At the very lowest level of physiological functioning, at the gilliest levels of male experience, puking (particularly an erection) has long provoked amusement and fascination. More recently, a social-media gambit comparing peeing with an erection and giving birth has gone viral. Though this is far more a joke than an actual scientific assertion, it’s at least partly accurate for the way many men go about this. In this post, we’ll dive into the biology behind this, provide some personal examples, and highlight why such an easy activity can become a frustrating undertaking.
Understanding the Mechanics
To understand why peeing in an erection can be so difficult, you have to learn about the anatomy of a male and the physiological mechanisms that govern erection and urination.
How An Erection Works: Blood flow dominates the way that a man will get an erection. Three cylindrical tissues line the penis: two corpora cavernosa and one corpus spongiosum, which encompasses the urethra. Under a stimulus, they become bloody, making the penis grow larger and stiffer. This blood flow not only keeps the penis straight, but also hard, making urination a logistics nightmare.
The Biology of Urination: Urination is performed through an orchestrated process between bladder, sphincter and urethra. The bladder overflows with urine, widening its walls and luring the brain to clear out. But during an erection, pressure on the urethra rises, and you get this double-edged sword where one part wants to excrete and the other one is obstructed by a hard-packed erection.
The Struggle: The struggle occurs where these two systems come together. The bladder might be full and ready to go, but the erect penis poses a problem. In short, the act requires confronting the dual challenge of dignity while simultaneously coping with a biological response that does not immediately make sense in terms of action.
The Challenges of Urination with an Erection
Targeting the Urinal: A Game of Angles
This is the most real-world problem that can arise when you’re faced with this challenge, and for most men, the logistical aspect of aiming can be the first thing to hit. A sexed penis changes the position and trajectory of urination. In contrast to the downward angle typical when the penis is dangling, the erection tends to move upward. This can create a bit of a tightrope, with positioning crucial for both saving face and to avoid overspill.
In addition, men’s bathrooms are often filled with urinals, not always built around the erect body. The change of posture or orientation necessary to get close to the urinal can be awkward, especially in public bathrooms, where anonymity is often prized.
Psychological Factors: Performance Pressure
It is hard to ignore the psychological element of urinating on an erection. Men are sometimes under a certain sense of pressure, especially in public. The threat of a spontaneous accident – a failure to set a timer or the possibility of urination within the parameters of a static state – increases anxiety. The anxiety can even interfere with the relaxation of the muscles required to urinate, making things even more challenging.
It’s also worth noting that cultural masculinity norms can amp up these emotions. Men might also have the sense that even the most nonsensical work should be done competently, causing a paralysis of self-consciousness and, sometimes, shame.
The Timing of Urges
This causes the simultaneous urges to pee and have sex to be shifted in the wrong time, which can create frustrating circumstances. For example, sudden insanity can occur while a man uses the bathroom, forcing him to work through the simultaneous desires to excrete and the physical state of his body. We don’t talk about this synchronicity problem, but many men experience it.
Temperature Sensitivity
Temperature variations can contribute to the puzzle. Many men complain that peeing erection-free in a colder climate pushes the sphincter further down and makes spitting up even more difficult. These bodily responses aren’t merely psychological; they’re physical sensations that can make the challenge all the more daunting.
Myths and Misconceptions
Despite what some people think, peeing through an erection isn’t always easier or worse than giving birth. Childbirth is a complex set of events, and it can involve extreme physical discomfort, trauma, and even death. By contrast, going to the bathroom with an erection, while it occasionally feels uncomfortable or requires tactical modifications, generally does not have the same deep emotional and physical stakes as childbirth.
Cultures sometimes manipulate what we understand as the male experience with euphemism – making what might otherwise be an improbable encounter into an operatic production. This over-emphasis can fuel misinformation and keep men’s health conversations under wraps.
Social Stigmas and Male Health
The awkwardness of male urination while standing carries another social stigma: the idea that men should be calm and stoic at all times. Such social pressure might discourage frank discussion of seemingly trivial, yet difficult, matters. Men, as a result, may be left feeling alone, believing that they’re the only ones affected, reluctant even to mention it in the slightest.
Rather, recognizing such experiences can help create a community and tolerance, where men can openly talk about their bodies. This is especially true in discussions about mens’ health that often result in deeper discussions about sexual and urinary health.
Potential Solutions and Tips
Surely, as regressive as it might be, there are methods to combat the difficulties of peeing on an erection. Here are some helpful tips:
Change your Stance: Varying your stance will give you a good, comfortable aiming position. Taking a small forward lean or using a slightly more vertical position might give you more control and confidence.
If You Can Wait: Waiting until the erection subsides can make things a lot easier. Patience may not be always a viable option in times of crisis, but it might be worth the wait if you have time.
Be Relaxed: You can focus on taking slow and calm breaths that reduce anxiety. It is by relaxing your pelvic floor muscles that you begin to urinate.
Get a Stall: If you feel like the idea of using a urinal is too overwhelming, consider getting a bathroom stall which can provide extra privacy and seat-sitting to take many of the obstacles out of the way.
Conclusion: Peeing With An Erection Isn’t ‘More Difficult Than Childbirth,’ But It Can Be Challenging
Although laughing when people say peeing on a poop is ‘harder than giving birth’ sounds like a fun joke, the fact of the matter is that it is just a subtle, though unfashionable aspect of the male body. Learning the biological, psychological and situational factors can dispel this common struggle and equip men to laugh at manhood’s struggles. We all – no matter our gender – must negotiate this sometimes awkward intersection of body and function. So the next time you find yourself in an unwelcome bathroom situation, know this: it’s human nature and sometimes a good laugh is the best medicine against life’s oddities.
