We’ve all been there. The baby’s crying upstairs, so you need to speed up your bathroom visit to get to her quickly. You’re racing to your next meeting, and you only have a minute to stop for the bathroom. You’re late for your doctor’s appointment, but you just need to make a pit stop before you leave. Sometimes having to pee gets in the way of our daily lives.

If you’re someone who’s moving so fast that you push when you pee, you could be setting yourself up for some trouble down the road

When your bladder is working the way, it should, it naturally tells your pelvic floor and tummy muscles to relax so the pee can flow out on its own. You don’t need to push or strain — in fact, forcing it out can cause more problems than you might think.

Why you don’t want to push when you pee:

• Mixed signals for your muscles: If you’re always pushing, your body can get “confused” and start thinking peeing = tensing your pelvic floor, when it should really mean relaxing.

• Tight pelvic floor issues: If your pelvic floor is already a bit too tight, pushing can make it worse, sometimes leading to pain or even bladder problems.

• Pelvic organ prolapse (for women): Straining over time can weaken your pelvic floor, which may cause organs like your bladder or uterus to drop down into the vaginal canal.

• Haemorrhoids: All that pressure when straining (whether peeing or pooping) can also contribute to or worsen haemorrhoids.

Sometimes pushing happens because we’re in a rush, but if you find you always need to strain, it could be a sign of something else going on.

• For men, an enlarged prostate (BPH) can block the flow, making it hard to start peeing, so you naturally end up pushing.

• For women, prolapse can make it harder for urine to come out, leading to straining too.

So, what should you do if you feel like you have to push?

Check in with a doctor or pelvic health Physiotherapist. They can help figure out what’s behind it and get you on the right track.

Tips for healthier peeing habits:

• Take a breath and relax. Don’t rush it — give your body time to do its thing.

• Sit the right way. No hovering! Sit fully on the toilet with your knees slightly higher than your hips and your hands resting on your thighs. A little footstool under your feet can help.

• Try “double voiding.” After you finish, wait a moment, relax again, and see if there’s a little more. Or stand up, move around, then sit back down and try once more.

The big takeaway? Don’t strain. Peeing might seem like the simplest thing in the world, but giving it some attention now can save you from a lot of trouble later.

Proactive Physiotherapy has four pelvic health physiotherapists ready to help you. For an appointment please phone 0740536222 or book online.