A perineal urethra is a human urethra

Urethra

In anatomy, the urethra is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the genitals for the removal of fluids out of the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis, and carries semen as well as urine...

l opening that is located on the perineum

Perineum

In human anatomy, the perineum is a region of the body including the perineal body and surrounding structures...

 rather than at the tip of the phallus

Phallus

A phallus is an erect penis, a penis-shaped object such as a dildo, or a mimetic image of an erect penis. Any object that symbolically resembles a penis may also be referred to as a phallus; however, such objects are more often referred to as being phallic...

. Urethral position is an aspect of human sexual dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...

. A phallic urethra is typical of male anatomy and a perineal urethra is typical of female anatomy. A small number of persons represent exceptions for a variety of reasons.

The degree of prenatal androgen

Androgen

Androgen, also called androgenic hormone or testoid, is the generic term for any natural or synthetic compound, usually a steroid hormone, that stimulates or controls the development and maintenance of male characteristics in vertebrates by binding to androgen receptors...

 effect (virilization

Virilization

In biology and medicine, virilization refers to the biological development of sex differences, changes that make a male body different from a female body. Most of the changes of virilization are produced by androgens...

) on the external genitalia in the third month of gestation is the principal known determinant of extent of closure of the fetal urethral groove

Urethral groove

The primary urethral groove or urethral groove is a temporary linear indentation on the underside of the male penis during embryonic development....

, which in turn determines the location of the opening. When a perineal urethra occurs in an otherwise anatomically normal male, it is referred to as a third degree hypospadias

Hypospadias

Hypospadias is a birth defect of the urethra in the male that involves an abnormally placed urinary meatus...

.

Individuals (male and female) with a perineal urethra generally prefer to urinate sitting down or squatting

Squatting position

Squatting is a posture where the weight of the body is on the feet but the knees are bent either fully or partially . In contrast, sitting, involves taking the weight of the body, at least in part, on the buttocks against the ground or a horizontal object such as a chair seat...

, but may find it comfortable to urinate standing up with assistance from the fingers or with a special device.