--- title: "Scientists Study Difference Between Men Who Pee Standing Up and Sitting Down" description: "Researchers at the Columbian Urology Research Group were hoping to put a long-running urology debate to rest." date: "2026-11-07" modified: "2026-11-07" authors: - name: "Joe Wilkins" job_title: "Correspondent" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jwilkins.md" url: "https://futurism.com/health-medicine/scientists-urology-pee-standing-sitting" categories: - "Health & Medicine" - "Medical" - "Studies" --- # Scientists Study Difference Between Men Who Pee Standing Up and Sitting Down ![A man standing while peeing.]() *Shutterstock / Futurism* One key debate still swirling around men's health: is it better to pee standing, or sitting down? It may seem like a silly question, but there is some scientific merit to the question. Previous [studies have found]() that men with prostate issues or urinary complications could be better off sitting, pointing to the possibility that plopping down may help loosen up pelvic floor muscles. Unfortunately, the evidence available is [far from conclusive]() — which is probably what inspired the Colombian Urology Research Group to plow ahead with a new study published [in the journal *Neurourology and Urodynamics*](). The research, first flagged [by *Science Alert*](), took a look at the "posture adopted during voiding" of 52 male volunteers, 24 of whom stood while the rest sat. Each group went on a 24 hour "washout" break in between tests. During the examination, researchers looked at maximum urine flow rate, as well as the total volume of urine expelled in one go. Despite previous polarizing studies on the topic, this piece of research yielded a dull conclusion: it just doesn't seem to matter. "In healthy men, voiding posture did not significantly modify the maximum urinary flow rate or voided volume," the team wrote. The one difference between the two postures, the scientists noted, was in what might be called "acceleration." "The sitting position was associated with a shorter time to maximum flow," the scientists wrote, noting that it's a "small difference that is unlikely to be clinically meaningful and was partly dependent on a single outlier." Still, you never know until you try. **More on research studies:** *[Alarming Study Finds That Most People Just Do What ChatGPT Tells Them, Even If It's Totally Wrong]()* ## Author At Futurism, I focus on the intersection of technology and power — examining the economics, history, and politics behind today’s dystopian headlines. As a writer, I’m interested in topics ranging from AI’s impact on labor to startups nobody asked for. My prior work includes bylines in Jacobin, Verso, and Blue Labyrinths. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Forbes, The Guardian, MIT Technology Review, Time, The Nation, Mother Jones, The Verge, and Wired. I grew up in Michigan, attending Central Michigan University as well as Ball State University, where I earned a master of music. I now live in Brooklyn with my girlfriend and our cat Ziti. On weekends, you can find me hunched over a cold pint arguing geopolitics with the other transplants. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() ## More - [Scientists Have Been Studying Your Pee and They Finally Have Answers]() - [Scientists Working on Toilet That Identifies You by Your Butthole]() - [Scientists Decry New Study Linking Fluoride to Lower IQ in Kids]() - [Scientists Find That Dosing Men With Antidepressants Can Cut Down on Domestic Violence]() - [Scientists Study Who Actually Likes Lip Filler]() - [Teens Who Vape Show Higher Levels of Uranium and Lead, Scientists Find]() - [Scientists Just Found Something Dark About Men Who Want to Have Sex With Robots]() - [Scientists Have Figured Which Types of People Are Successfully Hooking Up the Most on Tinder]()