Holding Your Pee For Long: Is It Safe?

Do you ever find yourself working long hours and skipping your chance for a bathroom break? Do you often end up ???holding it??? for an extended time? This can cause damage to your bladder.

If your urinary system is healthy, holding your pee generally isn???t dangerous. If you???re an adult and your bladder is holding more than 2 cups of urine, you may start to feel uncomfortable.

If you have an overactive bladder, holding your pee can be an important part of bladder training. Regular bladder training may help you develop a more convenient urination schedule.

There isn???t a set guideline for how long you can safely hold your pee. It varies from person to person.

In certain circumstances, holding urine for any length of time can be dangerous. If you have any of the following conditions, holding your urine can increase your risk of infection or kidney disease:

• Enlarged prostate
• Neurogenic bladder
• Kidney disorders
• Urinary retention

Can hold urine cause UTIs?

Simply holding your pee doesn???t cause a UTI. UTIs occur when bacteria make their way into the urinary tract. If you don???t empty your bladder regularly, the bacteria are more likely to sit and multiply in the bladder. This can lead to a UTI.

Your risk for a UTI may also be higher if you don???t drink adequate amounts of water. This is because your bladder won???t be full enough to send the signal to urinate. Bacteria that might already be present in the urinary system will then be able to multiply, potentially leading to an infection.

Other possible complications

Your bladder is a part of your urinary system. It???s connected through the ureters to your kidneys. In rare cases, urine can back up into the kidneys and lead to an infection or kidney damage.

Pre-existing medical conditions, such as an enlarged prostate or a neurogenic bladder from nerve damage, can lead to involuntary retention of urine. A blockage in the passage of urine or weakened bladder muscles can prevent the bladder from emptying.

The Bottom Line

In most cases, holding your pee now and then isn???t harmful to your health. If, however, the urge to urinate is affecting your daily life, you should consult your doctor. Holding your pee regularly can increase the risk of UTIs or other complications.