A substantially disc-shaped fluid collection device having orthogonal length, width and height dimensions that include a width of 12 mm (0.5 inch) to 25.4 mm (1.0 inch) and a length of 12.7 mm (0.5 inch) to 44.4 mm (1.75 inch), the device comprising: a fluid impermeable barrier at least partially defining a chamber, the fluid impermeable barrier also defining an opening extending therethrough, the opening configured to be positioned adjacent to a female urethral opening and traversing at least 75% of an upper portion of the device; a conduit at least partially disposed in the chamber, the conduit extending away from the chamber in the length direction of the fluid collection device for communicating with a vacuum source that is capable of imposing a vacuum on the conduit, which conduit defines at least one aperture therein that provides fluid communication between i) an interior of the conduit, and ii) the chamber; and the device including an upper portion, a lower portion and an intermediary portion between the upper portion and the lower portion with the upper portion extending from the opening to the intermediary portion and having a smaller diameter or circumference than the intermediary portion, and in which the intermediary portion includes a greater maximum diameter or circumference than both the upper portion and the lower portion, the device further comprising i) a fluid permeable membrane disposed at least partially within the chamber, a portion of the fluid permeable membrane extending across the opening, and ii) at least one reservoir disposed in the chamber that is configured to hold a fluid therein, the at least one aperture of the conduit being disposed in or adjacent to the at least one reservoir, the fluid-permeable membrane being adapted to remove fluid from the area around the female urethra and wicking it towards the reservoir; and further wherein the lower portion extends in the height direction of the device as a bulbous portion which helps provide a region in which fluid can be collected, and wherein the conduit ends in an aperture that is located within the bulbous portion. a fluid impermeable barrier at least partially defining a chamber, the fluid impermeable barrier also defining an opening extending therethrough, the opening configured to be positioned adjacent to a female urethral opening and traversing at least 75% of an upper portion of the device; a conduit at least partially disposed in the chamber, the conduit extending away from the chamber in the length direction of the fluid collection device for communicating with a vacuum source that is capable of imposing a vacuum on the conduit, which conduit defines at least one aperture therein that provides fluid communication between i) an interior of the conduit, and ii) the chamber; and the device including an upper portion, a lower portion and an intermediary portion between the upper portion and the lower portion with the upper portion extending from the opening to the intermediary portion and having a smaller diameter or circumference than the intermediary portion, and in which the intermediary portion includes a greater maximum diameter or circumference than both the upper portion and the lower portion, the device further comprising i) a fluid permeable membrane disposed at least partially within the chamber, a portion of the fluid permeable membrane extending across the opening, and ii) at least one reservoir disposed in the chamber that is configured to hold a fluid therein, the at least one aperture of the conduit being disposed in or adjacent to the at least one reservoir, the fluid-permeable membrane being adapted to remove fluid from the area around the female urethra and wicking it towards the reservoir; and further wherein the lower portion extends in the height direction of the device as a bulbous portion which helps provide a region in which fluid can be collected, and wherein the conduit ends in an aperture that is located within the bulbous portion.