There’s this thing called a toilet – who knew?
Let’s be honest, we’ve all done it. You’ve hopped into the shower and turned on the warm water that comfortingly enrobes your skin, life is bliss, but then suddenly it hits you.
Desperate to have a pee, the idea of getting out of the shower to head to the toilet soaking the floor along the way does not appeal.
And in that moment, the human mind really excels as it begins to put two usually mutually exclusive practices together, peeing and washing.
The mind thinks, “I need the toilet, I am also covered from head to toe in water, urine is also a water-based liquid, it will go down the plughole with the rest of the water.”
And, before you know it, you’re whazzing away in the shower and it almost feels wrong, yet so primally right at the same time.
Well, maybe we should stop doing it as a doctor has spoken out about the practice and what effect it is having on your mind and body.
In essence, we’re talking potty training for adults, as pelvic floor therapist Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas explained in a TikTok video.
Dr. Jeffrey-Thomas said that the reason for avoiding a golden shower is likened to Pavlov’s experiment with dogs, explaining that humans are unintentionally conditioning themselves to need to pee whenever they hear running water.
She also explained how this could negative impact those who pee in the shower in the future, explaining that with the weakening of the pelvic floor with age this could lead to the sound of water becoming a serious issue and exacerbating urinary incontinence.
However, she did explain that this was more likely in men who can pee standing up much easier.
She said: “If you pee in the shower or turn on the faucet or turn on the shower and then sit on the toilet to pee while the water is running, you’re creating an association in your brain between the sound of running water and having to pee,” she echoed.
“Combo that with pelvic floor dysfunction, either now or down the line and that’s going to potentially lead to some leak issues when you hear running water outside of the shower.
Watch on TikTok
“Unfortunately, those of us that were assigned female at birth and have that anatomy, we’re not designed to pee standing up… your pelvic floor isn’t going to be relaxing properly meaning that we’re not going to be emptying our bladder super well,” she added.
People have responded to her take with mixed opinions.
One user said: “Is that why I never have to pee until I’m in the bathroom or the shower?!”
Another user said: “I’m just trying to save water it’s not that deep.”
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Meanwhile another commenter wasn’t convinced and countered: “Okay, but isn’t the sound of flushing the toilet running water and therefore the same thing?
To combat the issue, Jeffrey-Thomas suggests trying to pee before you turn on the shower and “if you get the urge while you’re in the shower, try to ignore it.”
That’s easier said than done, doctor. That’s easier said than done.
