This article was co-authored by Allison Romero, PT, DPT and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Dr. Allison Romero is a Pelvic Health Specialist, Physical Therapist, and the Owner of Reclaim Pelvic Therapy in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over a decade of experience, Allison specializes in comprehensive pelvic physical therapy treatments for pelvic floor dysfunction. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Sonoma State University and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California. Allison is a board certified Physical Therapist in California and is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association-Section on Women’s Health and the International Pelvic Pain Society.
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Whether you come across a gross public bathroom or there isn’t a restroom for miles, there may come a time when it’s easier to pee standing up than squatting. You might also want to pee standing up if you present as a man and use the men’s bathroom. If you have a vagina, peeing while standing up takes a bit of technique and practice—thankfully, it’s not too hard to master, and you might even prefer it to peeing sitting down! We’ve answered some common questions about how you can urinate while standing to make going to the bathroom that much easier.
Steps
Question 1
Question 1 of 6:Is it bad for a girl to pee standing up?
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1No, it’s about the same as peeing sitting down. In fact, a study shows that women who peed standing up had no differences between how much urine they expressed when standing vs. sitting. If you like to pee standing up, you can![1]
Question 2
Question 2 of 6:Can someone with a vagina aim their pee?
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1Yes, if you use the “two-finger” method. Wipe your hands clean with a towel and pull down your pants and underwear. Make a V shape with your first and second finger, then spread the inside of your labia minora (the inner lips of your labia). Lift your labia minora up and outward, then start peeing. The urine stream should go outward instead of down and against your leg.[2]
- When you’re done, wipe your labia and wash your hands.
- If you're aiming at a urinal, tilt your pelvis forward slightly to aim your stream out and down.
Question 3
Question 3 of 6:How do you practice peeing while standing?
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1Take off all your clothing from the waist down before starting. When you first start peeing while standing up, you might have some drips or dribbles. Take off everything (including your shoes and socks) for a much easier cleanup.[3]
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2Stand in your bathtub or shower to practice. It’s a safe place to practice where you can just rinse off afterwards. You can also try out different stances and poses to make peeing while standing up easier.[4]
Question 4
Question 4 of 6:How do you make peeing while standing up easier?
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1Do Kegel exercises. The muscles in your pelvic floor help start and stop your urine stream. You can find them by urinating and then using your muscles to stop the stream midflow. Once you find them, you can exercise them by contracting for a count of 5, then releasing for a count of 5. Try to do this 3 times a day to make your muscles stronger and have more control over your urine flow.[5]
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2Wear a skirt. With a skirt, you just have to lift up the fabric instead of unzipping or taking off your pants. If you have the option, try to wear something loose-fitting that’s easy to take off. Wearing pants is fine, but it can be a little tougher to pee standing up when you’re first starting out.[6]
Question 5
Question 5 of 6:How do you pee while hiking?
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1Head at least 200 feet (61 m) away from the trail. Usually, this is around 75 paces. You also want to make sure you’re away from any water sources or camps so you don’t contaminate anything.[7]
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2Urinate in a rocky place. Rocks won’t get damaged by the salt in your urine like plants do. If you have the option, try to go somewhere that’s pretty barren already. If you can’t find a spot, try to go in the dirt and not on top of a plant.[8]
Question 6
Question 6 of 6:Is it okay to not wipe after peeing?
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1It’s not ideal, but you can skip it in a pinch. Not wiping after you urinate can lead to bacteria buildup in and around your vagina. Wet underwear also feels uncomfortable. If you don’t have any toilet paper with you at the moment, try to wipe up and wash off as soon as you get to a spot with running water, and also change your panties as soon as you can.[9]
- If you feel any genital itching, burning, or discomfort when you pee, make an appointment with your doctor.
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References
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20878999/
- ↑ http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/t/Peestanding.pdf
- ↑ http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/t/Peestanding.pdf
- ↑ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/voices/one-more-barrier-faced-by-women-in-science/
- ↑ Allison Romero, PT, DPT. Pelvic Health Specialist. Expert Interview. 2 December 2020.
- ↑ http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/t/Peestanding.pdf
- ↑ https://www.nps.gov/romo/getinvolved/supportyourpark/leavenotrace.htm
- ↑ https://www.nps.gov/romo/getinvolved/supportyourpark/leavenotrace.htm
- ↑ https://www.girlshealth.gov/body/reproductive/infections.html
About This Article
Whether you’re camping or simply can’t find a clean bathroom, there are times you’ll need to pee standing up without a device. One way to practice is to stand in the bathtub or shower and find a position that allows you to control your urine stream. To avoid getting urine on your clothes, remove everything from the waist down, including your socks. Position yourself in front of or over the shower, spread your feet apart, and crouch slightly. Spread your labia with one hand and place the fingers of your other hand slightly in front of your urethra. Pull your fingers up and forward and allow yourself to urinate. To learn how to prevent dripping, keep reading!
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