# How would urine run down a woman's leg if the legs are spread wide so there's enough space? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 8, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790 "2019-03-08T21:49:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jordan20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@jordan20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jordan20)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/1 "2019-03-08T21:49:23Z")
I’ve seen women say that if they stood while urinating it would run down their leg, but why would that happen if the legs are spread wide so that there’s a lot of space between the thighs? I’m a woman and that DOESN’T happen to me. I would have to have my legs really close together for that to happen. Is it that their thighs are too big so there’s not enough space? Is it that they can’t spread their legs wide enough because of their clothing? Is it that the urine veers way off to the side so it wouldn’t matter how much space is between the thighs? Is it that they just don’t want to spread there legs as far as they would have to? Does it drip down the buttocks and then the leg? I’ve also seen women say that because their urine comes out in a spray it would get everywhere, but I don’t see how that would happen if there’s a lot of space between the thighs, unless it veers way off to the side. I also don’t see how it would end up on the toilet or the floor or the wall, unless it veers way off to the side. They seem to be saying that if the urine doesn’t come out perfectly it will get everywhere. I’m really confused and I want to know why I’m different. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/2 "2019-03-08T21:51:46Z")
New Grant idea coming… ---
**Author:** ![SIick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/siick/32/7329_2.png) [@SIick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SIick)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/3 "2019-03-08T23:00:13Z")
Doesn’t sound like you’re going to be having any hands on experience with women so you might want to check out Pornhub…that way you can see what you’re missing out on. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/4 "2019-03-08T23:03:18Z")
Are you talking about peeing outside, on the ground? I’ve never performed a mirror examination, so I don’t know why, but spreading isn’t good enough. I, personally, need to spread and squat to get a clean stream. Which is easy in a skirt with no underwear, but a real balancing act with pants. You don’t want to hit the pants. And it has nothing to do with my thighs. The squat is needed to keep my ankles dry. Also, if the ground is hard, there will be backsplash onto shoes and ankles. Unless further measures are taken. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/5 "2019-03-08T23:15:16Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > New Grant idea coming… [Moderator Note] Let’s refrain from joke answers as the first response in GQ. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/6 "2019-03-08T23:16:21Z")
> [@SIick](#): > > Doesn’t sound like you’re going to be having any hands on experience with women so you might want to check out Pornhub…that way you can see what you’re missing out on. **Moderator Warning** SIick, insults are not permitted outside the Pit. This is an official warning. Do not do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/7 "2019-03-08T23:18:25Z")
Since we have no way of knowing why women who say this say this without being acquainted with those women, let’s move this to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![jordan20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@jordan20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jordan20)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/8 "2019-03-08T23:18:59Z")
I’m a woman. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/9 "2019-03-08T23:27:36Z")
> [@jordan20](#): > > I’m a woman. **Yllaria** raised the issue of pants and underwear getting in the target zone. Is this peeing presumed to be happening while naked? ---
**Author:** ![jordan20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@jordan20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jordan20)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/10 "2019-03-08T23:28:26Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Are you talking about peeing outside, on the ground? I’ve never performed a mirror examination, so I don’t know why, but spreading isn’t good enough. I, personally, need to spread and squat to get a clean stream. Which is easy in a skirt with no underwear, but a real balancing act with pants. You don’t want to hit the pants. And it has nothing to do with my thighs. The squat is needed to keep my ankles dry. > > Also, if the ground is hard, there will be backsplash onto shoes and ankles. Unless further measures are taken. They’re acting like it would run down their leg if they’re using a toilet or outside. I don’t think it would get on ankles if they are far apart. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/11 "2019-03-08T23:31:08Z")
I’m a woman, too. I think it partly has to do with normal human variation in anatomy. Just like some men have penises that lean to one side or the other, and other have “midline” penises, women’s plumbing likewise probably varies, even if isn’t as visible. I have never noted a tendency to pee to one side or the other - presumably, I’m a midline pisser - but maybe those other women are left or right side pissers? More detail I don’t feel comfortable going into on this message board. ---
**Author:** ![jordan20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@jordan20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jordan20)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/12 "2019-03-08T23:33:26Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > **Yllaria** raised the issue of pants and underwear getting in the target zone. Is this peeing presumed to be happening while naked? They say it would run down their leg. I guess that happens whether they have clothes on or not. Someone on this site said it would get on her in the shower, so then it would happen even when naked. ---
**Author:** ![jordan20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@jordan20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jordan20)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/13 "2019-03-08T23:41:04Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I’m a woman, too. > > I think it partly has to do with normal human variation in anatomy. Just like some men have penises that lean to one side or the other, and other have “midline” penises, women’s plumbing likewise probably varies, even if isn’t as visible. > > I have never noted a tendency to pee to one side or the other - presumably, I’m a midline pisser - but maybe those other women are left or right side pissers? > > More detail I don’t feel comfortable going into on this message board. The pee wouldn’t have to come out perfect if there’s a lot space between the thighs, unless the thighs are too big. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/14 "2019-03-08T23:45:03Z")
So is the working theory that these women who claimed to have peed on themselves are hallucinating, lying, or simply extremely undexterous? ---
**Author:** ![jordan20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@jordan20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jordan20)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/15 "2019-03-08T23:54:08Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > So is the working theory that these women who claimed to have peed on themselves are hallucinating, lying, or simply extremely undexterous? I’m trying to figure out the reason it would happen. Like if it’s because they have bigger thighs so there isn’t enough room. They just say it runs down their leg and give no reason why it happens. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/16 "2019-03-09T00:03:37Z")
Splashing. That’s all I’m saying. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/17 "2019-03-09T00:21:21Z")
> [@jordan20](#): > > They’re acting like it would run down their leg if they’re using a toilet or outside. I don’t think it would get on ankles if they are far apart. It’s a skill that has to be developed and if they didn’t get used to it as kids, they’re going to be on the steep side of the learning curve. It will be awkward and they’ll be at risk of doing it wrong. If they’re not practiced, they won’t want to risk it. Also, there’s no toilet paper in the wild, so they’re going to have wet underwear when they pull those back up. Regarding the shower - of course it goes down the leg. If I’m being drenched with water while standing on slick tile or porcelain, I’m just going to stand comfortably and let things take care of themselves. And perhaps that’s someone’s only experience of peeing while standing, so that’s all they know. Outside, things are more awkward. And regarding the ankles, it isn’t a matter of left or right, it’s stream spread and waver. Squatting both clears the nozzle and shortens the length of stream, so it has less spread before hitting the grass. My grandma was born in a time when public restrooms were nearly nonexistent on the road. She taught her granddaughters the use of coffee cans and paper cups. If you’re wearing a skirt and your undies are roomy (hers were) you won’t even be exposing anything. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/18 "2019-03-09T00:24:29Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Since we have no way of knowing why women who say this say this without being acquainted with those women, let’s move this to IMHO. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator In that case, I’ll go ahead and cite “Rule 34.” ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/19 "2019-03-09T00:46:15Z")
The pee comes out down there too?? Man, the more I learn about those things the more improbable they seem. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790/20 "2019-03-09T00:58:02Z")
I’ll go ahead and blame the labia. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-urine-run-down-a-womans-leg-if-the-legs-are-spread-wide-so-theres-enough-space/830790.md?page=2)