Cystex Know Your Bladder Better: Women Advised to "Take a Seat," Even in Public Restrooms…Doctor's Orders
Elizabeth Kavaler, M. D., Board-Certified Urologist, Clears up the Great "To Sit or Squat" Debate
Edison, NJ (PRWEB) May 13, 2009
It's no secret that women don't like public restrooms: a recent survey conducted by Cystex® (http://www. cystex. com/Pages/CystexHome_v2) urinary relief tablets finds that 70% of women indicated they have walked out of a public restroom without using it because they felt it was "too dirty." However, if you squat when you urinate in a public restroom to avoid an infection from the toilet seat, you may actually be doing more harm then good.
According to Elizabeth Kavaler, M. D., (http://www. cystex. com/Pages/index. php? src=forms&id=Cystex_askthedoctor) urologist and author of "A Seat on the Aisle, Please! The Essential Guide to Urinary Tract Problems in Women," (Copernicus Books, 2006), squatting over the seat can actually prevent the complete emptying of the bladder, which can lead to infection, especially in women who are prone to urinary tract infections(UTIs).
"When you squat over the toilet seat, you keep your pelvic muscles contracted, which reduces your ability to empty your bladder completely, as you would be able to if you were sitting and relaxed," explains Dr. Kavaler, who is one of 500 female urologists in the United States specializing in female urinary tract issues. "When the bladder doesn't empty completely, the remaining urine can become a breeding-ground for bacteria, which may lead to a UTI."
"If there are no toilet seat covers available, line the seat with toilet paper and take a seat," advises Dr. Kavaler. "It's important to note that you will not catch any infection, including STDs, from sitting on a public toilet seat."
To help women better understand their bladder health, including UTIs, Dr. Kavaler is the featured expert of the new Cystex "Know Your Bladder Better" video series at the Cystex Web site. An embeddable video player (http://bridgit. com/knowyourbladderbetter) allows you to post the videos on a Web site, blog, etc. Women can also connect with Dr. Kavaler directly by visiting the interactive feature "Ask the Urologist (http://www. cystex. com/Pages/index. php? src=forms&id=Cystex_askthedoctor)."
Visit www. cystex. com for more information.
Please note that the new "Ask the Urologist" and Q&A with Dr. Kavaler on the Cystex Web site or other sites associated with the Cystex Web site is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a personal medical diagnosis or formal medical advice. If you have any health questions or concerns, we recommend that you seek medical advice from your physician.
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