An interventional study of Standing in the shower and Sitting on the toilet in Postpartum Urinary Retention, sponsored by Assuta Ashdod Hospital. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Israel. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-23.
Sponsored by Assuta Ashdod Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
Postpartum urinary retention is a common complication after childbirth, with a higher risk for women who undergo vaginal delivery with epidural analgesia. This study aims to determine whether performing the first void after the removal of an indwelling urinary catheter in a standing position in the shower, compared to sitting on a toilet, helps reduce postpartum urinary retention. The study will include 100 women who had a vaginal delivery with epidural analgesia. Participants will be randomly assigned to either void while standing in the shower (Group A) or sitting on the toilet (Group B). Immediately after this first spontaneous void, the post-void residual urine volume (PVR) will be measured using an ultrasound bladder scan. The study seeks to find out if the standing position facilitates more complete bladder emptying, reduces the need for recatheterization, and decreases perineal pain compared to the sitting position.
Postpartum urinary retention (PUR) is a relatively common complication that can manifest as an inability to void (overt) or elevated post-void residual volume despite spontaneous voiding (covert). Risk factors include epidural analgesia, instrumental delivery, episiotomy, and perineal trauma. While studies in healthy non-postpartum populations show that uroflowmetric parameters may differ between voiding positions without affecting post-void residual (PVR) volumes, postpartum women face unique challenges such as perineal pain and soft-tissue edema. This study's hypothesis is that voiding in a standing position in the shower might reduce perineal discomfort and facilitate more complete bladder emptying. This is a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving women who have undergone a vaginal delivery (spontaneous or instrumental) under epidural analgesia, and who had an indwelling urinary catheter placed during labor or immediately postpartum. Just prior to catheter removal, participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated sequence into one of two groups: Group A: Instructed to void in a standing position under running warm water in the shower area. Group B: Instructed to void in a sitting position on the toilet. Participants will be encouraged to void within a maximum of 6 hours following catheter removal. Immediately after the first spontaneous void, the PVR will be measured using an ultrasound bladder scan. The healthcare professional performing and recording the PVR measurement will be blinded to the group allocation. If a participant fails to void within 6 hours, overt PUR is diagnosed and managed according to local guidelines, such as recatheterization. Secondary data collection and follow-up over the first 7 days postpartum will include monitoring for the need for recatheterization, urinary tract infections (UTI), and readmissions to the emergency department due to urinary retention. Patient-reported outcomes will also be assessed, utilizing a numeric rating scale (0-10) to measure perineal pain and pain during micturition
241 studies on the registry are indexed under Urinary Retention; 44 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 100 is above the median of 90 across 187 interventional studies indexed under Urinary Retention.
Browse Urinary Retention studies →Assuta Ashdod Hospital is the lead sponsor of 16 studies on the registry; 8 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Inclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants will perform their first void after catheter removal in a standing position in the shower.
Behavioral: Standing in the shower
Participants will perform their first void after catheter removal in a sitting position on the toilet.
Behavioral: Sitting on the toilet
The woman is assisted to the shower area and instructed to void in a standing position under running warm water.
he woman is assisted to the toilet and instructed to void in a sitting position.
Number of participants with Post-Void Residual Volume (PVR) > 150 mL
Post-void residual urine volume (PVR) greater than 150 mL, measured by bladder ultrasound (bladder scan) immediately after the first spontaneous void following catheter removal. This cut-off is consistent with definitions of covert postpartum urinary retention.
Time frame: Immediately after the first void (within a maximum of 6 hours following catheter removal)
Mean Post-Void Residual Volume (PVR)
Mean PVR measured in milliliters (mL) as a continuous variable.
Time frame: Immediately after the first void (within a maximum of 6 hours following catheter removal)
Incidence of Overt Postpartum Urinary Retention (PUR)
Inability to void within 6 hours after catheter removal.
Time frame: Up to 6 hours after catheter removal
Need for Recatheterization
he need for recatheterization (yes/no) and the number of recatheterizations required, evaluating the success rate of the voiding trial.
Time frame: Within 24-48 hours postpartum
Time to First Void
Time elapsed from catheter removal to the first spontaneous void, measured in minutes.
Time frame: Up to 6 hours after catheter removal
Incidence of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Development of a urinary tract infection confirmed by clinical signs/symptoms and/or laboratory tests.
Time frame: Within 7 days postpartum
Readmission or Emergency Department Presentation Due to Urinary Retention
Rate of presentation to the emergency department or readmission specifically due to urinary retention.
Time frame: Within 7 days postpartum
Patient-Reported Pain During Micturition and Perineal Pain
Pain levels assessed using a numeric rating scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain), focusing on pain during micturition and general perineal pain.
Time frame: During the first void after catheter removal (within a maximum of 6 hours)
Plan to share: No — Data sharing with other researchers is not planned as it was not included in the IRB-approved protocol and informed consent.")
Start is estimated for Oct 2026; primary completion for Aug 2029, 33 months later.
Of 70 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Urinary Retention, half reached primary completion within 24 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 41. This study's planned 33 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 82 studies reached it within 18 months; a quarter within 9 and three quarters within 37.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Assuta Ashdod Hospital