It might surprise you to know that a huge chunk of men do not stand up when they go to the bathroom.
In fact, in Japan it's as high as 70 percent and in Germany, up to 62 percent of men pee sitting down most times. They even have a word for it: 'Sitzpinkler', which as you can probably translate, means somebody who sits to pee.
The UK has one of the lowest percentages of 'sitzpinklers' in Europe, with 24 percent opting to sit down when they go for a wee.
Advert
However, this number is on the rise across Europe. So why are men sitting down to pee more than ever?
Well, there are some very good reasons, and if you're a stander-upper, they might make you think twice.
Peeing standing up could spread bacteria around your bathroom
A video shared on X reveals just how gross peeing standing up can be.
The clip, shared by @PicturesFoIder, revealed how aiming for the back of the bowl can lead to over 7,550 drops of urine splattering all over the toilet.
And if you keep your toothbrushes even relatively close by, they could also end up covered in droplets too.
This can lead to bacteria circulating around the bathroom.
Mechanical engineering expert Tadd Truscott told the Guardian: "Water tends to have a large splash when droplets hit it from that height. That means a lot of splash can come out of the toilet. I was actually telling a friend tonight that when you pee into a toilet like that, you tend to pee on your toothbrush.
"Pee in general is very sterile. It’s not really a big deal if it lands on your toothbrush and you brush your teeth then.
"But droplets are quite capable of harbouring bacteria, and in the toilet this is a problem if you’ve just used the restroom for something else. There can be faeces in there – urea is a wonderful harbinger of E coli growth – so later in the day it might not be safe to use your toothbrush."
Even with the best aim in the world, the splashback is almost impossible to avoid, so peeing directly in the middle of the bowl will help, but not totally eradicate the problem.
But hygiene isn't the only reason why you should give your legs a rest.
Peeing sitting down comes with health benefits for men
Turns out, it can be physically and mentally healthier, too.
Researchers from Leiden University Medical Center have discovered that sitting down to pee can aid the bladder in emptying faster.
It also helps it empty more completely, which has lots of benefits, including reducing the risk of urinary tract infections.
According to experts, it can also be beneficial for those with an enlarged prostate, which can cause difficulty in urinating.
We all know how long men like to spend sitting on the toilet, so it's unsurprising that there have also been arguments to show sitting down to pee could be better for their wellbeing, too.
Writing on X, one man explained why he chooses to pee sitting down.
"WHY I PEE WHILE SITTING DOWN AND WHY OTHER MEN SHOULD TOO," he wrote.
"1. You can’t miss.
"2. More hygienic.
"3. No splash back of pee landing on your leg.
"4. More pee is removed from your bladder because your prostate isn’t in the way."
Another shared: "I long stopped peeing while standing unless I really need to. No missing and much comfortable that you can use your phone or transition to pooping if needed. If you really want to stand then use the urinal."
Lucy Devine