on the experiment.
Sitting or standing changed neither the total urine volume nor the overall session output. A slight difference appeared in the time required to reach maximum flow speed. Men reached peak speed slightly sooner while sitting, though researchers described that finding as unlikely to be clinically meaningful and partly dependent on a single outlier.
“If you’re a normal, young, healthy male, it will make no difference whether you sit or stand to urinate,” S. Adam Ramin, urologist and medical director of Urology Cancer Specialists, told Men’s Health. “You will have a good stream either way.”
Regional Differences Shape Bathroom Practices
International polling data shows stark geographical divides in bathroom posture. A YouGov poll found that 40 percent of German men sit down every time to urinate. About 22 percent of Swedish men sit down every time, and 28 percent sit down most of the time.
Huffington Post UK Life reported that British men are the least likely to sit down, with 33 percent saying they never do it, while one-quarter of Australian men prefer a regular sit-down wee.
Beyond regional habits, hygiene influences personal preference. Ramin told Men’s Health that men standing up are more likely to splash, sprinkle on the toilet seat, or miss entirely.
“Plus, sitters might be more likely to wash their hands after every use,” Ramin told Men’s Health.
When Posture Matters for Older Men
Urologists agree that posture carries distinct clinical implications for specific patient populations. Older men dealing with an obstructing prostate may experience different outcomes.
“Sometimes in older men with an obstructing prostate, sitting to urinate may help them to empty their bladders more effectively as they are able to generate more abdominal force to squeeze the urine out,” Boback Berookhim, urologist at Northwell’s Lenox Hill Hospital, told Men’s Health.
Fatih Altunrende, urologist at Medicana Health Group, told Huffington Post UK Life that either sitting or standing is fine for healthy men.
Akash Kapadia, a urologist at Georgia Urology, told Huffington Post UK Life that sitting may help some men who have difficulty emptying their bladder or have a weak urinary stream by relaxing their pelvic floor.
Kapadia added that limited research suggests sitting may reduce post-void residual urine in men with lower urinary tract symptoms, though patients should consult a urologist rather than relying solely on position changes.
“Ultimately, sitting is a simple adjustment worth trying, but urinary symptoms should be evaluated by a urologist rather than managed through position changes alone,” Kapadia told Huffington Post UK Life.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.