It’s not always easy to find a restroom when you’re on the go, but if you ask urology specialists, relieving your bladder when you feel the urge is a critical priority. When you hold your urine for too long, it puts some of your most important bodily systems under serious stress. Holding your urine can have lasting impacts, which the team from Medical Center Urology in High Point, NC, is here to reveal.

Urology Specialists Warn of 3 Adverse Effects of Holding Your Bladder

1. Infection

The bacteria that sits in your bladder for prolonged periods can lead to a urinary tract infection. Pelvic pain, burning sensation while urinating, persistent need to urinate, and cloudy or bloody urine point to the infection, which requires medical treatment to eradicate.

2. Incontinence

Urinary incontinence occurs when individuals experience a lack of voluntary control over urination. Although holding your urine one time won’t lead to it, repeated delays in relieving your bladder could cause the pelvic floor muscles to weaken. Over time, this may make it challenging to get to a restroom on time. To keep leaks at bay, head to the lavatory as soon as you feel the urge to go.  

3. Kidney Stones

Like incontinence, kidney stones won’t form as a result of holding your urine just one time. However, holding it frequently or failing to drink enough liquids could lead to the formation of small crystals, called stones, in the kidneys. While some can be passed through urination, the process can be immensely painful. Others require surgery to be removed. Severe abdominal pain, blood in the urine, and nausea are common signs of kidney stones.

While urology specialists agree that the risks of holding your urine are significant, this isn’t the only cause of issues like incontinence and kidney stones. If you suspect a bladder issue, contact Medical Center Urology. With more than 25 years of experience, their practice has delivered effective treatments for bladder conditions and kidney stones. Learn more about their additional services online, or call (336) 882-0220 to schedule an appointment with a urology specialist.