You Might Be Peeing Wrong—Here’s What a Pelvic Floor Therapist Wants You to Know
Think you’ve mastered the art of peeing? According to Dr. Sara Reardon, also known as the Vagina Whisperer, you may want to think again.
In a recent episode of the Landlines podcast with Girls star Allison Williams, Dr. Reardon, a pelvic floor physical therapist, dropped some truth bombs that could save you from annoying bladder issues or even painful urinary tract infections (UTIs).
The Big Peeing Mistake: Pushing
“Don’t push when you pee,” Dr. Reardon says. “Your bladder is a muscle—it knows what it’s doing. Just sit, relax, and let it flow.”
Sounds simple, right? But many of us unknowingly strain during urination, which can mess with your pelvic floor and increase your risk of infections or bladder dysfunction.
What’s the Deal with UTIs?
If you’ve never had a UTI, consider yourself lucky. These infections hit your urinary system—mainly the bladder and urethra—and come with not-so-fun symptoms like burning during urination, frequent urges to pee, and cloudy or bloody urine.
If you urinate wrong, it could impact your health (Getty Stock Images)
While antibiotics can clear them up, a UTI that spreads to your kidneys can lead to serious complications. So prevention? Kinda a big deal.
Related Posts
Don’t “Just in Case” Pee
We’ve all done the “just in case” bathroom stop before leaving the house. But Dr. Reardon warns that doing this regularly—even without a real urge—can train your bladder to go more frequently than it needs to. Over time, this can make your bladder shrink and create a never-ending cycle of urgency.
How Often Should You Pee?
UTIs and muscle issues can become problems if you push when peeing (Getty Stock Images)
Ideally, you should be peeing every 2 to 4 hours during the day and maybe once or twice at night. Anything far outside this range? It’s worth paying attention to.
Pro Tips for Better Bathroom Posture
According to the National Association for Continence (NAFC), your peeing posture matters too. To fully relax your pelvic floor and empty your bladder properly, try this:
✅ Sit with your knees slightly higher than your hips
✅ Place your palms on your knees
✅ Stay a moment after you finish and try again, or get up and return if needed
And the golden rule? Never strain.
Takeaway: Sit. Chill. Flow.
Your bladder knows what it’s doing—trust it! Listen to your body, ditch the “just in case” trips, and give yourself time on the toilet. These small habits can help you avoid infections and keep your urinary system in check.
For more insights, check out expert tips at Mayo Clinic and NAFC.
Let me know if you’d like this in HTML format, or if you want a version tailored for a blog post with visual cues or headers for easier readability.
