Why Does A Running Tap Increase The Urge To Pee ?

[Canary42]

Why does a running tap increase the urge to pee ?

[Sqad]

No idea..........and neither does anyone else.

Theory........running water relaxes you including the sphincters of the bladder by stimulating the Parasympathetic nervous system.

Thar's about it.

[wolf63]

I asked my GP and he said - just because it does.

[Tilly2]

With me, it's my nearness to home. I can go out with Tilly for an hour and a half and want to have a wee for the last 29 minutes. That last minute, getting in the gate and opening the back door is a torture! I don't even take my coat and boots off! What bliss it is to get to the downstairs toilet, just in time......usually.

[Canary42]

Thanks for your replies.

Why it suddenly occurred to me is because on the way to the loo I diverted to the kitchen to put the kettle on for a cuppa and the noise of the running tap almost caused an accident !

And yes divebuddy, I've experienced the key in the lock one too.

[pixie374]

I think divebuddy is right... association.

[Samuraisan]

Ah, wee wee stories. How about waking up with the urge at 5.30 and wondering if you can wait until 8.00 ? And then saying to yourself " don't be stupid, get up , have a wee and you can then relax and a sleep a bit more "

[Tilly2]

if you wake up wanting a wee, you need to get up and go. No way can you go back to sleep.

[Old_Geezer]

It concentrates the mind on running liquid which brings your attention to the liquid you'd like to run out of you.

[ladyalex]

I think it is a pavlovian thing...remember Pavlov's dogs that he showed would salivate to the sound of a bell when he had previously sounded a bell when or just before feeding them?
The sound of running water occurs every time you pee, so the association has been formed when you were very young....so when you hear the sound of running water your bladder sphincter loosens off and you really really nèed to go.
That's what I think, anyway.