This Is How Long You Should Be Peeing, According To A Pelvic Floor Specialist

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Do you know how much you’re supposed to be peeing? No, not how often. How much. There's been a pretty pervasive idea floating around that we should all be emptying our bladders whenever we get the chance—but doctors have debunked this myth, revealing that you should actually wait until your bladder is relatively full before using the restroom.

But how can you determine if you’ve waited long enough and are peeing an adequate amount each time you go to the bathroom? Pelvic floor specialist, Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas, DPT, recently took to TikTok to set the record straight, clarifying the precise ideal pee stream. And interestingly enough, it does vary depending on your anatomy.

Pelvic floor health is essential to maintain at any age, and if you’re regularly experiencing short streams that are less than the above averages, it may spell trouble for your well-being. “[It] either indicates you emptied your bladder too soon, you aren’t hydrating enough, or you aren’t emptying well,” Jeffrey-Thomas reveals in another video.

Staying properly hydrated is essential for so many important functions in your body, so make sure to be drinking between 2.7 and 3.7 liters (for females and males, respectively) each day to feel your best. If, however, your issue is that you’re emptying your bladder too soon, you may be priming your body for issues down the road. Practicing too-frequent peeing may lower your tolerance for how much you can hold before your restroom needs become urgent. 

Drinking plenty of water and not going pee the moment you feel a slight urge are essential for preserving the strength of your pelvic floor throughout the years. Remember, you should be peeing between three and four times each day as a good benchmark of hydration.

What's more, integrating a probiotic in your daily routine can help promote overall gut health and support regularity.* Why does that matter? Well, as urogynecologist and pelvic floor expert Betsy Greenleaf, D.O., previously shared with mbg: "Our gut is so connected to our other organs…especially the pelvic floor."