Why You Get Really Turned On When You Have a Full Bladder

For the most part, you're pretty familiar with the random things that light your fire—dirty books, too much wine, the back of your partner's neck. But every now and then, you may find yourself irrationally turned on by something totally unsexy: like having a full bladder. Seriously, it's a thing. But what do a full bladder and sex have to do with each other?

Why You Feel Aroused When You Need to Pee

Although there isn't specific research on the subject, feeling aroused with a full bladder is more common than you might think, says Sherry Ross, M.D., ob-gyn and women's health expert in Santa Monica, California. In fact, vaginal penetration (with a penis or sex toy), increased blood flow to the clitoris and surrounding tissue, and a full bladder can be the ultimate trifecta for the perfect orgasm. (This is not a drill!)

But why does a full bladder turn you on? And why does sex feel better when you have to pee? It's all about anatomy.

"The clitoris, vagina, and urethra (which connects to the bladder) are located very close to one another," says sexual health consultant Celeste Holbrook, Ph.D. "A full bladder can push onto some of the more sensitive and arousing parts of the genitalia, such as the clitoris and its branches. Many women use stimulation in one or more of these areas to stimulate the others." (Yes, your clit has branches! Here are more facts about the clitoris you need to know.)

Plus, the elusive G-spot is around the entrance to the bladder, says Ross. It's true: The G-spot is actually where the back of the internal clitoris meets the urethral network. This can help explain why having a full bladder might contribute to a heightened sexual experience, says Ross. (And it's also part of why you might feel like you need to pee during sex, even without a full bladder.)

What About Pee Orgasms?

Like most interesting human truths, the phenomenon of the pee ograsm or "pee-gasm" surfaced in a Reddit thread. The original poster wrote:

Other posters agreed, writing "I get something similar, but it's not exactly an orgasm, just a really, really pleasurable feeling" and "I get a tingly sensation, but it's not an orgasm and it's not a pleasant feeling."

Indeed, experts agree a pee orgasm is totally plausible: It's certainly possible that releasing urine after a long period of time (and thus releasing the pressure of your bladder on pleasure structures in your pelvic region), can lead to a stimulation of pelvic nerves that might feel like an orgasmic response, says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a board-certified ob-gyn at Yale University School of Medicine, in a story for People. (And, after all, the release of tension—via letting your pee go or, say, a moan during sex—just plain feels good.)

Having Sex with a Full Bladder

If you haven't tried getting busy with a full bladder, experts agree that there's nothing wrong with doing so, so long as you're going about it in a way that works best for you and your partner. For example, if needing to go number one arouses you at first but you find the pressure of a full bladder distracts you later during sex, try engaging in foreplay on a full bladder and then going to the bathroom before penetration, suggests Holbrook. (Fun fact: Your bladder is actually involved in squirting too, even though what comes out isn't exactly urine. If you want to try squirting, here's how.)

Or, you may want to practice Kegel exercises to help prevent any bladder leakage mid-sex—a little something called coital incontinence. "Contracting your Kegel muscles with sexual arousal and orgasm helps you not lose urine, and also feels good for your male partner during penetration," says Ross. The exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, supporting the vagina and urethra, so you can comfortably squeeze these muscles during sex sans leakage.

Is It Really Ok to Hold Your Pee?

The trick is to make sure you don't hold it for too long (to the point where it's painful) or too often (say, holding it every time you want to have sex) just to enjoy that feeling of a full bladder during sex. (And always remember to pee after sex too, regardless of whether you went just before or not.)

After all, the signal of fullness isn't intended to turn you on but to get you to empty your bladder, says Carol Queen, Ph.D., staff sexologist for Good Vibrations. Over time, ignoring your body's signals could lead to an inability to fully empty your bladder or increase your risk of developing a urinary tract infection. (See: Is It Bad to Hold Your Pee?)

But done every so often, holding it for the sake of having a sex with a full bladder—and thus a better orgasm—is a-okay. Grrr, baby.