Let's Settle This: Urologists On Whether It's Better To Sit Or Stand To Pee

Do you prefer to stand when you tinkle? Or are you a fan of a leisurely sit-down wee?

It turns out men’s peeing preferences vary greatly depending on where in the world you live. YouGov data suggests British men are the least likely to sit down to wee, with one-third (33%) saying they never do it.

Yet in Germany, two in five (40%) men say they sit to pee every single time they urinate, while one-quarter of Australian men like a regular sit-down wee, too.

But does a sit-down versus stand-up wee have any implications for your health?

Is it better to sit or stand to wee?

A recent study found that, as far as urinary flow and the amount of wee removed from the body is concerned, there’s not really much difference between men sitting or standing while peeing.

The authors did say that sitting down to pee was associated with a shorter time to maximum urinary flow, but it’s “unlikely to be clinically meaningful”.

Professor Fatih Altunrende, urologist at Medicana Health Group, told HuffPost UK that either “sitting or standing to urinate is fine for healthy men”.

Dr Akash Kapadia, a urologist at Georgia Urology, agreed either position works, adding that sitting may “help some men who have difficulty emptying their bladder or have a weak urinary stream as it may help relax their pelvic floor”.

He suggested the best position then is the one that feels comfortable and allows you to urinate without significant straining.

When sitting might be best

For men with urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate – which can make it difficult to start to pee, cause a weak stream, or leave men feeling like their bladder hasn’t emptied properly – “sitting may help”, Dr Kapadia added.

“Limited research has suggested that sitting may reduce the amount of urine left in the bladder after urinating in some men with these symptoms,” he said.

“However, patients should see a urologist rather than simply pushing through what can become an inconvenient and even lifestyle-altering condition.”

Men with anatomic concerns that make it difficult to direct their stream may also find sitting easier, he added.

Ultimately, the urologist noted that “sitting is a simple adjustment worth trying” but urinary symptoms should be evaluated by a urologist rather than managed through position changes alone.