To urinate in a public restroom without sitting, avoid hovering over the toilet bowl without support, as this contracts the perineum and blocks urine flow. Instead, hold onto the door handle or the wall to stabilize yourself and breathe deeply to relax your pelvic muscles.

noli's read

This recommendation is based on well-established physiological principles. Observational studies, notably published in the International Urogynecology Journal, demonstrate that an unstable hovering position increases tension in the pelvic muscles and can prevent the bladder from emptying completely. When the body struggles to maintain its balance, the gluteal and pelvic muscles contract, which blocks the release signal necessary for fluid evacuation. The tip to hold onto an external support is validated by expert opinions in pelvic rehabilitation, as this anchor point relieves the stabilizer muscles. Furthermore, research on respiratory coherence shows that deep breaths calm the nervous system and promote lower abdominal relaxation. Although there is no randomized clinical trial measuring the use of public restroom door handles, the anatomical logic of this advice is sound.

the sources

1. 1Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay-Smith EJC 2018