Is Pee Sterile? Here’s What the Science Says

People of a certain age may have heard that urine is sterile, as seen in the movies Fight Club and Dodgeball. But as urologist Neel Parekh, MD, explains, that’s a myth. Dr. Parekh offers a reality check — and shares some crucial reminders about personal hygiene.

Why do people think urine is sterile?

The myth that a healthy person’s urine is sterile isn’t just a pop culture creation: It’s something medical professionals believed for a long time.

“Old lab testing techniques weren’t sensitive enough to pick up small amounts of bacteria,” Dr. Parekh shares. “As the technology improved and we developed more advanced ways to test for bacteria, we learned that there actually are microbes and other contaminants in the urine. The levels are typically harmless for most people, but they’re still there.”

While healthy urine always has trace quantities of bacteria and other germs, it picks up more as it travels through your urinary tract and out of your body.

And if you aren’t healthy? Well, your pee might reflect that, too. More on how in a bit.

What’s in urine?

According to Dr. Parekh, urine is usually about 95% water. That other 5% includes:

• Waste products, like urea, uric acid, ammonia and creatinine
• Electrolytes, like sodium, chloride, calcium and potassium
• Hormones, like estrogen, cortisol and (if you’re pregnant) human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
• Water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin B and vitamin C
• Bacteria, like lactobacillus and staphylococcus

Depending on your overall health, your pee may contain other substances, too. If you’re living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), for example, your urine may contain protein. If you have a urinary tract infection (UTI) or a staph infection, you’ll have more bacteria in your urine. There are even some viruses that show up in pee, like COVID-19 and herpes simplex.

The importance of bathroom hygiene

Even if urine was sterile (which it isn’t), Dr. Parekh says you’d still need to wash your hands after using the toilet. After all, the bathroom isn’t sterile either.

“There are microbes on your hands, your genitals — the entire surface of your skin,” he continues. “You can also pick up germs from surfaces like the toilet seat, the flush handle, the doorknob and more. You have to wash your hands to prevent spreading those bacteria around your body, to other people and your food.”

Can you get sick from coming in contact with urine?

While it’s rare, coming in contact with someone else’s urine does have the potential to make you sick. It’s also possible — but uncommon — to get sick after being exposed to your own pee. For that to happen, your pee would probably need to enter either (1) an open wound or (2) one of your external mucus membranes, meaning your:

• Eyes
• Ears
• Nose
• Mouth
• Genitals
• Anus

If you’re exposed to urine often — like maybe you have a baby at home or you work in a caregiving field — try to avoid direct contact and make use of any personal protective equipment (PPE) you have. If pee gets on you, wash the affected area with soap and water.

Should you ever drink urine or use it on wounds?

Now that we’ve clarified that urine isn’t sterile, let’s clear up some related rumors: It is never a good idea to drink your pee — or use it to treat an injury or illness.

“There are all of these survival stories where people pee on wounds to speed healing — or drink their urine to combat dehydration,” Dr. Parekh laments. “But these kinds of stories have been debunked.”

Urine does not have antiseptic properties. In fact, it could make an injury or illness worse.

“Peeing on your wound can introduce new bacteria and slow or reverse the healing process,” he adds. “And peeing on an injury caused by venom — like a snake or spider bite — can actually activate venom release.” (The same is true of jellyfish stings, by the way.)

What about drinking your pee? In a dire situation, wouldn’t it help?

“Drinking urine can actually increase dehydration because of its salt and waste content,” Dr. Parekh explains. “Consuming it can only make things worse.”

Final thoughts

Urine isn’t sterile, antiseptic or the cure for what ails you — but it’s also nothing to fret over. Everybody pees. And everybody’s pee is mostly water. Contact a healthcare provider if you notice changes in:

• Color
• Consistency
• Quantity
• Your feeling of urgency

Otherwise, rest assured: There’s no need to cry over a little spilled pee.