Betty Find

Yes, Women and Girls Too Can Pee Standing Up!

You GoGirl!

-Stephanie Elliot

When ya gotta go, you gotta go, and to be perfectly blunt here, we're not men who can just whip it out and point toward a tree, right?

Well, exciting news for women who sit while peeing (and yes, I'm hoping that would be all of you)! We no longer have to hold it if we're in a situation where we've got to pee yet there are obstacles preventing us from doing so. From nasty port-o-potties to no toilets in sight, you can now take matters into your "own hands" with an interesting new FUD.

What's a FUD, you ask? Well, it's a female urination device, of course! When I first heard about GoGirl, I was like, "Is this for real?" But intrigue got the best of me so I sent away for my first ever FUD, and days later, a small cylinder, sized to fit perfectly in a purse or even a pocket, arrived in my mail.

When I popped the funnel-like pink silicone apparatus out from the cylinder, I thought, "There is no way I'm going to try this out." But then I remembered the time I was in fifth grade and our family was on a summer car trip. I had to go. My parents pulled over. I squatted, peed, and subsequently soaked my underwear, jeans and the front of my t-shirt. I had been mortified and embarrassed, and I had to change my clothes on the side of the road while cars zoomed by. I still remember the incident as if it were yesterday and not 20-something years ago.

So, I yanked the FUD out of the cylinder container and ran up to my bathroom, feeling much like I was doing something sneaky. I pulled down my jeans, and really reconsidered using it. "Well, how am I going to know if this thing works if I don't try it out?"

With newfound bravery, I placed the GoGirl up against my crotch, tried to stand like a manly man, and I peed. The pee actually came out in a stream, and I could aim into the toilet! I thought, "Wow, if I wanted to, I could write my name in snow now like all guys do!"

Admittedly, I bent my knees a bit, not used to the sensation of peeing standing up. It just felt like I should be squatting. When I was done, I kind of giggled at the experience and washed up. A little soap and water on the GoGirl and it's good to go for another use. That's one of the many perks of the GoGirl - it's economical enough at only $5.99 that you can use it and then toss, but it also can be used over and over. Don't be grossed out - urine is sterile!

I imagine taking the GoGirl on car trips, and sticking the end into an empty water bottle while I pee in the car! I imagine being at summer outdoor events and not wanting to use the port-o-potties, or not being able to find one. This may be the magical device we women have been waiting for for years! My only concern is that if you are outside using the GoGirl, you'll definitely have to pull your pants down fairly far, which could give a passerby a glimpse of your booty. So obviously, you'll need to use some discretion when whipping out your FUD!

I'd have to say it's a great little device to have on hand, and with a little practice, I'm sure I'll get better at standing and aiming! I also think it'll come in handy this summer for both my daughter and me. Our family is traveling to Yellowstone, and with the GoGirl, nothing will hold us back from exploring the trails and hiking along the terrain. Plus, since we'll be standing while peeing, we'll have a head start to run if any bears start chasing us!

Stephanie Elliot is a contributing editor at Betty, and she also answers your parenting questions at Just Another Manic Mommy. Visit her at manicmommy.blogspot.com or stephanieelliot.com.