Double Voiding: A Simple Technique to Improve Bladder Emptying
Do You Struggle to Fully Empty Your Bladder?
If you often feel like your bladder is never completely empty, experience post-toilet dribbling or suffer from recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs), a simple technique called double voiding may help.
Double voiding is a bladder retraining technique designed to help empty the bladder more completely and reduce leftover urine sitting in the bladder after urination.
What Is Double Voiding?
Double voiding simply means urinating as normal, then waiting briefly before trying again to empty any remaining urine from the bladder.
It can be particularly helpful for people who:
- Feel they cannot empty their bladder fully
- Experience urinary retention
- Have an overactive or sensitive bladder
- Leak shortly after leaving the toilet
- Suffer from recurring UTIs
- Have pelvic floor weakness or prolapse
Leftover urine sitting in the bladder can sometimes increase bladder irritation and may contribute to discomfort or recurrent urinary infections.
How to Practice Double Voiding
Best Position for Bladder Emptying
Small changes in your toilet position can make a surprising difference to bladder emptying.
Try the following:
- Sit properly on the toilet — avoid hovering
- Lean slightly forwards with your forearms resting on your thighs
- Relax your tummy and pelvic floor muscles
- Keep a gentle natural curve in your lower back
- Raise your knees slightly using a toilet stool to improve pelvic positioning
After finishing, stand up, gently move or rotate your hips, then sit back down and try again to empty any remaining urine.
Most importantly, avoid straining or pushing forcefully when trying to empty your bladder.
Why Pelvic Floor Weakness Can Affect Bladder Emptying
If the pelvic floor muscles become weak, the bladder may lose some of its support and normal positioning. In women, this may happen alongside a bladder prolapse (cystocele), where the bladder drops downwards into the vaginal wall.
Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, chronic straining and ageing can all contribute to pelvic floor weakness and bladder symptoms.
How Kegel8 Can Help
Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles can help improve bladder support, bladder emptying and urinary control.
The Kegel8 Ultra 20 uses gentle NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation) technology to automatically activate and strengthen weak pelvic floor muscles — even when the muscles feel difficult to locate or contract manually.
Many people find pelvic floor exercises difficult or frustrating when the muscles are very weak. Kegel8 helps take the guesswork out of pelvic floor training by helping “wake up” weak pelvic floor muscles and nerves safely and effectively.
With regular use, Kegel8 may help:
- Improve pelvic floor strength
- Support bladder positioning
- Reduce urinary leaks
- Improve bladder emptying
- Support prolapse symptoms
- Improve bladder confidence and comfort
If you continue to struggle with bladder emptying, pelvic pain or recurring infections, it is important to seek advice from your GP, continence specialist or pelvic health professional.
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