Why do men pee while standing?

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Let’s be honest – a bathroom break isn’t always just a bathroom break. Sometimes, it’s the only pause you get during a busy day spent attending meetings, writing emails, and doing everything you can to meet that deadline. But whether you’re standing, sitting, or just taking a minute of peace behind a locked door, it’s worth doing it comfortably. So, should a man pee standing up or sitting down? One isn’t necessarily better than the other, but whichever one you go for needs to be done properly. 

Wondering how to pee properly? Men and women might have differing ideas. Here are some tips on how to urinate properly (standing or sitting), and some good toilet hygiene habits to get into when going to the toilet. 

Why do men pee while standing up?

There are a few cultural, biological, and practical reasons why men pee standing: 

• Anatomy and ease: Men’s anatomy makes urination in a standing position generally more convenient and efficient.¹
• Social norms: Many men are raised with the assumption that standing is the "normal" or "masculine" way to urinate. Boys are often taught this at a young age, reinforcing the habit into adulthood. 
• Speed and convenience: Generally, peeing standing up is quicker than sitting down.¹ There’s a reason why the queues outside men’s and women’s public toilets are so different, you can use a urinal if all the stalls are busy.  
• Hygiene: Peeing standing vs sitting means you don’t have to worry about uninviting public toilet seats. In fact, some men may prefer to remain standing when using public toilets but happily sit on their toilet seat at home. It all comes down to personal preferences. 

Is it better to pee standing or sitting?

So, is it better to pee standing or sitting? The answer is: it depends. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Here are some reasons why you might prefer to pee sitting:

• Missing the bowl: If you urinate standing, there is a higher chance that urine can splash onto the toilet rim, seat, floor, and if you’re really unlucky, your clothes. While this mostly depends on your aim, it may be simpler to take a seat. Many parents teach sitting first when potty training boys to avoid mess and help their child focus on control and aim before transitioning to standing. 
• More complete emptying: The choice between standing and sitting isn’t just personal—it can affect your health, too. For men with certain medical conditions (like an enlarged prostate), sitting may help fully empty the bladder.² Men with lower urinary tract symptoms may also benefit from sitting down to pee as it can reduce strain on the bladder. 
• Cultural influences: Where you live and how you were raised can strongly influence your urination habits. In Germany, sitting to pee is so common that there's even a word for men who do (Sitzpinkler).³
• A moment of relaxation: Sitting to pee is also a break in the day—a bit of time to unwind, check your phone, or just sit in peace. And we all deserve a little break sometimes! 

Ultimately, the decision to start peeing standing vs sitting comes down to personal preference. Most importantly, your trip to the bathroom can be your much-needed moment to reset before launching back into helping with homework, hopping on client calls, or figuring out what’s for dinner! 

How to urinate properly

Urinating, sitting or standing, both have the same goal—hygiene, comfort, and proper emptying. Here's how to urinate properly, regardless of position: 

• Lift the seat first
  All men who pee while standing will try to avoid touching the seat, relying solely on their skills of geometry. But splashes and miscalculated angles will still require some clearing up. It’s quicker and more hygienic to lift the seat in the first place, which makes any clean-up operation a bit easier.

• Aim wisely
  Stand close enough to the bowl or urinal to reduce splash. Aim for the inner wall of the toilet bowl at a downward angle to reduce rebound.
• Time it right
  How do men pee standing up in the morning? At this time, urinating while standing successfully is the luck of the draw. If you find you have more clean-ups in the early morning, it’s likely your body might not have fully woken up yet. You might find it easier to sit down first thing.  
  
• Relax
  It’s possible you might struggle to get started if you’re peeing in a public toilet. Think calming thoughts, give yourself a slow countdown, or think of a thunderous waterfall. And remember: the guy next to you isn’t looking at you or noticing you haven’t started peeing yet. Chill.
  
• Take some time
  You might think you’ve finished peeing, but your body might not agree. Zipping up too soon can lead to needing to clean up more than just the toilet seat. 
• Put the seat down
  It’s a simple, courteous touch that’ll make a different to whoever’s using the toilet next.

So, should men sit while urinating? Perhaps. Convenience, culture, and anatomy all influence that choice. If you’re wondering whether to urinate sitting or standing, try switching it up based on the situation. It’s entirely up to you – there’s no right or wrong way to spend your bathroom time. Explore both options and see what suits your body and lifestyle best. 

In the end, whether you pee standing or prefer to sit, even a simple toilet break can become a moment to pause, reset, and take a breath. After a day of juggling deadlines before settling into the night shift of laundry loads and meal prep, those quiet few minutes can feel almost sacred. 

And while you’re indulging in some new toilet tips, why not find out our take on the best way to wipe properly?