Pee Funnel Help

If you find yourself ready to go, in location, holding your stand-to-pee device, and unable to pee, this is normal. The pee funnel is new! Your body isn’t used to it! How many times have you peed standing up before? Here are some tips:

Can you pee standing up with the shower on? If you’re one of the sainted few who does NOT pee while taking a shower, try that first, without the device.

Practice using the device in the shower with the shower running. Yes, it will be hard to tell if you’re doing it flawlessly, but it will develop the ability.

For the first couple of times outside the shower, you could run the tap (or a hose if you’re outside). But be careful not to get dependent on that, unless there’s always going to be running water where you use your stand-to-pee device.

The toilet is sometimes the easiest place to start, due to familiarity. It’s where you’re used to peeing!

Remember to bend your knees. You won’t always have to do this, but it helps to start out.  

Try staring at a fixed point in the distance, or doing a math problem in your head.

Think about how good it will feel to let go and pee.

Be sure you are not placing too much pressure on the perineum (“taint”) with your device, which can make it harder to go. Gentle pressure!

If you can only partially empty your bladder at first, be sure to use the restroom to finish afterwards, to prevent infection and general discomfort.

If you think it likely that you will have to pee with other people nearby, and this makes you nervous, get a buddy to hang out while you practice. You can start small, with your buddy far away, or not looking, and make it increasingly challenging.

Deep breath! Take all the time you need. You’re learning and that’s ok. This in particular was hard for me. I just had to let my body learn at its own pace. And my body did learn! It’s easy now, and it will be for you too.

Using a pee funnel does not have to be messy, but learning can be! For most devices, you need to angle the STP forward and down somewhat, to let gravity do the work. What you are wearing will impact your ability to do this. You have to pull your clothing down far enough that the STP can be at a downward angle. There should be some gentle pressure on your perineum from the back of the device. But not too much! Pressure there can make it harder to pee. 

As I state in the How to Pee Standing Up section, the idea that you need a “tight seal” isn’t always helpful. At first I was so afraid of spilling that I pressed the STP flush with my body, which tipped it back. Very messy.

For “soft” or rubbery devices, if you squeeze or grip too tightly, you will spill. Likewise, you have to be careful about getting them in your pants for this reason. 

Some people have a more forceful stream than others. Is your STP large enough, or designed to accommodate this? If you feel that the pee funnel is positioned correctly and there is still spillage, check out larger devices or simply devices with large funnels (EllaPee, GoPee, SuAmiga). Pstyle has the largest reservoir of the trough models. It doesn’t have to be bulky to work.  

Do you have the right device for you? The Pibella and SheWee Extreme require a lot of precision. In addition, the shape of your body will be different from other people’s! Each private area is unique. You can also read online reviews to see what issues commonly occur with your device and if those issues are your issues. 

This one sounds obvious, but I have made this mistake, so I’ll say here: if using a trough model (pStyle, Tinkle Belle, Venus to Mars) make sure it is completely face up and not tipped to the side even slightly.

If you are waiting until you REALLY have to go, you may be rushing the positioning.

Please DON’T try it fully dressed in the field for the first time. For most people, this is a skill you need to develop.

Are you feeling flustered by using the device, then having to wipe? Wrap a Kula Cloth (or toilet paper) around the device like a taco, then do the squeegee-method with that. One swipe!

You can’t use it if it’s not with you. The right pee funnel will be easy to keep on your person or in your pack/purse. This probably means being sure you have a case too.