Bladder capacity: A women's bladder capacity is not that much smaller than a man's but women tend to limit the capacity of their bladders by continuing to go more than we need to - the 'just-in-case' habit. And it's not helped by the current obsession with drinking huge amounts of water. You only need 24ml of water per kilogram of body weight every 24 hours. So a 60kg (9st 6lb) woman needs just 1.4 litres (just under 3 pints) of water a day - and that's from everything you consume, including food. Though we do need a little more in hot weather or when exercising.
Our bladders can hold perhaps as much as a litre of fluid, but the 'micturation point' (when our bladder says 'now') is about 150 to 200 ml and varies between individuals. Some drinks have a diuretic effect (making you produce more urine for a while) so while out either avoid or restrict fizzy drinks containing aspartame, anything caffeinated, white wine and champagne.
At age 25, an average person's bladder can hold 2 cups of liquid.
At age 65, the average is half that capacity.
Female Urination Devices (FUDs) are funnel shaped pieces of plastic or card that allow women to pee standing up. They are useful medically: if you need to provide a urine sample, after surgery to help avoid catheterisation, and for women who have had a hip repalacement and find it difficult to sit down to pee. And in everyday life they can be a boon too: take one in the car on long journeys for emergencies, use in grotty public toilets, and at open air concerts where the queues can be lengthy. FUDs are now easily available and easy to maintain. Tip: There's a knack to using these, so practice in the shower at home first.
Cystitis: While the best position for a woman to urinate is squatting, as the pelvic floor is completely relaxed, urinating standing using a FUD won't cause cystitis. If you are worried about urinary infection, the top tip is to urinate straight after sex.
Good Housekeeping, August 2013
