Bladder Health Q&A
How frequently should I be going to the bathroom?
A healthy frequency for urination is around every 2-4 waking hours, totaling about 4-10 times per day.
Is it normal to have to use the bathroom at night?
Nighttime urination, called nocturia, is healthy at a frequency of 0-2 times per night.
Is urinary leakage normal after pregnancy?
While urinary incontinence postpartum is common, it can be treatable! Many individuals experience leakage postpartum due to weakened or tense pelvic floor muscles. With the right guidance and pelvic floor exercises, you can regain bladder control and confidence. At BEYOND Physical Therapy, we specialize in pelvic health and can help you get back to feeling like yourself again.
What color should my urine be?
Typically, a pale yellow color indicates healthy urine! A darker yellow may indicate dehydration.
Is it healthy to go to the bathroom “just in case?”
“Just in case” urinations often refer to when an individual uses the bathroom “just in case” they might have to go shortly after. For example, using the bathroom before a long car ride “just in case” you have to urinate during the ride.
The way we think about “just in case” urinations at BEYOND PT is situational. So if you have a long car ride coming up, where it may not be possible to stop at a restroom for a long time, it makes perfect sense to use the bathroom before you leave even if you urinated recently…just in case! However, if you urinated an hour ago and have a 5-minute car ride to your friend’s house, where a bathroom would be available, we would NOT recommend urinating “just in case” before you leave the house.
The main reason we would not recommend urinating “just in case” in situations where it may not be necessary involves habit training. Regularly training yourself to use the bathroom before you get in the car may eventually lead to a feeling of urgency each time you get in the car! While this is not inherently unhealthy, it may lead to increased frequency of urination and may be bothersome during daily life. For the best bladder health, try to avoid urinating “just in case” when possible!
Another common question we get is “is it healthy to urinate in the shower?” The same principle applies here – it is safe to urinate in the shower, but beware that with repetition, you may eventually train your brain to create a sense of urinary urgency every time you step in the shower!
How do you tell if you need pelvic floor therapy?
Pelvic floor therapy addresses many aspects of bladder health. We highly recommend individuals come to pelvic floor physical therapy if they are experiencing urinary incontinence, increased urinary frequency (going to the bathroom many times a day), increased urinary urgency (feeling the urge to go to the bathroom often or very strong urges), or discomfort with urination.
At BEYOND Physical Therapy, we strive to help individuals not only treat bladder issues, but work to prevent them! If you are interested in learning more about your bladder health, but don’t necessarily have a bladder “issue” at this time, you are more than welcome to come work with us! We especially recommend this for individuals who want to prevent bladder changes with age or individuals who envision pregnancy in their near future.
Reach out to us at [email protected] or sign up for a 15-minute consultation on our website here!
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