If you were to ask most people to describe female ejaculation, they would probably describe what is most often seen in porn and adult magazines—a gush of fluid from a woman’s vulva at the point of (real or enacted) orgasm. It’s been elevated to the point of a mystical phenomenon that allegedly intensifies the experience of orgasm for women and is seen by men as not just proof of pleasure, but also as proof of orgasm. But what is really happening here?
Squirting has become the big sexual fad over the last twenty years.
This gush is referred to as squirting and it is presented as a dramatic orgasmic response that is sometimes touted as a higher form of orgasm—something that women “should” strive to have or would make their orgasm more intense. There are countless men trying to figure out how to make their female partners squirt and even classes for women who want to learn how to squirt. But what are these women really learning? If you look closely at what is taught you will see significant pressure to the area of the G-Spot that overlies the erectile tissue and glands of the urethra, as well as lessons in coordinating release of the pelvic floor muscles while bearing down. These actions together flatten out the angle between the urethra and the bladder, making it much more difficult for a woman to keep urine in her bladder.
Is squirting the same thing as female ejaculation?
Along with the mystery and fantasy about squirting is the debate as to whether it’s the same thing as female ejaculation or whether it’s really urine. But there is significant scientific proof that the origin of the fluid is actually the bladder and that the chemical composition is that of urine. Basically, it’s pee. Women who experience squirting are simply learning to release one set of muscles while contracting the bladder so they can release urine during orgasm. And it isn’t even always correlated with orgasm. So why the confusion? Is there really such a thing as female ejaculation?
Female ejaculation looks a lot like male ejaculation without the sperm.
True female ejaculation is a small amount of thick fluid secreted around the time of orgasm for most women. It originates in the glands found within the erectile tissue surrounding the urethra that are analogous to the prostate in men, and it even has PSA (prostate-specific antigen) in it. During the activity of sexual intercourse or stimulation, this female ejaculate can get mixed with vaginal fluids and lubrication as well as any semen or male pre-ejaculatory fluid that might be present in lovemaking. This makes it much more difficult to identify in a real-life situation.
In the lab, however, it can be tested more carefully. Urine that gushes out during squirting passes through the urethra and can pick up some fluid secreted from the periurethral glands, which is why it often is found to have PSA. But that doesn’t mean it’s not urine. It has been confirmed both by chemical analysis and by ultrasound that the fluid that comes out during squirting is urine from the bladder. Female ejaculation doesn’t have any of the urea, creatinine, or uric acid found in urine. Check out this study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
What if I like squirting?
By no means am I telling women that what they are doing is wrong or that they should stop. There are several reasons why squirting might be a pleasurable experience for women. First, the passage of urine through the urethra can cause a tingling rush if the urethral erectile tissue is full of blood because the urethra is full of very sensitive nerve endings. Next, women may have a sense of getting completely lost in their orgasm and squirting may be their way of experiencing that surrender. If they enjoy themselves, then it’s adding to their sexual experience.
For some women, however, the practice of squirting may make it more difficult to hold their urine during lovemaking or even at other times. Some find it distracting, and others don’t like to have to clean it up. It’s also okay for a woman to dislike squirting when she orgasms—not everyone has the same tastes. The truth is that if women like it, they call it squirting, and when they don’t like it, it’s called coital incontinence.
What I don’t agree with is the pressure that both women and men feel to have the experience of squirting be part of their sexual encounter. When viewed this way, the focus becomes a goal to accomplish during sex rather than a focus on sexual pleasure. Everyone needs to decide for themselves what works best for them and what brings them joy. I do believe, however, that people should have all the information so that they can make the best decision for themselves both in the moment and in the long-run.