By The following is a guest post about STP (stand-to-pee) devices by Kelvin Sparks. He is a bi, polyamorous, and intersex trans man who writes about sex, sexuality, and sex toys. Check Kelvin out over at his website, CyborgDicks.com
A STP (Stand To Pee device) is, as the name suggests, a device that allows AFAB people to pee while standing up. For transmasculine people, they can serve as a way to combat dysphoria or for practical reasons, as it allows us to use urinals.
I do want to make it clear that while many trans men and other transmasculine people use STP devices to help relieve dysphoria, a person of any gender can use one. Using an STP, feeling dysphoria relieved at using an STP, or wanting to try an STP device has no bearing on your gender. While I am writing this from the perspective of a (mostly binary) trans man, the information in this is predominantly factual, and (I hope!) will still be useful.
On the flip side, if you are a trans man or otherwise transmasculine and do not enjoy using an STP, this is valid. While an STP can make accessing male bathrooms easier, as it can allow for urinal use, you will almost certainly not be outed because of your choice not to use a urinal, and your choice not to use one has no bearing on your gender. You are not a “fake man” or “fake trans person” for not wanting to or not enjoying using an STP device. Each person’s experiences is different, and nobody can tell you that your experiences or emotions are invalid or wrong.
If you’re experimenting with STP devices, and gendered marketing of products doesn’t bother you, devices intended for and marketed towards cis women may be more accessible to you than STP devices targeted at transmasculine people. Examples of this style of STP include the (unfortunately named and painfully marketed) GoGirl, the Shewee, and the pStyle.
For the most part, these types of STP devices are not going to be useful for people who want an STP that makes being able to use a urinal possible. Because of their non-representational forms, they may also not help with some people’s dysphoria, and their size and bulkiness generally makes them less portable than STP devices marketed towards and intended for transmasculine people. However, because they’re intended to be held over pretty much all of your anatomy, they are compatible with most people’s particulars in terms of anatomy and stream. Additionally, if you’re in an environment where you can’t be out yet, they have some deniability attached to them. You can potentially excuse them as for travel, or for hiking, or for outdoor sport if questioned by somebody who you don’t feel safe being out to.
Generally, there’s two styles of STP device targeted specifically at transmasculine people- “medicine spoon” (or funnel) style devices, and “nipple” style ones. This has to do with the shape of the receptacle you press against your genitals and pee into, and both derive their names from DIY solutions that trans men in the past have come up with, and have passed into trans legend since.
The latter – which I have never tried and have only heard rumours of – comes from the process of cutting the end off a baby bottle nipple, then gluing this nipple to some rubber tubing. The former- which I have tried and which did work for me- involves cutting a hole in the end of a medicine spoon’s handle, and using the cup of the spoon to pee into.
If you’re comfortable touching your genitalia, I would advise you get a decent idea of what anatomy you have, because this impacts how your genitalia interface with an STP. It can be unpleasant, especially because part of figuring out your anatomical specifics means touching your genitalia when urinating, but it really does help in the long run. I promise. Peeing standing up in the shower is probably the best way to figure this out. Try to ask yourself these questions:
Where exactly is your urethra? When you pee without an assistive device, where does the stream go? Is your urine stream caught up in the labia minora?
If your urine stream comes straight out, you will probably have better luck with nipple style STPs than a person whose stream becomes caught up in their labia minora. Nipple style receptacles are generally more comfortable and easier to pocket (if not attached to a packer), but must be placed more precisely in order to create a full seal, and stop accidents happening. This also requires more interaction with your anatomy, which some people might find triggers their dysphoria.
For those with a more unruly flow, or for those who want minimal interaction with their anatomy, spoon style STPs are likely to work better. However, it still requires some aiming to ‘dock’ correctly, and there is a potential risk that a seal may not be formed. This is especially the case if you have particularly large labia minora.
I don’t actually know of any commercially available STP devices that use the nipple style receptacle that aren’t also functional as packers. There are a few spoon style STP devices that aren’t packers, but are phallic in form and marketed towards transmasculine people. This includes the Mr. Fenis STP, which is phallic enough to pass the urinal test, has a wide tube, and can be folded up into a pocket after use.
For STP Packers- that is STP devices that can also be used for soft packing- there are several options. Alongside specifically designed and produced STP Packers, you can also find and purchase modifications of existing packers (normally the Mr. Softie/ Mr. Limpy), both with nipple style (like the Fitz STP) and spoon style (like the Mango STP) receptacles. Because these are adapted from non-silicone packers, they tend to not last as long as silicone based STP packers. Additionally, for those who want to pack and use an STP to help with dysphoria, the weight of silicone and the fact it absorbs body heat may make it more useful for this, as it can feel more “real.”
Silicone STP packers are available at a variety of price points, and with differing levels of realism. Some of the many available include the Sam STP from New York Toy Collective, the EZP from Transthetics, and the selection of STP packers available from Number One Laboratory.
No matter how much thought you put into choosing an STP that fits your anatomy, it will be odd to start with. You will likely find placing it awkward and you will likely end up peeing on your legs instead of in the toilet. I’d suggest first trying an STP out in the shower, without any clothes on. This means that if your aim isn’t correct, or if you don’t place the STP correctly, it can be cleaned up pretty easily. Once you’re confident with this, I’d suggest moving on to trying to pee in your toilet at home without clothes, then with clothes, and then public restrooms. Because every STP is different, it’s probably worth familiarizing yourself in this way if you get a new or different model, even if you have used an STP before- I found using the Mr. Fenis and using the Mango were totally different experiences, and having some practice for both before using them outside was helpful.
While the efficacy of STP devices at combating dysphoria varies, I’ve found using one helps me significantly. If you have dysphoria relating to not being able to stand to pee (or even if you don’t and are curious- sometimes we don’t know dysphoria is happening until it’s gone), if’s definitely worth giving it a try, and I hope this post is useful for you. If you’ve tried an STP, and have more advice to give, or have specific products that have worked for you, please do let me know!
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