Ejaculating, squirting and gushing are powerful experiences for people with vulvas – there just isn’t too much research about it (as with many things regarding pleasure!).
Ejaculation occurs when fluid (not necessarily urine) is expelled from your urethral opening during arousal, and is not directly related to climax – it can happen before, during or after orgasm.
This is different from the cervical fluid that lubricates your vagina when you’re turned on or commonly referred to as being ‘wet’. Although many people use the terms interchangeably, some research suggests that ejaculating and squirting are different. Squirting the gushing fluid appears to be more common than ejaculation. The fluid that’s released during squirting is essentially watered-down urine, sometimes with a bit of ejaculate in it. It comes from the bladder and exits via the urethra, the same as when you pee.
Is it common?
Surprisingly yes! Although the exact numbers are difficult to nail down, small studies and surveys have helped researchers get a sense of just how diverse squirting and ejaculation can be. The most recent cross-sectional study on ejaculation followed women age 18 to 39 from 2012 to 2016. The researchers concluded that 69.23% of participants experienced ejaculation during orgasm.
What are some of the biggest questions people had about it?
Some of the most common questions:
Does it have a smell or taste? It doesn’t smell like wee, in fact (and as many of you shared in the Q&A) it doesn’t appear to have any smell at all. According to one 2014 study, ejaculate tastes sweet. Which is interesting for a fluid that was named 'nectar of the gods' in ancient India.
What does it feel like? Just as orgasm varies from person-to-person and experience-to-experience, so too does squirting and ejaculate. For some people, it feels orgasmic, others it feels like a deep release, others it doesn't feel like much. For some it happens at the peak of climax, and others it happens outside of orgasm through g spot stimulation. Your level of arousal and the position or technique may also play a role in the intensity. Here's what you said about how it feels?
How do I do it? If you want to learn how to squirt, I’ve got some good news: masturbate and masturbate often! I’m always asked how to explore this - I’ve shared a step-by-step guide below
Any myths you’ve busted?
The wee myth is a big one. Ejaculation, squirting and gushing are still unclear topics, there is no conclusive agreement among scientists regarding the composition of the fluid. Although still unclear, ejaculate fluid has been demonstrated to contain urine, and may also contain a combination of other fluids as well. Research claims the fluid produced before, during, after or without orgasm might be from the Skene’s glands which are secretory glands located near the urethra. Ejaculate is mostly prostate enzymes with just a hint of urea. However, the fluid released when squirting is diluted urine with a bit of ejaculate in it. Either way, sex involves many bodily fluids – sweat, vaginal lubrication, cum… When you have sex it’s probably going to get messy so embrace the squirt!
How can I do it?
Self-stimulation is a reliable way to learn about what you like, practice is the best way to discover your pleasure potential. If you want to practice with a partner, this may also be useful as sometimes it’s easier for someone else to get in the right position to stimulate your G Spot. You can also invest in a curved vibrator or a wand to help you reach places your fingers can't. Pairing clitoral and G Spot stimulation can help you ejaculate. Here’s a step by step guide:
Relax: Do what you need to do to get out of your head and into your body; unclench your jaw, lengthen your exhale, relax your pelvic floor muscles. If you’re holding yourself back, not in the right mindset, or not allowing yourself to experience full sensation, it’s unlikely you’ll be relaxed enough to squirt.
Explore Erogenous Zones: It can take women/people with vulvas up to 20-40 minutes to be fully physiologically aroused, it's important to build arousal. Build arousal with breath, movement, sound and touch. Explore your neck, ears, inner thigh, lower stomach, and nipples with your fingers, a vibrator, or a sensation toy.
Clitoral stimulation: Use whatever stimulation you usually use to get aroused, then touch your clit. If you want to explore this with a toy, something like The Rave by We-Vibe would be perfect as it doubles as an internal and external vibrator which can be used to stimulate the glans of your clitoris as well as internally to stimulate your G Spot. The G Spot is actually part of the clitoral network, so stimulating the external glans of the clitoris is important in the squirting process.
Locate your G-spot: The G-spot becomes more pronounced and engorged when you’re aroused, so wait until you’re turned on to find it. One way to find it, is to lie on your back, touch your clitoris, and internally use a vibrator like the Rave to manually massage the front wall of your vagina, stimulating the g-spot with a 'come here' motion. You can also use fingers to locate your G-spot and massage it. Some people find g-spot stimulation deeply pleasurable, others don't - there's nothing wrong with you if it's not your thing!
Follow pleasure: Some feel like they are about to wee before they squirt. If you feel that way, it’s a sign you may be close to squirting! When this happens, relax your pelvic floor, lengthen your exhale, bring movement to your pelvis (pelvic tilts or hip thrusts) and follow the pleasure.
Practice! You may squirt first go, it may take a bit of practice. Remember, all people with vulvas have the 'mechanics' to squirt, but this doesn't mean everyone with a vulva can, will or wants to. Whether you squirt or not, continue to explore and experience your body without a goal or expectation to achieve.