Why Peeing in the Shower Isn't Actually as Gross as You Think (2024)

The short answer: It's generally OK to pee in the shower,Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD, a urologic and robotic surgeon at Orlando Health South Lake Hospital, toldHealth. Urine is mostly made up of water and salts, which are unlikely to damage your shower floor. Peeing in the shower may even conserve water by limiting how many times you flush the toilet daily.

Still, peeing in the shower is not without risks. For example, urine is not entirely sterile. Some people have more bacteria in their urine than others if they have infections, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI). For women, peeing while standing in the shower may weaken the pelvic floor, increasing the risk of leaking urine.

Read on to learn about the possible benefits and risks of peeing in the shower and when and where to avoid doing so.

Your kidneys filter urea (waste) and water from your blood. Urine is the leftover waste after nutrients, such as glucose (sugar) and protein, filter back into your blood. Your urine is mostly made up of water.

"Depending on how much fluids you take in, about 90% of your urine is water," said Dr. Brahmbhatt. "The rest are salts and compounds that are filtered out of your body."

Other substances that comprise urine include:

• Ammonia
• Compounds in bile, a substance that your liver makes
• Creatinine, waste that results from muscle breakdown
• Salts
• Urea
• Urochrome, a pigment from your blood that gives urine its yellow color

Those substances may vary based on what you ate or drank or medications you have taken, said Dr. Brahmbhatt.

Of note: Urine is not entirely sterile, despite common misconceptions. Research has found that a host of bacteria that may cause infections live in the female bladder.

Your bladder can store up to 16 ounces of urine for about two to five hours until you need to urinate. The muscular wall of your bladder tightens, which expels the bladder through your urethra and out of your body.

Potential Benefits of Peeing in the Shower

You are in the right place for a rapid wash if you're worried about accidentally peeing on your feet.

"It's probably not a big deal," said Dr. Brahmbhatt. "There are people that pitch using urine as an antiseptic. [For example], when you have an open wound, you can pee on it to help avoid infection. The science behind this theory isn't particularly strong."

The cleansing effects of peeing in the shower are unclear. Still, peeing in the shower may be good for the environment and economical—in terms of water usage.

Flushing the toilet uses less water than showers. Still, how much you flush the toilet daily most likely adds up to higher water usage than a single shower. As a result, peeing in the shower reduces your water usage slightly.

Using water requires energy, such as when you flush the toilet or shower. Preserving energy helps minimize your carbon footprint. Conserving water is economical, too. You may save some money by flushing the toilet less often than typical.

There are several reasons to avoid peeing in the shower, especially in public showers, where the practice may become unhygienic.Even in your own shower, peeing while hovering or standing up, such as in the shower, may weaken your pelvic floor muscles if you have female anatomy.

Increases the Risk of Infections

If you decide to pee in the shower, it's best to do it in your own shower rather than in a public one to avoid infections.

"Generally speaking, urine is sterile since it has no 'living' organisms," said Dr. Brahmbhatt. "This isn't always the case since someone could have a [UTI]. Also, the urine could pick up some bugs from the end of the urethra as it exits."

A UTI happens if bacteria enter through your urethra and colonize your urinary tract, which includes your bladder. Some of the most common UTI symptoms include cloudy, foul-smelling urine and burning or pain with urination. If untreated, a UTI may spread to your kidneys.

Methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is another bacterial infection that may spread through urine and linger on shower floors.

Weakens Pelvic Floor Muscles

The longer urine stays in your bladder, the weaker your pelvic floor muscles become. Your pelvic floor includes your bladder, intestines, rectum, and urethra. In females, the pelvic floor also includes the cervix, uterus, and vagin*.

For females, hovering over a toilet seat or standing up in the shower keeps the muscular wall of your bladder from relaxing. As a result, your bladder may not completely expel urine, weakening your pelvic floor.

A weak pelvic floor increases the risk of urinary incontinence, or an uncontrollable urge to urinate. Weak pelvic floor muscles may put stress on your bladder and urethra, which causes urine to leak.

How Often To Clean the Shower

Clean your shower and bathtub with a disinfectant at least once weekly to get rid of any lingering bacteria that may cause infections.

Keeping your shower and bathtub clean prevents the growth and spread of mold, a fungus. Mold thrives in damp, wet environments, such as the shower. You may notice a musty smell throughout your home if there's substantial mold growth, which may cause health concerns.

Damp, warm environments, such as public showers, are optimal conditions for the growth and spread of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that cause infections.

Here are some safety tips to avoid infections while using public showers:

• Avoid walking barefoot in a public shower: Wear sandals or flip-flops in public showers to protect your feet from potentially harmful bacteria.
• Cover any wounds with bandages until they heal: Bacteria may enter wounds and cause infections if uncovered.
• Do not share personal items like razors, soap, and towels: Sharing bar soap increases the risk of bacteria transmission.
• Dry yourself thoroughly with a clean towel after showering: Wet conditions encourage the growth of infection-causing germs.

A Quick Review

Peeing in the shower is generally safe if you avoid doing so in public showers. You may conserve some water, which has economic and environmental benefits, by peeing in the shower.

Just make sure you are using your own shower. Since urine carries some bacteria, especially if you have an infection, such as a UTI, peeing in the shower may have risks. Always wear flip-flops or sandals, and avoid sharing personal items if you use a public shower.