Like so much to do with female sexuality, squirting is a controversial topic amongst both scientists and women. What does it actually feel like, where does it come from, and how can you try squirting if you've never experienced it before? Here, we take a closer look at this misunderstood sexual phenomenon and answer some of your most pressing questions.
Q: Are female ejaculation and squirting the same thing?
A: This is one of the trickier questions in the field of female sexual health. The terms "female ejaculation" and "squirting" are often used interchangeably, but recent studies have made a case for separating them. According to the findings, the term female ejaculation should be used in reference to the small amount of milky, discharge-like fluid that is secreted by the Skene's Glands during orgasm. In texture, it might resemble male ejaculate. This is not the same fluid that is often referred to as "squirting".
Q: Okay, so what is squirting?
A: Unlike ejaculate, the fluid produced during squirting is clear, and it is expelled through the urethra. Some women might experience more of a forceful stream of liquid, while others might feel a gushing sensation. This can happen during arousal or at the point of climax.
Q: Is it urine?
A: Because urine also comes through the urethra, this is a very common question. To get to the bottom of this, scientists studied a group of women who had reported being able to squirt. First, they asked the women to urinate and took an ultrasound to make sure their bladders were empty. The women were then asked to bring themselves to a state of sexual arousal. Another ultrasound was taken just before squirting, showing that their bladders had filled up again, and a third ultrasound was taken just after, showing that the bladders had been emptied again. According to the scientists, this confirmed that the fluid originated from the bladder.
Q: The fluid is probably from a gland similar to a prostate.
A: In addition to that, biochemical analysis of the liquid confirmed that it contains urea, creatinine, and uric acid, which are also found in urine, along with other secretions. However, because this fluid doesn't look or smell like urine, many experts are reluctant to call it pee. The consensus, for now, is that it originates from the bladder and contains some amount urine (which could have been present in your bladder at the time).
Gynaecologist Dr Charlotte Elder says that, while the research is not completely conclusive, “it’s probably fluid from a gland that’s similar to a prostate, that potentially collects in the bladder and then gets expelled.”
Q: Is squirting gross?
A: Semen travels out the same way as pee from the male body, and generally contains urea, creatinine, and uric acid, but no one stops to question whether that makes it "gross" or not.
Q: Can all women squirt?
A: Depends who you ask. Some experts will say yes, while others will say no.
Q: I want to squirt. How can I do it?
A: We're all for sexual discovery, so we support your quest to experiment and find out just how much your body can feel and do. That being said, focusing too much on an end result can rob you of the fun of the experience, so make sure you enjoy yourself along the way.
Here are a few tips if you want to try squirting:
- Be prepared. Keep a towel next to your bed or under you.
- Start by locating your G-spot or G-area (check out our post on this if you're not sure how to find it).
- Build pleasure in a slow and steady way by stimulating your G-area. This can be done with your fingers, with a pleasure product, or with a penis.
- Look out for a sensation that is similar to the one you get when you have to pee. Don't worry you won't actually pee.
- Let go and let it flow.
Remember: squirting has not been linked to better sex. Your pleasure in bed definitely doesn't depend on your ability to squirt.
Special thanks to:
Dr. Sandrine Atallah
Certified PsychoSexologist and Consultant in Sexual Medicine
@drsandrineatallah
Salama, S., Boitrelle, F., Gauquelin, A., Malagrida, L., Thiounn, N., & Desvaux, P. (2015). Nature and origin of “squirting” in female sexuality. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 12(3), 661–666. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12799
Thomson, H. (2015, January 9). Female ejaculation comes in two forms, scientists find. New Scientist. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26772-female-ejaculation-comes-in-two-forms-scientists-find/.
Wimpissinger, F., Stifter, K., Grin, W., & Stackl, W. (2007). The female prostate revisited: perineal ultrasound and biochemical studies of female ejaculate. The journal of sexual medicine, 4(5), 1388–1393. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2007.00542.x
