Thar She Blows (or not)… the Truth About Squirting

As if “achieving” orgasm isn’t enough pressure, porn often depicts women as Old Faithful Geyser, gushing spouts of liquid from their vaginas clear across the room. Squirting, also known as the tsunami of love and by other slang terms, seems to be less understood and while it has been scientifically documented, there is much more that needs to be studied and learned.

Moreover, as WebMD notes, “A recent study has shown that there is a difference between squirting, female ejaculation, and incontinence during sex. However, the term squirting is used to describe all three in everyday language.” So, if you’re confused, you have every right to be. There is a lot of information, especially misinformation, out there as well as a lot of inconclusive data.

And, as Cosmopolitan notes, “When it comes to squirting, even doctors aren’t quite sure WTF is up. Whatever little research is out there about it isn’t very representative, is old, or just asks more questions than it answers. However, all the semantics of squirting aside…, everyone is on the same page that squirting does happen to some women during sex.”

Perhaps the simplest way to better understand the two distinct processes is as follows: “The difference between female ejaculation and squirting is based on where each of these fluids originates” (Women’s Health Interactive). In this regard, they have a great infographic, which makes it easier to visualize.

The publication also notes that “The exact reason why some women squirt during sexual stimulation remains the million-dollar question to this day.” Yet, Glamour suggests that, “The short answer is that when fluids build up in the erectile tissue of the urethral sponge, they need to be released. Some believe that the expulsion of fluid during sex may function to protect the urinary system from infection by cleansing the urethra during and after intercourse.”

As for what these fluids contain, there continues to be much confusion. ISSM advises that, “Some experts believe that squirting fluid could be diluted urine.” Meanwhile, research cited by Hello Clue asserts that, “There is no conclusive agreement among scientists regarding the composition of female ejaculatory fluid. Although still unclear, female ejaculate fluid has been demonstrated to contain urine, and may also contain a combination of other fluids as well.” So the question as to whether it is or isn’t pee remains to be answered.

What does seem to be agreed upon is “…that it’s normal if you ejaculate and it’s normal if you don’t. Neither is considered better or worse. Not ejaculating doesn’t mean the sex was unsatisfactory, either” (Very Well Health). In fact, incidences of squirting have occurred before, during, after, or without orgasm. Additionally, it is important to note that the fluids from squirting or ejaculating can be a source of STIs, so using safer sex practices is a must.

Finally, whether everyone with a vagina can squirt and/or ejaculate is up for debate. According to Healthline, statistics suggest that anywhere between 10 and 50 percent of folks with vulvas do, although it is not clear if this figure refers solely to ejaculation or to squirting as well. Further, among those that do squirt and/or ejaculate, the volume varies widely, with more fluid attributed to squirting and less volume associated with female ejaculation.

Interestingly, while the focus on squirting is more recent, urologist Joanna Korda and her colleagues identified relevant references in “The Kamasutra (written in 200–400 A.D.) which speaks of female semen that falls continually while a 4th century Taoist text, Secret Instructions Concerning the Jade Chamber, distinguishes between slippery vagina and the genitals transmit fluid” (Hello Clue). So clearly while we may not have a lot of scientific knowledge at our disposal, not surprisingly, our ability to squirt and ejaculate is not a new phenomenon.

Oh Happy Squirting, and oh happy day to you all!

REFERENCES & RESOURCES

• https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a34652/sex-talk-realness-squirting/
• https://www.glamour.com/story/how-to-squirt-during-sex-according-to-a-neuroscientist
• https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/squirting
• https://helloclue.com/articles/sex/lets-talk-about-squirting-why-is-it-important-what-does-it-feel-like
• https://www.issm.info/sexual-health-qa/do-women-ejaculate/ 
• https://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/a27008344/how-to-make-a-woman-squirt/
• https://www.verywellhealth.com/squirting-5186847
• https://www.webmd.com/sex/what-is-squirting-orgasm
• https://www.womens-health.com/squirting