Is This a Potential Problem

This might be TMI, but I've always had the bit-too-far-outwards pee issue, and I'm 26 now. It only meant I had to learn how to tilt my pelvis a bit to point it down by tilting my pelvis (just tell her to stick her butt out more on the toilet) instead of being very close to going outside the top of the bowl. Haven't noticed any more UTIs and whatnot than anyonen else... it's just that some females are built at different angles and slightly-more fleshy areas (even on skinny girls) can cause that as well.

Dear J.,
Although a relatively new RN I have seen that everyone of us is truly unique. If your daughter has not been having any medical problems that seem to be related to her urinary system I would let your daughter guide you in how to approach this. Although the specialist that would most likely be involved is the urologist you will most likely have to start with your pediatrician. Your daugter is old enough to make some decisions about her body so consider letting her decide when she is ready to approach this subject with the clinician. It doesn't sound as if she is having any medical problems because of this issue, so at the moment her self-esteem seems to be the biggest concern. Every young girls deserves to feel good about herself. Perhaps hearing from a doctor that everyone is built differently would help her to feel ok about things, and perhaps she's not ready to have that conversation. Either way, she is lucky to have a mom that she can talk to about her concerns.

Hi J.,
I don't think it is. A friend of mine and me had that same topic after discussing the issue if our husbands are sitting down when they pee or stand. She said she thought he doesn't when she is not home because she found pee droplets around the toilet when cleaning. Which of course he denied. It turned out that her 11 year old daughter pees "in circles". She said when she saw her pee one day it explained everything! Her pee went all over the place. They decided that her daughter should try pulling her "lips" apart a little bit before she starts peeing. In her case it was caused by them just getting stuck together a little and then the pee started coming out on whatever side it could, causing weird angles and because of the pressure and smaller opening it was sometimes like a fountain.
Of course I am not a doctor and I think you should mention it at her next visit, but truly think that there is not a problem.
I hope this helped.
B.

I think you should make her an appointment with the GYN. At 12, she'll be absolutely mortified by her first GYN experience and will probably be reluctant to let you schedule an appointment. But, if she's worried and stressed (which she obviously is) then for her piece of mine (and yours) you should schedule an appointment immediately.

Chances are good this is something small and very minor that can be addressed immediately - so why wait? But, if it something that could be a potential problem down the road (which I wouldn't predict), wouldn't it better to get seen right away?

My granddaughter also can pee standing up like a boy does. When she sits she does tip her pelvis forward. I've always thought this is normal even tho it's different in my experience. We are all built differently. In a anatomically related experience, my daughter and I stained our panties in different parts of the panties. I think that is because our vaginas are located differently. She too would be mortified if she knew I wrote this. :):) My daughter has 2 children.

If I were you, to relieve any anxiety, I would ask the doctor about this at her next appointment. In the meantime, I really do think that the placement of one's "plumbing" can be different with each individual. I wouldn't be concerned.

Uterine placement also varies. Mine tipped backwards. My cousin's tipped forward. She had 4 children. I didn't get pregnant because of endometriosis which is completely unrelated to uterine placement and undetectible until way into adulthood.

I also think that the doctor could not determine uterine location based on where the vagina or ureter exits the body. This would require a vaginal exam and that is not recommended in a child this young. My daughter's pediatrician said that vaginal exams are generally not done until the child is an adult. And even if her uterus is placed differently that wouldn't mean she'd have difficulty having children. In fact I suspect that her uterus isn't in it's adult position yet.

My granddaughter, who is 7, is proud that she can stand at the toilet and pee like her 4 yo brother. Her brother usually sits so he can be like his sister. "Go figure."

There is an advantage to having the urethra outlet nearer to the front. She has "picnic equipment" as one of my male friends has said. When camping or away from toilets she can pee standing up which is much easier than squatting. My granddaughter has already done this when we've been traveling away from civilization.

Well, I would start with her ped, but if you feel the urge to seek out a professional, a GYN is actually NOT who would handle this, a urologist would. A GYN can do an external look, but if she either a) sees something, or b) doesn't see anything, you're going to have to go to a urologist to have it fixed, or to them to have it more thoroughly checked out. Anyway, just wanted to throw my two cents in - no need to embarass her twice - and I saw that a few people thought GYN might be the way to go. Who knows, maybe there's something I don't know, but I'm pretty sure that the specialist you want to see is a urologist. Good luck!

I don't actually know anything about this topic but wanted to suggest you ask a Gyneocologist. I was thinking of forwarding this to a friend of mine who is an OBGYN because that's what they specialize it. But then figured you could just ask yours. Hope this helps. (if you'd like me to ask my friend, let me know)

God Bless.

Hi J.,
Well, males sometimes have the urethra "backwards" on their penises, so I would suspect that it probable for females to have "abnormal" placement as well. I would however suggest that you discuss with your daughter mentioning it to the pediatrician to see if it is something of concern.

If this problem is bothering you both and it is effecting her mentally and her self esteem then I fell like you should see her Doctor and yours because she is becoming a young lady and if it needs to be fixed now is the time. ?I hope things go well and I wish you well and blessings and a happy new year. J.

J., as a nurse and mom to an 11 yr old daughter I suggest you speak to her Dr. about having a Urology consult. You'll need the consult for your insurance to cover and yes, it will be a bit uncomfortable for her but think how uncomfortable it will be if she has UTI's and bladder problems? Just a thought. My 3 yr old son is awaiting surgery to have his "fixed" because he pees upward rather than out. We've washed walls and toilets so often LOL! But my biggest concern was his having to strain to make the stream. Does she have this problem? If so it could be something as simple as what we have, but can be a potential problem with kidneys later on. Better safe than sorry to find out now. Just remind her that Doctors see and hear everything every day so not to be embarrased. Best of luck and let me know if you have more questions.

If she sort of tips her hips backwards when she urinates (sort of the opposite of tucking her butt under), does that help?

I would definitely ask the pediatrician about it. The uterus may be positioned differently than normal, which could contribute to her having trouble conceiving later on. They have much more experience regarding what is normal and how and if it needs to be fixed.

I think you should consult her doctor. My daughter's vagina started closing up in her first year, but we gave her estrogen cream and now all appears to be ok. Who knows..? Maybe that was missed when she was little..?

A friend of mine's sister had this when she was a toddler and potty training hers was so bad she would sometimes pee upwards so she had to have corrective surgery to help her out I think she was about five or so then she has as an adult had a couple of kids and so it did not affect her reproductive organs now I don't know if your daughters is as bad but it might be something that your ins. will cover.