Is it normal to have an urge to pee once you wake up? We found out

Lots of people wake up once at night because of this, and it is totally normal, she added.

According to her, the main thing is how you drink water in the day. “Instead of drinking 2 litres in the morning or a full glass just before bed, you can sip small amounts throughout the day. That will keep you hydrated without having problems with your sleep,” said Sharma.

In fact, she also mentioned that waking up once every night to pee after drinking water before bed is also normal. However, if you tend to wake up many times, your sleep gets disturbed often, or you feel thirsty all the time, then it is better to go to a doctor.

The body has a finely tuned system for eliminating waste (Source: Freepik)

What happens if you ignore your urge to pee?

Imagine your bladder as a balloon. As it fills up with urine, it sends signals to your brain that it needs to be emptied. “Now, if you decide to hold it in, the bladder keeps expanding, putting pressure on its walls. It’s like blowing up a balloon beyond its recommended size – eventually, it might burst. In the case of your bladder, it won’t burst, but it can cause problems,” said Dr Ashutosh Baghel, consultant urologist, andrologist and kidney transplant surgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals Mira Road.

Concurred Dr Shobha Gupta, medical director, gynecologist, and IVF specialist from Mother’s Lap IVF Centre New Delhi and Vrindavan and shared that it can lead to UTIs as the urine that stays in the bladder for extended periods can provide a breeding ground for bacteria.

“UTIs can cause discomfort, pain, and potentially more serious complications if left untreated. Additionally, suppressing the urge to pee may lead to bladder dysfunction over time,” said Dr Gupta.

The body has a finely tuned system for eliminating waste. “Suppressing the urge to pee disrupts this natural process, potentially leading to imbalances in bodily functions,” said Dr Babina N M, chief medical officer, Jindal Naturecure Institute.

Notably, the bladder is a muscle, and regularly ignoring the signals to empty it can result in weakened muscles and reduced bladder capacity. “This can contribute to issues such as incontinence, where you may struggle to control the release of urine. Furthermore, prolonged suppression of the urge to urinate can lead to distension of the bladder, causing discomfort and potential damage. In extreme cases, it may even result in a condition called urinary retention, where the bladder becomes unable to empty itself properly,” added Dr Gupta.