How to Stimulate Urination

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This article was co-written by Chris M. Matsko, MD. Dr. Matsko is a retired physician with offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was awarded the University of Pittsburgh Cornell’s Distinguished Leadership Award. He received his PhD from Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. He holds a Research Diploma from AMWA in 2016 and a Medical Content Writing & Editorial Certificate from the University of Chicago in 2017.

There are 18 references cited in this article that you can see at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 119,188 times.

If you need to urinate to get a urine sample, if you have “shy bladder” syndrome (difficulty urinating in public) or suddenly have difficulty urinating, you may have to stimulate yourself to urinate. Certain foods can also help you urinate, and psychological treatments may be available when you have “shy bladder.” However, in some cases, such as feeling pain in your bladder, you may need to seek medical attention.

Table of Contents

Stimulating urination

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Bend forward. Sit down and bend forward to squeeze the abdominal muscles as if you were having a bowel movement. Stretched abdominal muscles press on the bladder. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Press on the lower abdomen. While bending forward, place your arms across your lower abdomen and press gently. Do not press directly on the bladder as this may cause urine to back up into the kidneys. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Use your fingers to tap on the bladder. Repeatedly tapping your fingers on the bladder below the navel. Type for 30 seconds at a faster beat than once per second. ^{[3] X Research Source} If needed, you can move your fingers around to find the best spot and keep typing until the urine stream starts to flow evenly.

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Stimulates thighs and genitals. Stroking the inner thighs or tugging at the pubic hair can stimulate the nerves that control the bladder.

Food and liquid

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Drink more water. If you need to urinate to get a sample, drinking water a while before is probably the best and safest way to urinate.

There will be no harm to health even if you drink more water than usual. If the body takes in too much water, the kidneys will excrete it through the urine naturally. If you know you have to collect your urine when you go to the clinic, you can drink a glass or two of water beforehand.
However, if you have congestive heart failure or other conditions that cause edema, you should limit your fluid intake. If you have chronic kidney failure and are on dialysis, you should also limit your fluid intake.
Unless you have a particularly difficult time urinating in public, you don’t need to drink too much water. A 240 ml glass of water taken before your doctor’s appointment also makes it easier and faster to urinate when you arrive at the clinic. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Try eating some fruit. Some fruits have diuretic properties. Diuretics have the effect of promoting urine formation in the kidneys and causing the user to urinate more often. ^{[5] X Research Sources} Many fruits can be used as diuretics.

Citrus fruits, especially lemons, can help promote urination. Moreover, these fruits also have a long-term effect of lowering blood pressure, and are effective in treating urinary tract infections. ^{[6] X Research Source}
Watermelon has a high water content. When you eat watermelon, the fluid will accumulate and help you urinate. ^{[7] X Research Sources}
Fruit juices such as apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice can also be used as a diuretic. You can drink cranberry juice right before your doctor’s appointment and use apple cider vinegar as an ingredient in salads. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Use some herbs. Some herbs have a stimulant effect on urination and can be used as a natural diuretic if you need to urinate.

The antioxidants in parsley can help stimulate urination. ^{[9] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}
Coriander not only helps stimulate urination but also has the effect of lowering blood pressure and regulating the digestive system. ^{[10] X Research Source}
Garlic has many health benefits such as boosting the immune system, and can also be used as a natural diuretic. ^{[11] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}
Ginger can help flush out fluid build-up, and adding ginger to food as a condiment can increase urination. ^{[12] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Eat some vegetables. Fruits and herbs are not the only natural diuretics available. Certain vegetables can also stimulate urination.

Cucumber and celery contain a lot of water which helps to increase the amount of urine needed to urinate. ^{[13] X Research Source}
Carrots make an easy snack and help you pee more often. Eating a carrot or a cup of carrot juice can increase the likelihood of urinating. ^{[14] X Research Source}
Like cucumbers, cabbage with its high water content can help improve urination. ^{[15] X Research Source}

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Drink tea and coffee. Tea and coffee can help you urinate more often, and drinking a cup of green tea or black coffee before a urine sample is collected may help. However, be careful not to drink too much coffee, especially before your appointment. Caffeine can cause a temporary spike in blood pressure, while you need to make sure the readings are correct when you go to the clinic. ^{[16] X Research Source}

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Treatment of constipation. Hard and hard stools can press on the bladder and urethra, making it difficult to pass urine. ^{[17] X Trusted Source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Go to the source} Add fiber to your diet, get more exercise, and see your doctor if your constipation doesn’t improve.

Avoid holding your bowels, as this can cause constipation.

Overcoming the “shy bladder” syndrome

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Practice dynamic relaxation exercises – stretch muscles. Many people have difficulty urinating in public. If you have this syndrome, some relaxation techniques can help you stay calm enough to use a public restroom.

If you find a way to hold your pee, your body will do its own thing. Calming down with dynamic relaxation exercises – stretching can help deal with the problem. ^{[18] X Research Sources}
Relax each muscle group in turn. Start by relaxing your neck and shoulders, then work your way down to your arms, upper body, and hips. Continue until you relax your legs and shins. Focus on different muscle groups instead of focusing on using a public restroom. This exercise relaxes the muscles, allowing you to urinate without focusing on it. ^{[19] X Research Source}

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Find ways to distract yourself. As with muscle relaxation techniques, when you find a way not to think about urinating, this process is more likely to happen. You should look for distractions when using public restrooms.

If you have a smartphone, you can read new articles or listen to songs through your headset to distract yourself. ^{[20] X Research Sources}
You can also distract yourself with your thoughts. Find an image, song, line, or sound to think about while urinating. For example, you can picture a peaceful place like your childhood bedroom. You can also recite the lyrics of a song you know. Anything that keeps your mind off of using the toilet will do. ^{[21] X Research Source}

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Hold your breath. Holding your breath increases carbon dioxide levels in the body and reduces stress levels in general.

Exhale about 75% and hold. Try holding your breath for 45 seconds. ^{[22] X Research Source}
Repeat this action if it works. Some people find that this method actually increases nervousness, so it’s better to check out these breathing exercises before trying them out in public. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

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Seek psychological treatment. If you regularly strain to urinate in public and this leads to inconvenience at work or in social situations, you can seek psychological treatment for the problem.

“Shy indifference” syndrome can be successfully treated with behavioral therapy, medication, and hypnosis. Your psychiatrist will work with you to find the most appropriate treatment based on your psychological condition and medical history. ^{[24] X Research Sources}
You can find a psychiatrist through your health insurance company and try to find a free or discounted clinic in your area. If you are a student, you can get through the university.

Get expert help

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See you doctor. If there is an abnormality in urination, you should see your doctor to check for any medical conditions that are causing the problem.

The doctor will conduct an examination. If you’re a man, your doctor may check your prostate. ^{[25] X Research Sources}
If it is necessary to have a urine test, the doctor will use a urinary catheter to collect the urine. A urinary catheter is a flexible tube that is inserted into the urethra and drains urine into an external bag. ^{[26] X Research Source}
Blood tests may also be needed to check for signs of infection. ^{[27] X Research Source}
Treatment will depend on the cause, but many medications can be used to treat urinary tract problems. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

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Go to the emergency room if necessary. Sometimes the inability to urinate can be an emergency. You need to go to the emergency room quickly if you have the following symptoms:

A sharp pain in the bladder or abdomen can be a sign of a serious bladder blockage. You need to see a doctor right away; In this case, emergency catheterization may be required. ^{[29] X Research Sources}
Sudden and painful urinary retention can be very serious. Bladder and kidney damage can occur without emergency treatment, so you need to go to the emergency room as soon as possible. ^{[30] X Research Source}

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Use medicine. There are many medications used to treat urinary tract problems. You can ask your doctor to recommend appropriate medications.

Alpha receptor blockers are a class of drugs used to treat urinary tract problems. They relax the muscles in the bladder and reduce factors that interfere with urine flow. These drugs are often used to treat long-term problems associated with urinary retention, especially an enlarged prostate. ^{[31] X Research Source}
These drugs include 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and antimuscarinic drugs to treat urinary incontinence.
5-alpha-reductase inhibitors help to shrink the size of the prostate, so it is only prescribed for men. This medication can take weeks or even months to be effective, depending on how long the prostate reduction takes to work. ^{[32] X Research Source}

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See your doctor to determine the cause of your urinary tract problem. If you have trouble urinating, it’s usually caused by a medical condition. Your doctor will run several tests, including a urinalysis, to make sure you don’t have an infection and that your urine is normal.

Men who have difficulty urinating may have urinary incontinence. This condition is usually due to an enlarged prostate that is detected on physical examination. Advanced age is one of the risk factors for urinary incontinence. The older you get, the more likely you are to have problems urinating.
Prostate-related disease is another factor of concern, especially in people who have had prostate surgery or radiation therapy.
A history of urinary tract infections can also lead to problems with urination. You may have scars from infection, including narrowing or fistula formation.
In addition, physical limitations are also a risk factor for people with difficulty urinating.
Neuropathy also leads to urinary retention and problems with urination, including central nervous system, spinal cord problems, stroke or dementia.
Other medical conditions including diabetes, sleep apnea, depression and constipation can lead to incontinence problems.

Advice

Always follow the instructions of your general practitioner or urologist when it comes to treating urinary tract problems and stimulating urination.
If you often have trouble urinating, you should keep a “bladder diary” to keep track of your condition. Write down the number of times you urinate and the amount of urine you urinate each day. In addition, you also need to note the number of times you have urinary incontinence during the day, if any.
Although drinking a lot of fluids can stimulate urine production, you need to be careful not to drink more than 1 liter of water per hour, as this can cause water intoxication and even death.

Warning

If complete inability to urinate, also known as urinary retention, occurs, you should go to the emergency room right away. The medical staff will have to insert a urinary catheter into the urethra to drain urine immediately, and you will be given tests to determine the cause and seek appropriate treatment.

Steps