How To Make Yourself Pee: 9 Remedies And Techniques

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What can you do to induce urination?Medically reviewed by Mia Armstrong, MD — Written by Jenna Fletcher — Updated on May 16, 2025

• Ways to induce urination
• Reasons to induce urination
• Contacting a doctor
• FAQ
• Summary

A person may need to make themselves pee when their body does not want to. Several tips can help, such as running water, putting a hand in warm water, massaging the inner thigh, and doing jumping jacks.

Some medical conditions can make urination difficult, such as prostate problems or bladder infections. In these circumstances, a person should seek medical attention to address the underlying cause of their symptoms instead of trying to force urination.

In most cases, a person can help prevent urination problems with some preparation, such as by drinking plenty of water before an appointment where urine samples are necessary.

However, there are times when a person needs to pee, either for a urine sample or other reasons, and cannot prepare beforehand.

Eight ways to induce urination

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There are several ways that a person may be able to force themselves to pee on demand.

These techniques may not work for everyone. Some people may need to try several methods to find the best.

While sitting on the toilet, a person can tap the area between the belly button and the pubic bone.

Using the fingertips, a person can gently but firmly tap the skin near the bladder for a few seconds to encourage urination.

Bending forward and rocking side to side while sitting on the toilet puts additional pressure on the bladder, which can encourage urination.

Being in a cold environment can trigger the urge to pee. A person could try putting their hand in cold water also.

If the toilet is within reach of a sink or tub, a person can let cold water run from the tap over their hand.

The sound of water can trigger the need to urinate. A person having trouble urinating can turn on the bathroom sink before attempting to pee or flush the toilet before using it.

Some people find that playing recordings of running water can also have the same effect.

Drinking water or another low-sugar liquid while attempting to pee may also trigger the body to urinate.

People may need to drink several sips before trying to pee to get this technique to work.

A person should avoid drinking caffeinated beverages or alcohol, as they can make a person more dehydrated.

Simple exercises such as walking or doing jumping jacks can help a person urinate.

Before heading to the bathroom, a person may wish to do a few laps of the house or office to stimulate urination.

Rubbing the lower stomach or inner thighs or pulling on pubic hair while on the toilet can help induce the need to pee. A person should gently massage the area with their hands or fingers.

If a person is nervous or stressed about being unable to pee, they can try some basic relaxation techniques to encourage urination.

Keeping their eyes closed, a person can focus on relaxing the muscles, starting with the fingers and hands and working through all parts of the body. The goal is to relax the bladder and encourage urination.

Reasons to induce urination

The nervous system typically signals when the bladder is full and requires emptying. The sensation is one of fullness and pressure.

In most cases, a person can rely on these natural signals to know when urination is necessary. However, there are times when urination is necessary on demand, often for medical procedures.

Some of the most common reasons a person may need to pee on demand for a medical test include:

• drug testing
• radiologic or ultrasonic examinations
• urinalysis, urine culture, and blood studies
• cystoscopy, where a thin tube with a camera examines the bladder and urethra
• urodynamic studies, which assess how well the body stores and releases urine

Urodynamic studies include uroflowmetry, cystometrogram (CMG), urethral pressure profiling, and electromyography (EMG).

Following surgery, a person may experience a condition called neurogenic bladder. This is because the nerves no longer tell the brain when it is time to urinate.

Neurogenic bladder can cause a person to either hold urine for too long or have difficulty urinating because they cannot feel when their bladder is full.

Urination before the imaging studies also helps to prevent the bladder from being full and blocking views of other areas.

When to contact a doctor

People should seek medical attention if they experience trouble urinating several times a day. Not being able to pee can be a sign of underlying conditions that require treatment, such as urinary tract infections or prostate problems.

A person having difficulty urinating on demand for a urine test probably has no underlying medical condition. They may have recently urinated or may feel nervous. In these cases, the person can typically induce urination using the techniques listed above.

Frequently asked questions

How can a person stimulate themself to pee?

People can help stimulate urination by tapping their navel region, being in a cold environment, and massaging their lower stomach.

What triggers a person to pee?

Over time, the bladder fills up and expands like a balloon, putting tension on the bladder muscles. At a certain point, the body senses that it is reaching a limit, which triggers the urge to urinate.

Summary

Trouble urinating on demand is not uncommon when visiting a doctor’s office.

People can prepare for a urine test or other medical procedure by drinking more water and not urinating immediately before seeing the doctor. If this is not possible, they can use one or more of the techniques above to help induce urination.

Finally, if a person experiences problems with urinating outside of a medical examination, they should seek medical attention for a proper diagnosis. An untreated infection can have serious consequences, so seeing a doctor as soon as possible is crucial.

 

• Urinary Tract Infection
• Urology / Nephrology

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

• Bladder care and management. (2023).https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/bladder-care-and-management/
• How your body senses the urge to urinate. (2020).https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-your-body-senses-urge-urinate
• Neurogenic bladder. (2021).https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/n/neurogenic-bladder
• Symptoms & causes of bladder control problems (urinary incontinence). (2021).https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-control-problems/symptoms-causes
• The urinary tract & how it works. (2020).https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/urinary-tract-how-it-works
• Tips to empty the bladder. (2023).https://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/PMR/TipsToEmptyBladder.pdf
• Urinary retention. (2024).https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/urinary-retention

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Medically reviewed by Mia Armstrong, MD — Written by Jenna Fletcher — Updated on May 16, 2025

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