What Happens If You Hold Your Urine Too Long? 🚨 Have you ever ignored the urge to urinate? Holding urine for too long, especially regularly, can affect your bladder and kidney health. When urine stays in the bladder for extended periods, bacteria can multiply, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs). In some cases, an overly full bladder can disrupt normal urine flow and may push urine back toward the kidneys (vesicoureteral reflux), which can stress the kidneys and increase infe