---
title: "Paruresis (Urinating in Public)"
url: https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/p/paruresis-(urinating-in-public)/
description: "Paruresis, often called \"shy bladder\" syndrome, is when you have trouble urinating when other people are around. Depending on how serious it is, some..."
---

# Paruresis (Urinating in Public)

Paruresis, often called "shy bladder" syndrome, is when you have trouble urinating when other people are around. Depending on how serious it is, some people are not able to void without some or total privacy. In some ways it is like urinary retention, where you "cannot go." But the key difference is that shy bladder is not caused by a physical blockage.

Archived from the 2024 edition

## Overview

Shy bladder can change your quality of life in many ways, causing problems with:.

While there is no way to know how many people have problems voiding in public, surveys in the last few decades show that less than 1 to more than 25 of 100 Americans could have shy bladder. But it is not clear how much of this fear is about trouble voiding in public bathrooms.

## In this entry

The archived page carried these sections, in this order.

- Causes
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis and Treatment
- After Treatment
- Explore Further

## Other entries in Bladder Cancer, Control and Health

- [Benign (Not Cancerous) Uretheral Lesions Boys](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/b/benign-(not-cancerous)-uretheral-lesions-boys/)
- [Benign (Not Cancerous) Uretheral Lesions Girls](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/b/benign-(not-cancerous)-uretheral-lesions-girls/)
- [Benign (Not Cancerous) Urethral Lesions](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/b/benign-(not-cancerous)-urethral-lesions/)
- [Bladder Augmentation (Enlargement)](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/b/bladder-augmentation-(enlargement)/)
- [Bladder Cancer](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/n/non-muscle-invasive-bladder-cancer/)
- [Bladder Control Problems in Children](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/b/bladder-control-problems-in-children/)
- [Bladder Diverticulum](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/b/bladder-diverticulum/)
- [Bladder Dysfunction and Urine Control in Children](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/b/bladder-dysfunction-and-urine-control-in-children/)

### Source of this entry

- Original address**/urology-a-z/p/paruresis-(urinating-in-public)/**
- Edition**2024 edition**
- Group**Bladder Cancer, Control and Health**

### This is not medical advice

These pages are archived reference copies of material published on this domain. They are not medical advice, not a diagnosis and not a substitute for talking with a health professional.

### Related topics

- [About OAB](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/its-time-to-talk-about-oab/about-oab/)
- [Overactive Bladder: Patient Guide](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/overactive-bladder/)
- [Urologic Conditions](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urologic-conditions/)
- [Educational Materials](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/educational-materials/)

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