Cristina Barrera, urologist: "Have you ever turned on the tap and felt the urge to urinate? It's no coincidence."

Turning on the tap and feeling the urge to urinate is a more common occurrence than you might think. "Have you ever turned on the tap and suddenly felt the urge to urinate? It's no coincidence," warns urologist Cristina Barrera , whose explanation she shared online.

The specialist describes a classical conditioning phenomenon, identical to that demonstrated by Pavlov in his famous experiment with dogs. According to her, the brain automatically links certain stimuli—such as the sound of water or the sight of a toilet—with the act of urinating.

Thus, just hearing a stream while washing dishes or looking at a fountain is enough to trigger the urge to urinate, even when the bladder isn't full. This learned reflex turns everyday situations into real triggers.

Who is affected?

Barrera clarifies that the response is not homogeneous. It manifests itself especially in people who suffer from incontinence , experience sudden urgency , or experience the impression of incomplete bladder emptying.

Another vulnerable group is those who, for years, have systematically delayed their bathroom visits until they get home . This habit reinforces the association, and the body sends the signal almost as soon as they cross the threshold.

Behavioral re-education

The good news, the urologist emphasizes, is that "this response can be retrained with behavioral strategies." Bladder training consists of setting fixed urination times and gradually lengthening the intervals to accustom the bladder to storing larger volumes.

Combined with relaxation and pelvic floor strengthening exercises , these techniques reduce the frequency of urges and break the stimulus-urge chain. Professional follow-up is key to adapting the program to each patient.

Understanding that urges are a neurological learning process and not an anatomical malfunction helps dispel the shame that still surrounds voiding disorders. Identifying triggers and implementing simple measures can significantly improve quality of life.

Anyone who finds that urgency is interfering with their routine should consult a specialist without delay: bladder retraining is possible, and with proper guidance, the sound of running water will no longer dictate when you visit the bathroom.