Why Swimming Makes You Want to Urinate: The Whole Truth!

Increased hydrostatic pressure is one of the reasons why swimming makes you pee. This pressure increases the flow of blood to the kidneys, which means filtration happens fast, and the bladder fills faster than when you are on land. Also, the cold temperature of the water causes the body to want to lose its fluids to maintain its core temperature.

When you see a person wearing a funny I pee in pools t-shirt, tank top, hat, or hoodie at the swimming pool, he is warning you that if you are not careful, you might pee in the water involuntarily.

There are hundreds of reasons why swimming is good for you. They include a great cardio workout to enhance your circulation, heart rate, and lung health. It is also a great way to beat stress, and swimming 3 times a week results in incredible weight loss.

But still, swimming has its flip side. One of the disadvantages is that it makes you want to pee more often.

Keep reading as we look at why swimming makes you urinate and how to prevent it

Why does swimming make you want to pee?

People pee in the swimming pools all the time. This means healthy people, those with urine incontinence issues, seniors, and kids.

It is hard to tell if someone peed in the pool. But it is happening, even in your pool.

But… Most people pee in saltwater or chlorine pools involuntarily. They just cannot help it.

So, why does this happen? Why do people suddenly feel the urge to urinate when they get into the water?

Again, swimming makes you want to urinate because of the hydrostatic pressure of the water on your body.

The pressure of the water causes an increase in blood flow to the kidneys, which means faster filtration and filling of the bladder. This, in turn, means a more urgent need to empty the bladder.

The water’s cool temperature also triggers the body to release urine. This process is called cold diuresis, which occurs when the body tries to maintain its core temperature by eliminating excess fluids.

Dr. Eric Gendron, a urologist at Hartford Healthcare, says, “Swimming is a unique activity because it involves constant pressure on the bladder. This can cause increased urine production.”

This pressure on the bladder can also be attributed to the constant movement and bouncing of the body while swimming.

Does swimming make you pee more?

Yes, swimming can make you pee more frequently than other activities.

A study by the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education shows that swimmers are more likely to experience frequent urination during and after swimming compared to runners or cyclists.

The study found that swimming stimulates urination due to the hydrostatic pressure and cold temperature of the water.

Because of something called immersion diuresis, swimmers feel the need to swim more. Generally, frequent urination can be an indication of a health condition such as diabetes.

Thankfully, immersion diuresis only comes when you get into the water. Thus, it cannot cause any health complications.

In the post on why swimming makes you tired, we said it makes you sweat a lot.

Being in a place of high humidity sends a signal to your body that it needs to lose some of its fluids. This is why you feel the need to pee more frequently.

But when you sweat too much, the body will figure it’s losing too much fluid. It might want to hold onto some, therefore locking in the urine in the bladder and suppressing the urge to pee.

This is why you feel thirstier, and the risk of being dehydrated while swimming is high. Drink water and fluids like sports drinks before, during, and after the swim.

Why do I urinate when I get out of the pool?

Post-swim urination is quite okay. So do not be apprehensive when you feel the need to urinate as soon as you get out of the water.

This is called post-swimming urination.

It’s a whole psychological thing. Inside the water, the body holds onto the urine while swimming to conserve water. Remember, we said you would sweat a lot when you swam. This signals the body to contain its fluids to prevent dehydration.

Once you get out of the water, your body realizes that it can eliminate the urine it was holding onto, resulting in the urge to urinate urgently.

Does your body absorb water while swimming?

Water does not go inside you when you swim.

When a swimmer experiences the need to pee more often during and after swimming, some might think the body absorbs water.

But no, your body does not absorb water while swimming. The skin is a barrier that prevents water from entering the body, and the only way the body can absorb water is through drinking it.

The body will not even absorb water through the skin pores. However, it does lose water through sweating and evaporation while swimming. This can lead to dehydration if you do not take water and other drinks.

How to prevent peeing while swimming

It is just bad manners to pee in the swimming pool. Besides, the swimming pool safety regulations prohibit it. You must make sure that you don’t pee in the water. Try and hold it until you get out of the pool and into the bathroom.

When you pee in the water, you deplete the free chlorine resources, such that not enough remains to kill microbes. This raises the need to shock the pool with chlorine more often.

Here are a few things you can do to avoid urinating in your in-ground or above ground pool when swimming:

1. Take breaks in your swim, at least every 30 minutes. This is going to reduce the pressure on the bladder and decrease the urge to pee.
2. Use the restroom before getting into the water. Emptying your bladder before getting into the pool will lower the urge to pee.
3. Hydrate properly before swimming. Proper hydration before swimming can reduce the need to urinate frequently.
4. Reduce your caffeine intake, since it is a diuretic and increases urine production in your kidneys. Instead of caffeine, take water.
5. Hold the pee. Train your bladder to hold the urine until you can get out of the pool. Do not wait too long, though, because holding urine too long is unhealthy for the body.

Final thoughts

The increased hydrostatic pressure, the low temperature of the water, and the constant buoyancy all increase urination. Even floating on your back can increase the urge to pee.

But just because swimming makes you want to urinate more does not mean you should do it. It is a dirty and disgusting thing to do inside a public, or even private, swimming pool. Try to get out in good time to go to the bathroom.

Swimming in the ocean will make you want to pee more often. Because it might be hard to get back to the shore on time, just pee in the water. That’s allowed.

Taking frequent breaks when swimming can help you avoid urinating in the water, as can going to the bathroom before you start your swim.