Science Judges: To Pee Standing Or To Pee Sitting - That Is A Men's Question

I can still recall that image my friend had at his office bathroom door. It was a picture of a guy peeing while standing, with a big X on top of it, and another with a guy sitting to pee, with a check mark next to it. Kinda went like a variation of this one below :D

While many guys frown upon the idea of guys sitting down while peeing (HEY WE ARE MEN lol), yet there are several reasons that apparently make the idea much better.

Should we sit for a piss?

• Cleanliness: Well that one sounds obvious. Not all men are 100% accurate shooters. And when your aim is wrong, your urine can spill all over the place. So for the sake of cleanliness and hygiene, sitting is definitely a better option.

• Splash Backs: Even if you have Robin Hood's aiming skills, you risk another issue. Splash-backs.
  While aiming to properly hit the porcelain instead of the water, and maintaining a less than 45⁰ angle would help minimize the amount, yet also the travel distance that urine has to pass when standing up, makes it impossible for urine not to break to droplets due to the Plateau-Rayleigh instability, which comes into effect 15 cms (6 inches) down your urine flow.
  

  A depiction of the Plateau-Rayleigh instability from water faucets
  
  According to Fluid dynamics scientist Randy Hurd at Brigham Young University:

Much splash ensues, and it is physically impossible to prevent a portion of these satellite droplets from clearing the toilet-bowl rim and impacting undesired targets beyond. Sitting while urinating is generally frowned on in the male community, but the considerate and scientifically astute among the male species should be willing to admit that sitting is the logical choice.

Check out the video below simulating fluid dynamics while urinating

• Empty Your Bladder: Some scientific research had been conducted on the topic, and while a positive conclusion on this effect was not found as a general case for healthy men, yet according to a 2014 study conducted by Ype de Jong et al., Department of Urology, Leiden University Medical Center, this seemed to be the healthier option for men suffering from LUTS - lower urinary tract symptoms. Such condition is often age related and can be resulting from enlarged prostate.
  The problem is essentially due to the standing stance leading to contraction of pelvic muscle, which would cause disturbance to the urinary flow. Seated urinating would allow these muscles to relax, while also relaxing the hip muscles.

We found that in patients with LUTS the sitting position is associated with a trend towards a more favorable urodynamic profile

• Relaxation: Muscle relaxation is a something we already covered in the point above, which would allow urine flow to be easier and more consistent. Yet also sitting while peeing can give you this little extra time to have a quick relaxing break from whatever you were doing, as it just takes a little bit longer to get through. You can even check your email, read a steemit article, or keep that chat conversation running lol

• Culture: While it is a widespread understanding that real men pee standing :D, yet it seems different cultures have different views into the topic. In fact, according to a report in March 2015 by the telegraph newspaper, reference 7 below:

governments in countries such as Sweden, Taiwan and Japan have all encouraged men to sit.

• No fights with your girl/wife for leaving the seat up: And this might be the most compelling reason amongst all LOL. Who needs another reason to find with your significant other?

And if the reasons above weren't enough for you, check out this funny video

So there you have it!
While men have the advantage of easily unzipping and taking a piss standing wherever they are, is it really best to do that if the other option is available?
Bottom line is, sitting might not be a bad idea after all!
How will your next piss be, standing, or sitting? :D

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References:

1. https://www.popsci.com/article/science/science-addresses-problem-pee-splashback
2. https://www.livescience.com/41107-physics-of-peeing-and-splash-back.html
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plateau%E2%80%93Rayleigh_instability
4. http://www.medicaldaily.com/men-luts-other-prostate-problems-may-improve-urination-sitting-down-307375
5. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0101320
6. https://www.curejoy.com/content/which-is-healthier-for-men-peeing-standing-or-sitting/
7. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/11445274/If-youre-a-true-gentleman-you-should-pee-sitting-down.html

Photo Credits:

• Image 1
• Image 2

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