'Just in case wees' could be doing more harm than good as doctor issues urgent warning

If you're someone who uses the loo just before leaving the house, just before jumping into a meeting, or just before catching a train, you could be putting your own urinary health at risk.

According to one doctor, constantly emptying your bladder on the off chance that you'll be somehow prevented from using the lavatory in the immediate future is a habit we should all be aiming to shake off.

Nicknamed a 'just in case wee', these tempting trips to the toilet can reportedly retrain the bladder to signal urgency on smaller and smaller volumes in a never-ending pattern of discomfort.

In the long-term, this practice can trigger overactive bladder syndrome, pelvic floor dysfunction and potentially incontinence issues that are tricky to shake.

Reflecting on these difficulties, fertility and women's health expert Dr Ravina Bhanot told Tyla: "The bladder has stretch receptors that learn from repetition.

"If you empty before it's full, those receptors get used to a lower threshold, and the brain sends signals to go now even when the bladder is half full.

These habits could be wreaking havoc on your bladder (Getty Stock Images)

She added: "By going 'just in case', you are training the bladder to think it's full even though it's not. It's a learned behaviour loop, often established in childhood or during pregnancy."

So, basically, emptying the bladder when it is only partly full trains it to hold less urine over time. Then, because the bladder holds less, it sends emergency 'gotta go' signals to your brain much sooner, even when nearly empty.

Frequent unnecessary emptying disrupts normal bladder muscle relaxation and contraction, which can lead to leaks if you cannot reach a toilet in time.

Dr Bhanot also discussed the signs and symptoms that indicate you could be a 'just in case wee-er', listing:

• Increased urinary frequency
• Sudden strong urges with little warning
• Voiding very small volumes (under 15 seconds)
• Blood in urine
• Painful urination.
• Change in urine pattern
• Waking repeatedly overnight to pee

One doctor has spoken out (Getty Stock Images)

Asked her advice on when and how often a person should be going 'No 1', she suggested once every 2-4 hours by day, and 0-2 times overnight.

Dr Bhanot also suggested ways in which a person can address the issue without needing to book an appointment with their GP.

"Bladder retraining - gradually extending intervals between voids rather than going pre-emptively - is first-line," she continued. "Alongside pelvic floor exercises. Persistent symptoms warrant referral to a pelvic health physio or urogynaecologist rather than self-management."