What causes ‘bashful bladder’?
There is nothing physically wrong. It does not mean that there is anything amiss with your bladder or urethra. No one knows what causes it, but it seems to be an exaggeration of something that most men experience slightly. Research has shown that when a stranger is nearby, most men take slightly longer to start their urine flow, and pass urine for a shorter length of time. A doctor writing in the medical journal the Lancet (1999;354:78) has a suggestion about the cause of bashful bladder. He points out that many male mammals mark their territory by urinating to leave their scent. He wonders if modern men with the problem are subconsciously thinking ‘If I urinate in this other male’s presence, I am asserting my supremacy over his territory – am I really ready to challenge this male to a fight’, and this prevents them from urinating. What you can do Try doing a series of mathematical calculations in your head. This activates the cortex of the brain and blocks the inhibiting impulses to t
