What Is Double Voiding And Why Should You Consider It?

Increased urine frequency is all about people having the urge to empty out their bladder numerous times a day and rushing to the toilet several times a night. Such people take 6-8 trips to the restroom whereas some even needs more. There are certain approaches that may help in emptying the bladder entirely such as double voiding.

Prior to practicing any such technique, it is better to consult a doctor first as sometimes urine frequency may occur as a symptom of urinary tract infection.

Double voiding is a bladder emptying technique and is carried out by following steps:

• Leaning tad bit forward while being comfortably seated on the toilet seat.
• In order to improve bladder voiding, the hands must be placed on thighs or knees.
• It is essential that the bladder is then emptied to the maximum extent.
• Waiting 20-30 seconds after peeing while still being on the toilet seat.
• Leaning a bit further, attempting to pee again.

At times rocking side to side may also help some people in voiding the bladder fully. Variations to the above described technique can be beneficial for some people as well such as walking for ten seconds before peeing again.

Other Double Voiding Techniques

Double voiding minimizes the bacterial incidence in urine. As a suggested by a study, other techniques that may also help, include:

• Crede maneuver: In this technique, the person must lean forward while sitting on the toilet seat and pee with his hands placed above the pubic bone, while pressing on the stomach.
• Running water: Listening to the sound of running water also improves the bladder emptying ability.
• Bladder percussion: When the bladder is tapped with slight pressure from over the abdomen, it elicits bladder contractions that assist in emptying it fully.
• Stimulation therapy: The urge to pee may be triggered by touching areas. Such as pubic hair pulling or inner thigh and stomach massage.
• Vibration therapy: This technique employs the use of a vibrating device on the abdomen. The produced vibrations facilitates the bladder emptying process.

Why Double Voiding Is Useful?

When the bladder is not completely emptied, it not only increases the urine frequency but also elevates the risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI). It can be very painful and may even cause bladder scarring and kidney damage if unattended. Therefore, double voiding and other techniques may be of great help when it comes to preventing UTIs.

Overstretching of bladder is just another complication that may occur as a result. Once the bladder becomes overstretched it seizes to snap back leading to further complications associated with voiding.

How To Treat An Incompletely Emptied Bladder?

Apart from the bladder emptying techniques, following healthy approaches may also help:

• Lifestyle modification:

• Obese people can start with losing some weight.
• Cutting down excess fluid intake particularly before bed.
• Increase fiber intake and drinking sufficient water to avoid constipation may also help in fully emptying the bladder.

• Exercise:

• Pelvic floor exercises like kegels strengthen the bladder muscles and enhance bladder voiding.

• Medications: a doctor may prescribe the following medications:

• Solifenacin
• Trospium
• Tolterodine
• Oxybutynin

To minimize the spasm, the doctor may inject botox, a botulinum toxin, to the bladder.

• Surgery and Implants: Implants may be used to address the core problem of urinary incontinence and incompletely emptied bladder. Surgical procedures like bladder sling or bladder neck suspension may as well be used.

References

• Eisenhardt, A., Schneider, T., Cruz, F., & Oelke, M. (2014). Consistent and significant improvement of nighttime voiding frequency (nocturia) with silodosin in men with LUTS suggestive of BPH: pooled analysis of three randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase III studies. World journal of urology, 32(5), 1119-1125.
• Jiang, Y. H., Wang, C. C., & Kuo, H. C. (2016). OnabotulinumtoxinA Urethral Sphincter Injection as Treatment for Non-neurogenic Voiding Dysfunction–A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Scientific Reports, 6.