Randomized Trial Finds No Urination Benefit From Sitting or Standing

Whether men should urinate sitting or standing appears to make little medical difference for those without urinary problems, according to a randomized clinical trial published October 31, 2026, in Neurourology and Urodynamics. Researchers from the Colombian Urology Research Group examined how both positions affected urinary flow and bladder emptying.

The study involved 52 healthy male volunteers between 18 and 39 years old. Researchers monitored each participant while urinating in both positions to compare their maximum urinary flow rate and total urine volume.

Participants were randomly assigned to begin either sitting or standing before switching to the alternative position. Each change was separated by a minimum 24-hour interval to reduce potential effects from the previous test.

The measurements showed no meaningful differences in maximum urinary flow rate or the amount of urine expelled. Standing participants took slightly longer to reach their peak flow, although researchers noted that the statistical difference was partly influenced by one unusual result and was unlikely to have clinical significance.

The research team summarized its primary finding in the published study:

"In healthy men, voiding posture did not significantly modify the maximum urinary flow rate or voided volume," the researchers concluded.

The findings are consistent with earlier research examining urinary posture among healthy men. In 2023, bladder physiology researchers Christian Moro and Charlotte Phelps discussed the available evidence in an article published by The Conversation.

They reported that existing research had not established a meaningful difference in urinary performance between the two positions.

"Regardless of the position, there seems to be no difference in the time taken to pee, the flow rate, and how completely the bladder is emptied," wrote Christian Moro and Charlotte Phelps.

The researchers also emphasized that men without urinary difficulties could choose whichever position they preferred.

"So long as there are no urinary concerns, men are free to choose their preferred position. If you choose to stand, just be sure to aim well," wrote Christian Moro and Charlotte Phelps.

However, urinary posture may have different implications for men experiencing prostate enlargement or other urinary conditions. Previous research has suggested that sitting could help certain patients relax their pelvic floor muscles and empty their bladders more effectively.

Urologist Rena Malik has discussed how an enlarged prostate can restrict the urethra, potentially producing a weaker urinary stream and making urination more difficult for older men.

For some patients, sitting may also offer practical hygiene advantages, particularly when standing becomes difficult.

"So sitting can be more convenient for hygiene purposes," explained Rena Malik.

She also cautioned against treating this explanation as an established medical conclusion.

"But these are all theories," Malik acknowledged.

Earlier evidence provides additional context. A 2014 meta-analysis covering 11 studies found that sitting was associated with more complete bladder emptying among men with lower urinary tract symptoms. However, researchers found no comparable differences among healthy men.

The earlier studies had limitations, including relatively small participant groups and a lack of randomization in the order of sitting and standing tests. The authors of the 2026 trial said these methodological weaknesses made stronger research necessary.

They also highlighted limitations in how previous studies interpreted their findings.

"And, crucially, those reporting 'no differences' rarely perform formal equivalence analyses, which leads to claims that exceed what the data can support," the study authors wrote.

The latest randomized trial was designed to address some of these research limitations. Its authors described the practical implications of their findings in their clinical assessment.

"From a clinical perspective," the researchers noted,

"appears to have little practical influence on uroflowmetry in healthy men," the authors concluded.

The researchers further stated that healthy men could choose their preferred urination position.

"void in their preferred position," the study authors concluded.