Urologist reveals men should pee sitting down, claims standing bad for bladder health

Men should pee sitting down because it’s more hygienic and better for their bladder health, a top urologist has revealed.

Dr Gerald Collins, a urological surgeon at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheshire, northwest England, made the claim after a YouGov report about male urination practices was released on Friday.

The data analytics firm surveyed more than 7000 men from 13 countries across the globe including Australia, finding the majority of guys prefer to stand while doing their business.

Interestingly, 25 per cent of Aussie blokes said they sit down to pee every time they go to the bathroom, with 27 per cent stating they “never” do.

The nation who had the highest number of men “always” sitting down to empty their bladders was Germany, which came in at 40 per cent, while Singapore had the least with only 5 per cent opting to sit.

Dr Collins however argues more men should adopt the unpopular technique, telling the UK’s Telegraph it is the “most efficient way” to pee.

The urologist explained sitting ensures muscles in the pelvis and the spine are completely relaxed, making it easier to completely empty the bladder.

It’s particularly beneficial for older men to sit down to urinate, given that benign prostatic hyperplasia – more commonly known as an enlarged prostate – becomes increasingly common in advanced age, Dr Collins added.

The condition, which affects 80 per cent of men 80 and older, occurs when the prostate gland and surrounding tissue expands, obstructing the urethra.

Previous research supports Dr Collins claims, with a 2014 report from the Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands determining that sitting down could be beneficial by making it easier for the bladder to empty faster and more completely.

However the YouGov survey found older men are generally more opposed to sitting down than their younger counterparts, possibly due to the outdated notion that it is more masculine to pee standing up.

This sentiment can be seen in reaction from men to the findings on social media, with a few angry individuals going as far as to claim it is “propaganda to degrade masculinity”.

However others on Twitter implored guys to give it a shot, with women claiming it will help with the issue of “horrific aim”.

In Germany, sitting down while taking a tinkle has traditionally been derided among men and there’s even a derogatory term for the practice.

“Sitzpinkler” is a slur for someone who sits down to wee, implying they are “wimpy or effeminate.

Culture is shifting, and there are now signs in many public bathrooms across Germany warning men not to stand while urinating in recent decades, The New York Post reported.

However this is usually for issues relating to cleanliness, as urine is less likely to end up spraying across the floor if a person is seated.