In the following column http://www.straightdope.com/columns/060901.html , one thing wirth noting is that, with males, a full bladder will exert pressure on the prostate gland. Maintaining that pressure for an extended period of time, especially after having sex, can result in the prostate becoming inflamed or possible mildly infected. It is not a pleasant experience.
I also noticed that Cecil didn’t mention that your autonomic nervous system will eventually let go for you if you don’t do it voluntarily, once the bladder reaches critical mass. He said, “you’ll let go long before back pressure can do any real harm”, but he didn’t amplify on what exactly this entails, namely, that the sphincter will let go and you won’t be able to do a thing about it.
but what about the consciously-controlled sphincter?
i’m pretty sure that whenever i find myself in front of my door with a full bladder, the autonomic sphincter has already let go in the elevator. (the autonomic nervous system is a trendy little fucker… gps and everything)*
anyway, what I don’t understand is why there isn’t a system for reabsorbing what’s already in the bladder. Every morning i wake up simultaneously dying of thirst and pissing my pants. maybe i can just improve on nature with a hose or something.
*no, seriously, what’s up with that? is it like some system that the closer i get to my designated pee spot, the more territory i’m supposed to mark along the way?