How to Pee Standing Up (for Women)

Understand your body's anatomy. You may not have paid close attention to the workings of your lower body, so it’s better to review some basic female anatomy by looking at diagrams or using a handheld mirror.

• Locate the urethra. The urethra is a tube that leads from the bladder to the outside. Urine passes through this tube, which is about 4cm long, and exits through a small opening behind the clitoris, just in front of the vagina.
• Identify the labia. The outer labia are two rounded folds of skin surrounding the urethra and vaginal opening. The inner labia are two smaller folds enclosed by the outer labia.
  • The urethral opening is very small, so don’t worry if it takes a while to spot it in the mirror.
  • It’s helpful to touch these areas to get a better sense of their structure. When first learning to pee standing up, use your fingers to spread the outer labia, exposing the urethral opening for better control of the urine stream.

Maintain hygiene. If you know you’re heading somewhere with dirty or no restrooms, prepare a few personal hygiene items.

• Hand sanitizer. Before standing to pee, it’s crucial to clean your hands. You’ll be touching your genital area, and bacteria on your hands could lead to urinary tract infections. Women have shorter urethras, making it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder. If soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer to protect yourself.
• Wet wipes. Carry a small pack of wet wipes to clean your hands after peeing. For some standing techniques, your fingers might get wet.

Ensure privacy. You might need to stand to pee while camping or because the women’s restroom is crowded, and only the men’s restroom is available. Make sure you have a private space before starting. If someone walks in, you could make a mess, embarrass yourself, or make the other person uncomfortable.

Two-finger method for beginners. When first learning to stand and pee, aim to make the process as easy as possible. You’ll improve with practice, but start with this beginner-friendly method at home.

• Wash your hands. Use warm water and soap, then dry them thoroughly.
• Remove clothing from the waist down. You might make a small mess while practicing. To avoid getting urine on your pants, skirt, underwear, or shoes, take them off. If you’re wearing a long shirt, remove it as well.
• Position yourself over a toilet or in the shower. Stand with your feet about 0.6 meters apart. Use your fingers to spread the labia apart. Place two fingers in front of the urethra. Gently pull upward and outward with even pressure on both sides.
• Start peeing. Adjust your hips to control the direction of the urine stream. Push firmly at the start and again at the end to ensure no leftover drops.
• Clean up and wipe any spills around the toilet or rinse with a showerhead. Remember to wash your hands again.
  • Don’t be discouraged if urine runs down your leg or splashes everywhere—this is normal for beginners. Practice is key; with time, you’ll improve.
  • Experiment with your stance. Slightly bending your knees or arching your back might help. What works for one person may not work for another, so try different positions.

One-hand method for more experienced individuals.

• Wash your hands.
• Remove clothing that might get in the way. Pull down your skirt, pants, or underwear.
• Keep toilet paper or wet wipes handy. Use them to clean up any accidental splashes.
• Use the first and second fingers of your free hand to form a “V” shape and spread the inner labia, pulling upward. This helps direct the urine stream and prevents it from running down your leg. By adjusting the angle and your hip position, you can control the direction of the stream (though this takes practice).
• Clean up and wipe any spills around the toilet if you’re at home. Don’t forget to wash your hands again.
  • After practicing and gaining confidence in directing the stream, you can use this one-hand method without fully undressing. Pull your outer pants down slightly, or if they have a long zipper, you might not need to pull them down at all. Use your free hand to lift your skirt. Insert the “V”-shaped hand through the side of your underwear at the crotch.

Using a funnel. Utilize a female urination device or standing urination tool. Female urination devices have been around for nearly 100 years, and their design has significantly improved over time. They are available in reusable or disposable forms and can be purchased at online pharmacies or manufacturers' websites.

• Wash your hands.
• Remove clothing that might obstruct you. Pull down your outer pants and underwear, or move the underwear to the side.
• Position the device. If it’s made of plastic or another rigid material, place your hand on one side of the device. If it’s made of silicone or a flexible material, spread your thumb and middle finger to hold the device from front to back. Secure it firmly against your body, ensuring the back of the device is pressed against your skin. Direct the spout away from your body and outer clothing.
• Aim the urine stream accurately. Use your third finger to form a triangle and stabilize the stream. Adjust your hips, bend your knees, and/or arch your back to find a comfortable position that allows you to control the stream. Aim the urine into an appropriate place: the toilet or away from your feet.
• After urinating, remove the device. If toilet paper isn’t available, use the device itself to wipe away any remaining drops. Shake it clean and rinse if possible.
  • Although this method may seem easier than using your fingers, practice is still necessary to avoid spills. Practice using the device at home multiple times until you feel comfortable.
  • Some reusable devices come with a plastic storage bag; others do not. Prepare your own storage bag if the product doesn’t include one.
  • In emergencies, you can create a makeshift device from a plastic bottle. Cut off the bottom with scissors or a knife. Remove the cap and clean the bottle’s opening. Place the bottle’s opening over your urethra. Ensure it’s positioned directly over the urethra to prevent splashing. Direct the other end of the bottle away from your body and maintain a steady but not overly forceful stream.

The squatting method. If your legs are strong and you can maintain a squatting position for several seconds, you can use this method to urinate.

• Lift the toilet seat. Raising the seat increases your "target" area and prevents soiling the seat for the next user. Of course, if you’re using this method, the toilet is likely already dirty—otherwise, you wouldn’t need to stand. On the other hand, if you’re unfamiliar with this method and fear slipping, leave the seat down to catch you if you lose balance.
• Bend your knees and lower your body into a "sitting" position at approximately a 90-degree angle. If you don’t lower yourself close to 90 degrees and instead lean backward, you might spray urine onto the seat, your outer pants, or even your shoes. Balance by resting your forearms on your knees or placing a hand on the wall for stability. Get as close to the toilet as possible without touching it.
• Position your body as far back as possible, directly over the toilet bowl. Since the urine stream flows forward, leaning back helps prevent splashing or missing the toilet.
• Keep your head up. Focus on a point in front of you. Looking down between your legs might cause you to lose balance.
• After urinating, clean yourself and wash your hands if possible. If you lowered the seat, glance over it to avoid misaiming. Use toilet paper to wipe the seat for the next person if necessary.

• If you feel embarrassed about standing to pee, find a private space.
• The area near the urethra can sometimes feel sticky due to vaginal discharge. In such cases, use a small piece of tissue to clean the area beforehand.
• If you want to stand to pee during your period, consider using a tampon. If it’s still challenging, sit to pee—just for that week.
• If you need to urinate and defecate simultaneously, sit down. Don’t waste time trying to do both separately.
• Stand firmly and push hard to ensure a steady stream.

• Standing to pee can be messy. Avoid trying it for the first time at a friend’s house if you want to keep the friendship intact.
• Practice at home before attempting it anywhere else, unless you’re camping, hiking, etc.
• Remember, it takes time to get used to this method. Don’t lose patience if you don’t succeed on your first try.
• Try it at home first, and if you miss, simply clean up any spills.
• Even if you only need to use a public restroom to urinate, others may need to sit for other reasons. Be considerate and lift the seat—and if you miss, clean up afterward; after all, this is what women expect from polite men. You should also wipe the seat.

• A mirror
• A toilet (not too high or too low)
• Toilet paper