The key facts

  • The study involved 52 men aged 18–39 without urological disorders; each was tested sitting and standing
  • No significant differences were found in maximum flow rate or urine volume
  • Equivalence of the positions could not be formally confirmed; the authors call for larger studies

What and how the scientists tested

Specialists from the Colombian Urology Research Group conducted a randomized crossover study to find out whether body position during urination affects urodynamic parameters in healthy men. The work was published in the journal Neurourology and Urodynamics. The trial involved 52 men aged 18 to 39 without urological disorders: each underwent measurements twice — sitting and standing, with an interval of at least one day. The order of positions was determined randomly: 24 participants started sitting, 28 standing.

Main results

The crossover design makes it possible to compare a person with themselves and reduce the influence of individual characteristics. The researchers assessed maximum urine flow rate, total voided volume, and time to peak flow. For the first two parameters, no significant differences between positions were found. Standing, participants needed on average about 3.3 seconds more to reach maximum flow rate, but this small difference partly depended on the result of one volunteer, and the authors consider its clinical significance questionable. Gazeta.Ru reports on this.

Why the conclusion is more cautious than it seems

An important feature of the work is a separate test of the equivalence of the two positions in terms of maximum flow rate. The absence of a statistically significant difference does not by itself prove that the positions are practically identical, and formally confirming equivalence in this sample also failed. Therefore, the result is more accurately described as the absence of a convincing advantage of one position in the studied parameters among healthy young men, rather than as a universal answer to the question of how to urinate 'correctly'.

Limitations of the study

The conclusions do not automatically extend to people with an enlarged prostate or other symptoms of urination disorders. In addition, the trial did not assess possible long-term consequences of the choice of position, such as disease risk. The authors consider larger studies necessary, including ones involving patients with urination disorders.