What you do behind a locked bathroom door is nobody’s business but your own. From time to time though, you may find yourself wondering: how do my toilet habits compare to everybody else’s?
We wouldn’t advise going around asking people about pee, but large-scale studies can help give you a better idea of what’s normal.
And in terms of how long yours should last, there’s a golden number to remember.
After analysis into average urination duration, researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology echoed the So Solid Crew, saying it should ideally take 21 seconds to go.
Interestingly, they found that all mammals weighing more than 3kg empty their bladders in about the same amount of time — meaning there’s actually a scientific element to the phrase ‘p***ing like a racehorse’.
Jokes aside though, it’s worth keeping an eye on your own patterns, because the time you spend on the loo can be an indicator of a range of different issues.
The average human bladder holds between 400ml and 600ml, roughly one pint, and people typically pee around four to eight times a day.
According to Consultant Urologist at New Victoria Hospital, Mr Hamid Abboudi there can be plenty of ‘variation from person to person’ in terms of how long it takes to wee.
Although he highlights that 21 seconds isn’t a hard and fast rule, he tells Metro: ‘The time it takes to urinate can be affected by factors like bladder fullness, fluid intake, and individual anatomy… The key is recognising any changes to your “normal” flow pattern.’
The danger of the speedy wee
Sometimes, being less hydrated than usual or having used the loo recently results in an especially quick trickle
However, if this is standard practice for you (alongside frequent toilet trips) you may have trained yourself to pee more often than necessary.
‘Generally, as the bladder fills, the stretch of urine pressing against the bladder wall creates signals to your brain that results in the following series of urges, eventually resulting in you making it to the toilet and passing urine,’ Tiffany Sequeira, a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist who goes by Gynaegirl on social media, previously told Metro.
‘Going on that first signal to pass urine – or even worse, going when you don’t feel the urge to pass urine “just in case” – can result in a bladder signalling dysfunction. Over time your bladder becomes accustomed to passing urine at a lower capacity than normal resulting in a “weak bladder,” as some refer to.’
In certain cases, reduced bladder volume – and therefore the need to go more often, taking less time than normal – may also be a sign of another health issue like bladder stones or cystitis.
What prolonged peeing can signal
As noted before, you don’t have to hit that 21 second timing every time, or even any of the time. It’s really about keeping an eye on changes to what’s typical for you, alongside any major, long-term disparities compared to the average.
In men, prostate problems can lead to longer spent urinating, as well as a lower pressure stream. Duration is only one factor that needs to be considered next to various others though.
If, for example, you take a while to pee but also only do so a couple of times a day, it can be a simple as a need to reevaluate your habits – such as ensuring you don’t wait until you’re bursting. On top of causing your bladder to stretch, holding your urine for long periods puts you at a higher risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs), which can lead to more serious issues like kidney infections.
No one’s suggesting you need to take a stopwatch with you to the toilet. But given you’ve probably got your phone on you anyway, you might as well try timing the odd pee.
If your urination duration is consistently and significantly off – or if you’re noticing other things like a distinct change in colour or frequency – visit your GP.
Although it’s likely to just be nothing to worry about, it’s always good to get a professional opinion. And if there is something wrong, you can get it Romeo done and dusted sooner.
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