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Eastofdark t1_ixx3mxk wrote

Reply to comment by queensg28 in ELI5: Why does it seem to be harder for women to control their bladders? by RandomKidIsMe

This is misleading. In women everything is separate, unlike men. Separate vaginas and urethra and of course separate anus. But they are all close together, and pregnancy and birth puts massive stress on the area and on the pelvic floor muscles. When these muscles are stretched from birth, and in combination with hormones at birth that allow the stretching of pelvic ligaments, a woman can end up with a weak bladder. There is no good reason for women who have not been pregnant, or especially given birth, to have particularly weak bladders compared to men. Women are always more subject to bladder infections though as the tubes that connect the outside with the bladder, the urethra is very short in women compared to that of men which runs the entire length of the penis, so bacteria can get into the bladder much more easily.

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Valiantheart t1_ixx76dj wrote

I've known 3 separate early 20s, childless women who've pissed themselves laughing. There's more to it than kids weakening the plumbing.

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JackkPat t1_ixxs8ht wrote

I’m no expert but I would say the shorter urethra could explain that. Their urine only has to travel ~1.5 inches (female) as opposed to ~15 inches (male).

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Rayne_K t1_ixy726s wrote

That is the explanation I have heard.

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RevealStandard3502 t1_ixxcnn9 wrote

As a woman who had fibroids and then a hysterectomy I can tell you that giving birth are not the only reasons for weak pelvic floor and poor bladder control. Obesity is a factor as well in bladder issues. Women have a lot going against them in that area.

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Eastofdark t1_ixxyuzv wrote

Fair enough. Sorry for your troubles.

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RevealStandard3502 t1_ixy0w2s wrote

Thanks. It's hard to talk about in person, so I get a little passionate about it online. Or defensive. You know embarrassing and all that.

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Eastofdark t1_ixyg2k2 wrote

Yes I don't think we know how common this sort of thing is because we are discouraged from when we are little from talking about "women's problems". Miscarriages are another one. So much more common than people realise. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. I will try to be more aware that women have these issues for other reasons than childbirth (so much for intelligent design).

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