What is squirting?

What is squirting?

What is Squirting?

squirtle

Although squirting is a phenomenon that exists for over 2000 years, it is still a hotly debated topic and a controversial aspect of female pleasure. 

 

The TL:DR

Squirting is not “just be pee”. It contains PSAs, which are enzymes produced by male and female prostate tissue (yes, females have prostate tissue too called “Skene’s gland”). We don’t know why women squirt, apart from pleasure some scientists believe it’s to prevent UTIs and prevent bacteria and infections. 

So if you can and enjoy it: squirt away!

What is squirting?

“Squirting” is used to describe female ejaculation, when a person with a vulva releases liquid from the urethra (a tube that allows urine to pass out of the body) when having sexual stimulation and/or an orgasm. The fluid released usually looks like water, is colourless and odourless but can taste sweet (in ancient India it was referred to as the “nectar of the Gods”).

Squirting is different from vaginal lubrication (being “wet”) during arousal.

Can all women squirt?

how to squirt

 

The International Society for Sexual Medicine reports that 10% to 50% of women ejaculate, but that “most aren’t aware of it because the fluid often flows backwards into the bladder instead of outside of the body.” Other research places that number closer to 69%.

The amount of fluid ejaculated differs a lot from woman to woman, ranging from barely noticeable amounts to streams you can fill an entire bottle with. 

Is squirting just pee?

Research on female ejaculation is severely lacking. Current research concludes that squirt is not just urine.

Now, let’ us explain why with scientific evidence:
For a long time, researchers thought that female ejaculate was just urine, a notion still held by many people. 

 

In 2015, a small study concluded that “squirting is essentially the involuntary emission of urine during sexual activity.” In this study, seven women peed before sex and then had their bladders scanned before and after squirting. The researchers noted that the women’s bladders filled before squirting and then emptied right after. The study quickly made headlines and was quick to misreport by stating that squirting is just pee. 

However, the study was only conducted on only seven women. It also found that five out of those seven women had prostate-specific antigens (PSAs) in their squirt. PSAs are enzymes produced by the prostate gland in men and found in their semen. It is usually not  found in their urine.

 

Research published in Sexuality and Human Rights in 1997 showed that PSAs were absent from women's urine before sexual self‐stimulation. But PSAs were present in both their urine and their ejaculate after sexual self‐stimulation. Also, other studies show that urea and creatinine (elements from your urine) were present in female ejaculate at very low levels.

 

So where does the PSAs in female ejaculate come from? Girls also have prostate tissue, known as the Skene’s glands.. They are located on the front wall of the vagina and drain fluid. For this reason, scientists believe that the Skene’s glands are involved in squirting, and release female ejaculate.

So, it’s not “just pee?”

Nope, it’s mainly prostate enzymes with a hint of pee. 

Squirting vs. female ejaculation

Research suggests that “squirting” and “female ejaculation” are two different phenomena and don’t always happen at the same time. 

According to some scientists, squirting is used to describe the emission of fluid that is clear and colourless, comes from the bladder, and with a similar make up to urine. 

Female ejaculation, on the other hand, is used to describe the release of milky-white fluid that contains PSAs and originates from the Skene’s glands.  

How do I squirt?

how do I squirt?

Self-stimulation is one of the best ways to discover what you enjoy — though there’s no harm in practicing with a partner.

As a matter of fact, when it comes to finding and stimulating the G-spot, a partner may have better luck reaching it.

Either way, consider investing in a vibrator that’s curved to provide easier access to the front wall of your vagina. It may also allow you or your partner to explore further back than you can with fingers alone.

The Oh Collective - Gspot Vibrator

The Oh Collective's Kit - curved, soft and squirt-proof

Why do some women squirt? 

The real question here is “why not?” All bodies are different, especially when it’s sexually stimulated. As long as it feels good: keep on enjoying it!

The longer, more complex answer is: science doesn’t know yet.  It’s not clear if squirting serves any biological function aside from pleasure. Some research suggests that it may be your body’s way of preventing infections (Bye COVID, Hello Squirts!). Other scientists theorise again that ejaculatory fluid flushes out bad bacteria that made its way up to your urethra during intercourse, preventing UTIs. 

The conclusion? Keep on squirting, whether for your own pleasure or to fight off infections and bacteria!

Why do other women not? 

You can have a fulfilling sex life regardless of whether you ejaculate. What matters most is that you find something that you do enjoy and explore it in a way that’s comfortable for you.

If you’re set on experiencing it for yourself, consider this: One woman shared that she ejaculated for the first time at age 68. Patience is key.

Insights from the World Record Holder of volume squirting

“At this point, I really don’t care if someone thinks it’s pee, diluted pee or not pee. I’m tired of explaining and defending the way my body operates,” says Lola Jean, sex Educator and world record holder of volume squirting.

Women's sexuality has historically been shamed and marginalised. From masturbation to queefing (vaginal farts), if it’s aligned with sexual pleasure, it’s been labelled abnormal at some point – and squirting is no exception. “It’s a visual equaliser of pleasure,” adds Lola Jean. 

“Squirting is a physical manifestation of pleasure that can’t be easily faked so it has become this sexual trophy highly sought after. I think there’s also an obsession because it’s something that has nothing to do with penises. Someone can squirt without being penetrated, without an orgasm and this bodily phenomenon is not related to anyone except for the person doing the squirting.”

Ultimately more research on squirting and female ejaculation is needed. On a personal level we can normalise this perfectly healthy function and empower women to feel comfortable in their bodies. Whether they squirt or not. 

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