The posture a man chooses when urinating has virtually no effect on bladder function or flow rate in healthy individuals, urologists at the Columbia Urology Research Group concluded after a randomized crossover clinical trial, infohub.kz reports.
The findings were published in the specialized journal "Neurourology and Urodynamics." The researchers set out to settle years of debate over whether sitting helps relax the pelvic floor muscles or whether standing is more physiological for the male body.
The experiment involved 52 healthy male volunteers aged 18 to 39. They were randomly divided into two equal groups: the first group provided samples while sitting and then standing, while the second group underwent the tests in reverse order. A mandatory break of at least 24 hours was observed when switching positions. The scientists recorded key urodynamic measures — peak urine flow rate and the total volume voided per toilet visit.
Analysis of the collected data showed a complete absence of any statistically or clinically significant difference between the two body positions. The only difference recorded was that participants needed slightly more time to reach peak flow rate while standing. However, the authors stressed that this deviation is largely explained by a single outlier in the data and has no practical significance for health. Thus, from a urological standpoint, healthy men are free to choose any comfortable position.
The question of body position often becomes a subject of debate and cultural prejudice in different countries. According to international surveys, about 40% of men in Germany prefer to urinate sitting down, whereas in the US the figure is only around 10%. The researchers note that posture may matter only in cases of prostate disease or lower urinary tract symptoms in older men. In such clinical situations, sitting can make it easier to empty the bladder and be more convenient from a hygiene standpoint, whereas for a healthy body there is no difference.