Post-micturition convulsion syndrome

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Post-micturition convulsion syndrome, also known as piss shivers or pee shivers is a phenomenon in which one feels a shiver running down the spine following urination.^[1] The shiver can produce a brief twitch, which is a form of myoclonus. It should not be confused with post-micturition syncope, a feeling of faintness following passing urine.

To date, despite years of discussion and theorizing, there is no agreed-on explanation of the phenomenon^[2] and no medical research into it. However, it has been mentioned occasionally in columns, and in one Internet poll, where about 83% of males and 58% of females reported experiencing it. By 6 Jul 2007, more than 24,000 males and more than 1,200 females had responded to the poll on the syndrome.

1 Hypotheses
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Hypotheses

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Shivering occurs because of activation of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) by sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity involved with urination. It is the SNS which acts to control bladder function; it makes sure that the bladder is relaxed and that the urethral sphincter is contracted. Part of the SNS response causes the brain to produce a number of chemicals, including the catecholamines epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. These chemicals act on the PNS which normally controls shivering. If this theory is correct, the feeling should be as common in females as in males, but it is far more common in males.

Shivering occurs because of heat loss from the body parts usually covered by clothing. If this theory is correct, the feeling should be more common in cold climates. This is unknown.

Shivering occurs via passage of spermatozoa into the urinary canal. If this theory is correct, the feeling should be absent in females, but a majority of females report it.