Short answer: no. Peeing standing up is not bad for women in itself. What pelvic floor physical therapists warn about is something most women do every week without thinking: hovering in a half-squat over a public toilet seat. Standing upright with a female urination device is a different position, and it avoids the main problem hovering causes.
We make The Pee Pocket, so read this knowing that. This is general information, not medical advice. If something about how you pee has changed, talk to your doctor.
Hovering is the habit to worry about
Most women who stand to pee in a public restroom are not really standing. They crouch with their thighs tensed and their bottom a few inches above the seat. That half-squat is called hovering, and it is the position the research is about.
To empty fully, the bladder needs the pelvic floor muscles and the urethral sphincter to relax. Holding a crouch keeps the thighs, hips and pelvic floor working, so those muscles cannot fully let go. Women’s health physical therapist Brianne Grogan explains that hovering makes the flow harder to start and often leads to pushing, and that regular pushing can contribute to pelvic organ prolapse (HealthyWomen).
A 1991 study in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Moore and colleagues) looked at women crouching over the toilet. As summarised by the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center, 85% of the 528 women surveyed said they crouched over public toilets, and urine flow rate was about 21% lower while crouching, with more urine left in the bladder afterwards.
Urine left behind is the real concern. Over time, incomplete emptying is linked with going more often, urgency and a higher chance of bladder infections.
Standing upright is not the same as hovering
When you stand upright with a female urination device, your knees are straight, your weight is on both feet and you are not holding a squat. The device covers the area and directs the stream through a spout, so you do not need to tense anything to aim or to keep clear of the seat.
- Hovering: thighs and pelvic floor working to hold the crouch, often pushing to finish.
- Standing with a funnel: legs straight and relaxed, no squat to hold, time to let the flow start on its own.
- Sitting: still the most relaxed position of all, and the best choice when the seat is clean.
The honest summary: sitting is best when you can. When the seat is one you would rather not touch, standing upright with a funnel is a better option than hovering. See can women pee standing up? for how it works.
How to pee standing up without straining
- Stand with your feet apart and your knees soft, not bent into a squat.
- Position the funnel so the rim covers the whole area from front to back.
- Breathe out and wait. It can take a few seconds to start the first time. Do not push.
- Let it finish on its own. When the flow stops, give it a moment before you lift the funnel away, so the bladder has a chance to empty fully.
- Tilt, wipe and bin. Tilt the funnel forward to drain, use the wipe, and seal it in its bag.
One practice run at home makes a big difference, because the first time feels strange and that makes it harder to relax. Our step-by-step guide covers position and how to avoid leaks.
“Why can I only pee standing up?”
Some women find it hard to start peeing when they sit, or find it only comes when they stand or move. That is worth mentioning to a doctor rather than working around it. Difficulty starting, a weak stream or a feeling of not being empty can have causes such as a tight pelvic floor, an infection, constipation or, after childbirth or menopause, prolapse. A doctor or a pelvic floor physical therapist can check what is going on.
Get advice promptly if you have pain or burning, blood in your urine, a fever, or you cannot pee at all.
When standing up makes most sense
- Dirty public restrooms at gas stations, festivals, stadiums and rest stops. See the disposable pee funnel.
- Travel, including plane lavatories and road trips. See air travel and road trips.
- Outdoors, where squatting means exposed skin and wet shoes. See camping.
- After surgery or injury, when bending or lowering onto a seat is hard. See after hip replacement.
Try it for $3.99
The Pee Pocket is a single-use, fold-flat funnel. Each one is individually wrapped with a wipe and a disposal bag, so there is nothing to clean or carry home. A 3-pack gives you one to practise with and two for your bag. If you already know you will use it often, the 30-pack ships free in the US.
Questions
Is it unhygienic for a woman to pee standing up?
Not with a funnel. It keeps urine off your hands, legs and clothes, and you never touch the seat. Without a device, standing is usually messy.
Can peeing standing up cause a UTI?
Standing upright does not cause infections. The concern with hovering is urine left in the bladder, which is linked with infections over time. Relax, do not push, and let the bladder finish.
Is hovering over the toilet bad for you?
Pelvic floor therapists advise against making it a habit, because the crouch keeps the pelvic floor tense and can leave urine behind. Sit when the seat is clean, and stand upright with a funnel when it is not.
Can women pee standing up without a device?
Some can, with practice, but it is hard to control and usually means undressing more than you would like. A funnel makes it simple. More in can women pee standing up?
