English

Noun

paruresis ‎(uncountable)

1. The inability to urinate in the presence of others
   • 1996, Bradley Hennenfent, M.D., Roseville Books, The Prostatitis Syndromes: Approaches to Treating Bacterial Prostatitis, page 59

     Completely normal men who develop prostatitis will suddenly come down with urinary paruresis as one of their symptoms.

   • 2003, Clara Greed, Inclusive Urban Design: Public Toilets, page 100

     Piss-shyness (paruresis) may prevent sufferers from using a public restroom.

   • 2006, Bernie Warren, Suffering the Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortune, page 105

     Paruresis had previously been classified as a social phobia but current thinking about paruresis is that for diagnostic purposes it is classified as a Social Anxiety Disorder in ...DSM-IV.

Synonyms

• shy bladder, shy bladder syndrome