How to urinate outdoors for women

Sometimes, while on an adventure trip, camping, or hiking, you realize you urgently need to use the restroom. Unfortunately, the more you need to go, the farther away it seems. In these moments, there are no options left but to rely on the 'facilities' provided by Mother Nature. This article will guide women on how to urinate when outdoors.

Keep discretion in mind. You may not mind if someone sees you while you’re doing your business, but others will feel uncomfortable. Try to find a bush, large tree, or rock you can hide behind. Avoid going deep inside a thick bush; trees are often home to insects and spiders.

Avoid urinating in public places. Try to find a women’s restroom. If you find a men's toilet, the women’s one is likely nearby. Most cities prohibit public urination, and this behavior could lead to fines or even worse legal consequences.

• If you absolutely must go, try to find a spot behind thick bushes where no one can see you. Another option is to press yourself against a wall in an alley or behind a building. For safety reasons, it’s better to have a friend with you, especially at night or in unsafe areas.

Choose soft ground over hard surfaces. Soft surfaces like grass and pine needles absorb urine more easily than hard ones. This will prevent urine from splashing back onto you.

Consider the wind direction. If it’s windy, make sure you face into the wind. This will help the urine flow away from you.

If possible, avoid steep slopes. When you need to urinate on an inclined surface, face downhill. This way, the urine will flow away from you instead of back towards you.

Find a spot at least 60 meters away from water sources, trails, and campgrounds. Urinating too close to these areas can lead to water contamination and spread of pathogens.

Remove your clothes and underwear. Wearing wet clothes is not only uncomfortable but can also lead to infections. After removing your skirt, dress, shorts, or pants, pull your underwear down to your thighs.

• If you're wearing a skirt or dress, pull the hem up to your waist. If the skirt or dress is long and has a lot of fabric, gather it all towards the front. Avoid letting the fabric hang behind you.
• If you're wearing shorts or pants, first unbutton and unzip. Then, pull the pants down to your thighs. Don’t pull the pants lower than your knees, or they might get wet. Rolling up the pant legs is also a good idea.

Try the squat position. Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width and squat down. Keep your balance by leaning forward. Your private area should be behind your underwear and pants/shorts (if you're wearing them).

• If you're having trouble keeping your balance, try placing one hand on the ground in front of you.
• Use your hand to hold your pants or shorts near your knees. This will prevent them from getting wet.

Try sitting between two objects. Find two objects, like a rock or log. Sit on the edge of one and place your feet on the other. Lean forward so your private area is directly above the ground. Your genital area should not touch the object you're sitting on. Also, make sure your thighs don’t touch the objects either.

• After finishing, stand up from your ‘makeshift toilet’. Try to avoid walking through small puddles of water.

Consider urinating into a wide-mouthed bottle. For this method, you'll need to pull down your underwear and pants/shorts to your ankles. Squat down, place the bottle between your legs, and urinate into the bottle. Be sure to label the bottle and never use it for other purposes.

Always dry your private area. Failing to dry the vulva increases the risk of infection. You can use wet wipes, tissues, toilet paper, or even a 'urination wipe.'

• If you're using wet wipes, tissues, or toilet paper, avoid littering. Place the used paper in a plastic bag and dispose of it when you find a trash bin.
• If you're using wet wipes or moist towels, choose those without alcohol. Too much alcohol can kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria, leading to urinary tract infections.
• A 'urination wipe' is typically a handkerchief or cloth. You will use it to dry your private area, then hang it out to dry in the sun. The UV rays from sunlight will disinfect the cloth. However, even in humid or rainy areas, you should wash the cloth regularly to prevent odor.

Consider purchasing a female stand-to-pee device. These devices are small enough to fit in your purse or backpack. Some are disposable, while others can be reused. You can search online to find one. Some outdoor stores and camping gear shops also sell them. They look like funnels with a downward-sloping opening.

• These devices are also known as: FUD (Female Urination Device), or portable urination tools.

Practice using the device before taking it along. Before bringing your stand-to-pee device on a camping trip or event, try it out in the bathroom first to get used to it. You may need a few tries to get comfortable. The last thing you want is to struggle with its use during your trip, leading to a messy and uncomfortable situation.

Unbutton your pants or lift your skirt for convenience. While the device can help you urinate standing up, you still need to position it against your private area.

Move your underwear to the side. Hold your underwear in place by pulling the waistband towards your thigh. If you're wearing tight outer pants, you may need to lower them slightly so that the funnel's opening covers your private area.

Position the device against your private area. Press the opening of the funnel firmly against your body. The spout, which has a pointed end, should be directed away from your body towards the ground. Make sure the spout is angled lower than the back of the funnel.

Know how to clean up after you're done. Ensure you've thoroughly dried your vulva to avoid infection. If water is available, clean the device right away. If there's no water, place the device into a zippered bag (or the carrying case it came with) and wash it later.