# Why does the sound of running water make me have to pee? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 16, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161 "2012-11-16T04:56:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mewl\_Dear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mewl\_Dear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mewl_Dear)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161/1 "2012-11-16T04:56:20Z")
Is there a reason why my hearing affects my bladder? Why? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161/2 "2012-11-16T14:29:50Z")
Conditioning. When you pee, you normally hear the sound of splashing running liquid. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161/3 "2012-11-16T15:28:27Z")
Why does the sound of running water prompt my wife to say things to me which I can’t hear? ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161/4 "2012-11-16T15:35:38Z")
And why does my walking into the bathroom for any reason prompt my husband to suddenly get chatty, even though he knows the bathrooms in this apartment have fans that come on automatically when the light is switched on? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161/5 "2012-11-16T15:59:17Z")
it’s evolution. people need water to live and it is not always found easily. when you hear running water that is likely good drinking water as opposed to a stagnant pool. so you have developed a response to pee so that you can load up on fresh water. later on man developed a larger brain and invented the container but the primitive urge still exists. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161/6 "2012-11-16T16:06:01Z")
^ I think that’s a stretch. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161/7 "2012-11-16T17:24:55Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > it’s evolution. people need water to live and it is not always found easily. when you hear running water that is likely good drinking water as opposed to a stagnant pool. so you have developed a response to pee so that you can load up on fresh water. later on man developed a larger brain and invented the container but the primitive urge still exists. Nice idea, but how does emptying your bladder create more room instantly in your stomach? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161/8 "2012-11-16T20:21:51Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > And why does my walking into the bathroom for any reason prompt my husband to suddenly get chatty, even though he knows the bathrooms in this apartment have fans that come on automatically when the light is switched on? But at least you don’t pee as loud. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161/9 "2012-11-16T20:25:03Z")
I meant when I just go in there to grab some ibuprofen, brush my hair, do something laundry-related (the laundry equipment is housed in one of the bathrooms), etc. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161/10 "2012-11-16T20:32:43Z")
Well, if you were peeing, it would be worse if you were standing up, so Thank God for small favors. ---
**Author:** ![Mewl\_Dear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mewl\_Dear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mewl_Dear)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161/11 "2012-11-16T23:20:33Z")
Why do I bother? Try to answer or go to your cool, funny forums. Shit. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161/12 "2012-11-16T23:24:22Z")
> [@Mewl\_Dear](#): > > Why do I bother? > Try to answer or go to your cool, funny forums. > Shit. And suddenly I have to move my bowels. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161/13 "2012-11-16T23:32:07Z")
Post #2 is a factual answer. It’s like Pavolv’s dog. That’s the best theory modern science has about the phenomenon. Dogs produce a river of saliva when given meat to eat. He rang a bell every time he gave his dog meat, and after a time the dog would begin salivating just at the sound of the bell with no meat around. Tap an aquarium every time you feed the fish and over time simply tapping will put them in a feeding frenzy even though you don’t add food. Listen to the sound of running water each time you pee, both by the sound of peeing itself and the flushing of the toilet and washing of hands, and eventually the sound of running water alone inspires you to pee. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sound-of-running-water-make-me-have-to-pee/641161/14 "2012-11-17T04:31:35Z")
> [@Mewl\_Dear](#): > > Why do I bother? Answer unclear. > [@](#): > > Try to answer or go to your cool, funny forums. I’m trying. > [@](#): > > Shit. Ninjas don’t, unless they want to.