# Men: Sudden, Urgent Need to Pee; Almost Losing Bladder Control **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 23, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740 "2013-03-23T14:29:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/1 "2013-03-23T14:29:58Z")
Guys, does this happen to you? When you have the moderate need to pee (only moderate at that point), and you’re somewhere where it takes a few minutes to get to the bathroom, and then as you’re nearing the bathroom that moderate need suddenly and quickly becomes immediate and VERY strong, but you’re still a minute or two away from the bathroom? It’s like in the last 5 minutes the urge went from “okay, think about finding a bathroom” to “_ **holy shit, I’m going to wet my pants right fucking here and right fucking now!** _” There are two factors: (1) the speed at which the urge to pee ramped up, very rapidly, and (2) the imminent edge of losing bladder control This happened after dinner last night when my wife and I were arriving at the shopping mall. I almost didn’t make it to the bathroom. Thought I’d piss my shorts right there on the Sears sales floor. ☹ This seems to happen about once a month, lately. I think it’s almost a “mind over matter” thing – my brain knows I’m nearing the restroom, so maybe I’m anticipating the upcoming relief and maybe I’m prematurely relaxing my bladder muscles…? Age is likely a factor. I’ll be 52 soon. Do I need to start doing kegels exercises? Are incontinence briefs in my future? I hope not! Should I discuss this with my doctor? ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/2 "2013-03-23T14:45:30Z")
UTI? ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/3 "2013-03-23T14:45:34Z")
Yes. This is something you should definitely discuss with your doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/4 "2013-03-23T14:53:05Z")
There is a certain amount of operant conditioning that goes on normally with bladder tone. Bladders do go through cycles of ramping up the signal that they want to empty, especially if an opportunity for emptying is nearby (think proximity to a bathroom as a trigger). These cycles can get more extreme with age and other circumstances without any disease being present. BUT: It could well be prostate issues too. BPH and prostatitis are common reasons for this sort of complaint. Kegels would be unhelpful for that. So if it troubles you, see your doc. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/5 "2013-03-23T14:53:45Z")
The OP sounds like a pharmaceutical advertisement that ran for a few years concerning an enlarged prostrate gland. [Medline Plus link](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000381.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/6 "2013-03-23T14:56:47Z")
It’s **prostate** , dammit! \<\\> ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/7 "2013-03-23T14:59:38Z")
Moved from MPSIMS to IMHO, home of medical threads. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/8 "2013-03-23T14:59:55Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > The OP sounds like a pharmaceutical advertisement that ran for a few years concerning an enlarged prostrate gland. [Medline Plus link](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000381.htm) I don’t want to be part of a Saturday Night Live skit, Oops I Pissed My Pants! ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/9 "2013-03-23T15:00:56Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > UTI? Do men get UTIs? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/10 "2013-03-23T15:01:31Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > Do men get UTIs? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/11 "2013-03-23T15:13:10Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > It’s **prostate** , dammit! > > \<\\> Umm… Doc? I don’t have one of those. Not my department. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/12 "2013-03-23T16:01:31Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Umm… Doc? I don’t have one of those. Not my department. Doesn’t mean you don’t have to know how to spell it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/13 "2013-03-23T16:03:27Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Umm… Doc? I don’t have one of those. Not my department. Oh right; you have a virginia. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/14 "2013-03-23T16:27:28Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Doesn’t mean you don’t have to know how to spell it. 😉 You’ve really got your finger on it today. Would you believe I was lying down when I wrote that post? It’s an honest mistake. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/15 "2013-03-23T17:52:41Z")
He’s had his finger on lots of prostates, some even with the guy prostrate, but not yours! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/16 "2013-03-23T17:54:32Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > \<\\> I hope that’s not part of your normal prostate exam. Anyway, I don’t think anyone asked you to butt in. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/17 "2013-03-23T18:03:31Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > Do men get UTIs? Yes, even yeast infections. As to the OP: I used to have this occasionally (and yes, I feel your pain), but not since I’ve been on meds for BPH. But it’s gotta have a psychological component. How else could your bladder know when you’re nearing a toilet? ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/18 "2013-03-23T18:05:10Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Oh right; you have a virginia. Two, actually. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/19 "2013-03-23T18:12:12Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > He’s had his finger on lots of prostates, some even with the guy prostrate, but not yours! Sure, that’s how they do it. IN PRISON! ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740/20 "2013-03-23T18:39:33Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > It’s **prostate** , dammit! > > \<\\> “Why, my Uncle Thumper had a problem with his probate and he had to take these biiiig pills and drink _lots_ of water!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-sudden-urgent-need-to-pee-almost-losing-bladder-control/653740.md?page=2)