Squirting: The ultimate guide (science, myths, and pleasure)

The term “squirting” evokes a powerful and often idealized image of the female orgasm. Driven by pornography, it has become a sexual grail for some, a source of shame for others, and a huge question mark for science. Is it a sign of supreme pleasure? Is it urine? Can all people with a vulva achieve it? For centuries, the question remained taboo or relegated to the status of myth. Today, thanks to medical imaging and biochemical analyses, science is finally offering concrete answers. This article aims to dissect the phenomenon of squirting and its cousin, female ejaculation, from their complex anatomy to their cultural and relational impact. Prepare to deconstruct the legends to better understand the extraordinary capabilities of the body.

Fundamental Confusions: Squirting vs. Female Ejaculation

In common language and media representations, the term “squirting” is used generically to refer to any expulsion of liquid from the vulva during intense sexual stimulation. However, sexology and modern medical research (urology, gynecology) have established that there are two distinct physiological phenomena, with different anatomical origins and chemical compositions. This distinction is crucial to understanding the exact nature of the fluid and deconstructing persistent myths.

Squirting (Fountain Emission): A Predominantly Vesical Phenomenon

Squirting, or "fountain emission," is the most spectacular event and the one that has been most staged. It is characterized by:

• Volume: It is abundant, ranging from a few tens of milliliters to over 300 ml in some people. It is a powerful flow, often expelled in a jet, hence the English term "squirt."
• Appearance: The liquid is generally clear, transparent, and very watery, strongly resembling water.
• Origin: Almost unanimously, science concludes that the squirting fluid primarily comes from the bladder, and is expelled through the urethra (the urinary canal).

Scientific Proof of Vesical Origin

For a long time, this phenomenon was subject to controversy, with some claiming it was simple urinary incontinence and others a mysterious glandular fluid. Rigorous studies conducted by researchers like **Zaviacic, Pastor, or Puppo** have lifted the veil by using objective investigation methods:

1. Ultrasound: Real-time pelvic ultrasounds showed that the participants' bladders were full before stimulation and significantly (or totally) empty immediately after squirting.
2. Biochemical Analyses: The expelled liquid was analyzed for its components. Researchers found high concentrations of elements characteristic of urine, notably urea, creatinine, and uric acid.
3. Dye Tests (Demonstration): In a series of clinical experiments, a harmless dye (such as methylene blue or indigo carmine) was injected into the participants' bladders. The liquid collected after squirting was found to be colored, providing irrefutable proof that it had passed through the bladder.

Conclusion: Although squirting is urine, it is neither classic urination nor incontinence. The liquid is often **highly diluted** (likely due to an influx of blood and lymphatic fluid into the bladder or urethra under the effect of arousal) and its expulsion is an **involuntary reflex** associated with intense stimulation of the pelvic floor and the paraurethral region, requiring a deep sense of letting go.

Female Ejaculation (Ejaculate): The Equivalent of Prostatic Fluid

Female ejaculation is a distinct, much more discreet phenomenon, which is similar to male ejaculation in its tissue origin and chemical composition. It is characterized by:

• Volume: It is **very low**, counted in milliliters (about 1 to 5 ml), the equivalent of a small teaspoon. It is often absorbed by sheets or lubrication without being noticed.
• Appearance: The liquid is **white, milky, or slightly translucent**, with a creamier consistency than squirting.
• Origin: It comes from the **Skene's Glands** (or paraurethral glands), located on either side of the urethra.

The Ejaculate: The True Homolog of Semen

Skene's Glands are considered the **embryonic homolog of the male prostate**. Their secretion is therefore the true “female semen” in the biochemical sense, as it contains markers specific to prostatic fluids.

• Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA): This is the most important chemical signature. PSA is an enzyme present in large quantities in male semen. Its presence in the fluid from Skene's Glands (the ejaculate) proves that these glands have a secretory function equivalent to that of the prostate.
• Fructose: Female ejaculate also contains fructose, a sugar that nourishes sperm in male semen and is produced by the prostate and seminal vesicles.

This fluid is often released through the orifices of Skene's Glands (located in the vestibule, near the urethral opening) during intense stimulation of the anterior vaginal wall (often called the G-Spot). This fluid is neither urine nor *cyprine* (vaginal lubrication). It is anatomical proof that ejaculation is a phenomenon not exclusive to the male sex.

Interaction Between the Two Phenomena

It is important to note that squirting and ejaculate can occur separately or simultaneously, as they are triggered by the stimulation of very close anatomical regions (the Clitoro-Urethro-Vaginal Complex).

When they occur together, the abundant volume of squirting (diluted urine) generally masks the small quantity of ejaculate (prostatic fluid). This is why, in contexts where a significant jet is observed, the major composition remains that of the vesical fluid. The mystery surrounding "squirting" is largely due to the confusion between these two expulsions.

The Anatomy of Pleasure and Mystery

The female anatomy of the sexual response is fascinatingly complex, but it has historically been less well documented than the male's, contributing to the myths surrounding squirting and ejaculation. The key to understanding these expulsions lies in a tight network of structures located in the anterior vaginal wall, often simplified under the controversial name of the “G-Spot.” It is the interconnection of these erectile, glandular, and nervous tissues that makes the area so sensitive and capable of such a physiological reaction.

Skene's Glands: The “Female Prostate” and Ejaculate

The **Skene's Glands**, also called paraurethral glands, are the anatomical epicenter of female ejaculation. They are located on either side of the urethra, in the upper wall of the vagina.

• Embryonic Origin: Their nickname of “female prostate” is far from anecdotal. These glands originate from the same embryonic tissue as the male prostate. It is this common origin that explains why they produce a liquid chemically similar to prostatic fluid (the true female ejaculate, rich in **PSA** and **fructose**).
• Protective Role: In addition to the sexual response, Skene's Glands may play a role in urinary health by secreting substances (like zinc and lysozymes) that have **antimicrobial** properties. These secretions help protect the urethra and bladder against infections, emphasizing that this structure has a biological function that extends far beyond pleasure.
• The Trigger: Direct or indirect stimulation of the area where Skene's Glands are located (through penetration or through massaging or pressing movements on the anterior wall) causes their contraction and the release of the small amount of ejaculate.

The Clitoro-Urethro-Vaginal Complex (CUV): The Heart of the Response

The famous **G-Spot** (or Gräfenberg Spot, named after the doctor who described it) is not a single point, but a highly sensitive region. Science prefers to use the term **Clitoro-Urethro-Vaginal Complex (CUV)** to designate this area, recognizing the interdependence of the structures involved in deep orgasms and fluid expulsions.

The CUV includes:

1. The Internal Clitoris: Only a small part of the clitoris is visible (the glans). Most of the organ extends beneath the tissues. The CUV is directly connected to the **bulbs and crura of the clitoris**, cavernous bodies that become engorged with blood during arousal. It is the engorgement of these erectile tissues, located just behind the anterior vaginal wall, that makes the G-Spot sensitive.
2. The Urethra: The urinary canal passes through the center of this complex. Its tissue is also sensitive to engorgement and pressure. The proximity between the urethra and the erectile structures explains the peculiar sensation, mixing intense pleasure and urinary urgency, felt just before squirting.
3. Skene's Glands: As mentioned, they surround the urethra and release the ejaculate.
4. The Anterior Vaginal Wall: Stimulation of this wall acts as a mechanical intermediary, applying pressure and friction to all underlying structures of the CUV.

It is the intense and continuous stimulation of this whole – a kind of **anatomical synergy** – that, in addition to generating orgasms, can trigger the muscular reflex leading to squirting.

The Essential Role of Pelvic Floor Muscles and the Nervous System

The expulsion of fluids (especially abundant squirting) is primarily a muscular and neurological event.

Neurological and Muscular Mechanism

Orgasm, and by extension fountain emission, is regulated by the autonomic nervous system. Stimulation of the CUV is transmitted via the **pudendal nerve** and adjacent nerve plexuses, triggering the peak of arousal.

• Contractions: Orgasm is accompanied by rhythmic and powerful contractions of the **pelvic floor** muscles (notably the pubococcygeus muscle).
• Vesical Release: The dominant scientific hypothesis is that, in people who squirt, the intensity of CUV stimulation, combined with an intense nerve discharge, causes an **involuntary and spasmodic release** of the urethral sphincter and the neck of the bladder. This release allows a portion of the vesical content (diluted urine) to be violently expelled under the pressure of the pelvic muscle contractions.

This is why **psychological letting go** is often cited as a key factor: the person must overcome the feeling of urinary urgency and allow their body to execute this discharge reflex. Any attempt at conscious muscular restraint (out of fear or shame) generally inhibits this reflex, explaining why squirting is a phenomenon that escapes voluntary control.

Technique and Letting Go: How to Squirt?

Fountain emission is a physiological phenomenon which, contrary to popular belief, is not an innate ability reserved for a minority. It is a bodily response that requires two essential conditions: **targeted physical stimulation** and **total psychological letting go**. Performance pressure and fear (especially the confusion with urine) are the main obstacles to its realization. Approaching squirting as an exploration game rather than a goal is the first step toward success.

The Crucial Importance of Setting and Relaxation

Even before discussing technique, context and state of mind are crucial. Squirting is, in essence, the abandonment of urinary sphincter control, a muscle learned to master since early childhood.

• Psychological Letting Go: The sensation preceding the expulsion is an intense **urge to urinate**. If the person holds back out of fear or shame, the phenomenon cannot occur. The key is to allow oneself to "pee," understanding that the liquid will be diluted and the act is linked to arousal. Trust in the partner and the setting (e.g., using a towel or being in the shower) is vital.
• Hydration: The quantity of fluid available in the bladder is obviously a factor. Being well-hydrated before sexual activity increases the potential volume of emission and helps make the expelled liquid even clearer and odorless. Drinking enough water in the hours leading up to it is often recommended.
• Communication: Squirting is rarely an accident. It is often the result of mutual exploration. The partner must understand that the intensity of stimulation must be maintained despite signs of tension or the urge to urinate, and must reassure the person about the absence of judgment.

Targeted Stimulation Techniques

Squirting is triggered by the intense arousal of the Clitoro-Urethro-Vaginal Complex (CUV), that deep area located on the anterior wall of the vagina, near the pubic bone. The goal is to reach the point where this stimulation radiates toward the bladder.

Internal Manual Stimulation (Digital)

The most classic technique involves applying pressure to the upper wall of the vagina.

1. Location: Insert one or two fingers into the vagina and point them upwards, as if pointing to the navel. This is where, about two to four centimeters deep, the CUV area is located.
2. Movement: Use a "come hither" (or "hooking") motion to massage and apply firm pressure to this area. The movement should be rhythmic and targeted. The pressure must be sufficient to mobilize the tissues, but never painful.
3. Intensity: Gradually increase speed and pressure as arousal grows. It is often the increase in pressure that triggers the vesical reflex.

Stimulation by Penetration

If the penis or a sex toy is used, the angle is paramount, as classic (horizontal) penetration does not effectively stimulate the anterior wall.

• The Angle: Favor positions where penetration can be directed forward, such as the "spooning" position (side-by-side) or doggy style where the pelvis is elevated (by placing a pillow under the stomach or pubis) so that the organ is oriented upwards, against the CUV area.
• Curved Toys: Sex toys specifically designed to stimulate the G-Spot often have a curve that maximizes pressure on this anterior wall, facilitating the process.

The Essential Role of Contractions (Kegels)

The pelvic floor muscles (which are strengthened by Kegel exercises) play a dual role in squirting.

• Increased Sensation: A toned pelvic floor increases the sensitivity of the CUV area, making stimulation more intense and facilitating access to the reflex.
• Expulsion Control: Some reports suggest that the person who squirts can use their pelvic muscles to "pump" or control the jet, although the initial act remains an involuntary muscular release. Strengthening this floor helps improve body awareness in this area.

The Paradox of Letting Go

The greatest challenge of squirting is not physical, but psychological. The reflex is the equivalent of an ejaculation: it is a sudden and powerful contraction that releases accumulated tension.

This reflex is blocked by the slightest attempt at control or self-censorship. The person who wishes to squirt must consciously agree to let go, to disregard the education received about the cleanliness of bodily fluids, and not to hold back the urge to urinate. This is why, for many, the first experience often occurs when it is least expected or in a context of extreme relaxation (e.g., in the shower, where the idea of "getting wet" no longer exists).

In summary, to achieve squirting, the physical technique must be supported by genuine emotional permission. The body must be in a state of intense arousal, while the mind must be in a state of absolute surrender to pleasure.

Squirting in History and Cultures

Squirting, far from being a simple trend popularized by the digital age and pornography, has traversed centuries and continents. Its interpretation has varied considerably, moving from the status of a **mystical sign of fertility** to that of a **medical curiosity**, before being ultimately instrumentalized by popular culture. The history of this phenomenon reveals how much female sexuality has remained an enigma, even for the most enlightened minds.

A Long History of Medical Misunderstanding

Before the advancements of urology in the 20th century, female anatomy was largely misunderstood, particularly regarding the urinary system and accessory sex glands.

• Regnier de Graaf (17th century): One of the first anatomists to describe the structures we now call Skene's Glands. In his work on female reproductive organs, he mentioned canals near the urethra that secreted a fluid during arousal. Although he did not formally describe squirting, his observations laid the groundwork for understanding female ejaculate. These structures were later "rediscovered" and named after the Scottish gynecologist **Alexander Skene** in the late 19th century.
• The Victorian Silence: In the Victorian era and the early 20th century, female sexuality was medically reduced to reproduction. Any bodily fluid not related to menstruation or lubrication was either ignored or considered an anomaly, or even a **form of pathological incontinence**. This misunderstanding long hampered any serious research, fueling the myth that an orgasm should not involve abundant fluid loss.

The Myth of the “Fountain Woman” in Popular Culture

Interest in squirting has exploded in recent decades, primarily due to its staging by the pornography industry. This phenomenon has had a dual impact: it demystified the taboo for many, but also created unrealistic and toxic expectations.

• Idealization and Pressure: In pornography, squirting is often presented as the **ultimate sign of female pleasure**, a marker of performance for the male actor, and the goal for the partner to achieve. This idealization is problematic because it creates performance pressure (performance anxiety) in people who do not squirt, leading them to believe their pleasure is incomplete.
• Instrumentalization: Squirting is often exaggerated or staged in films for its spectacular aspect (the "show") rather than its physiological reality. This amplifies the misunderstanding about the nature of the fluid, making it seem like a rare erotic fluid rather than a primarily vesical phenomenon associated with intense release.

Interpretations in Ancestral Cultures

While Western culture has often oscillated between silence and fetishization, certain ancestral cultures integrated the emission of female fluids into their conception of vitality, energy, and spirituality.

• Sexual Energy and Vital Fluids: In some Eastern traditions, particularly those related to **Taoism** and **Tantra**, bodily fluids are considered manifestations of vital energy (*Qi* or *Prana*). The emission of abundant fluids, although not explicitly named "squirting," could be interpreted as a sign of a **powerful surge of sexual energy** and a deep connection. The conservation or exchange of these fluids was sometimes valued in practices aimed at increasing longevity or vitality.
• The “Fountain Women” in Asia and Africa: Accounts and oral traditions exist in various cultures, notably in Southeast Asia (Japan, China) and certain regions of Africa, that recognize and value women with the ability to emit fluids during sexual intercourse. This phenomenon is sometimes associated with **fertility** or a high spiritual status, far from any notion of shame or incontinence. These anecdotes suggest that the cultural acceptance of this phenomenon is far from universally negative.

The Scientific Paradigm Shift (Post-1980s)

It was not until the 1980s and the rise of modern sexology that squirting was re-examined without bias. The most famous study, by Addiego et al. in 1981, reignited the debate by describing the expulsion of fluids from the "G-Spot" region, pushing research to go beyond superficial observations.

Today, the history of squirting is one of a double victory:

1. **Medical Clarification:** The phenomenon has been largely identified as a vesical expulsion (squirting) or prostatic (ejaculate), removing it from the realm of mystery.
2. **Cultural Rehabilitation:** Understanding the fluid's origin helps to destigmatize it. Knowing that it is not a disease but a physiological reaction associated with intense pleasure frees individuals from shame and allows them to accept it, whether it occurs or not.

Conclusion: Beyond the Fluid, Trust and Acceptance

The scientific and cultural exploration of squirting leads us to an essential conclusion: this phenomenon, whether abundant (primarily vesical in origin) or discreet (the true female prostatic ejaculate), must be brought out of the shadow of myth to be reintegrated into the field of healthy and non-judgmental sexuality. The cultural obsession and media pressure surrounding squirting have only obscured a simple physiological reality and, above all, diverted attention from what matters most in bed: intimacy and mutual connection.

The Key Message of Science: Normalizing Diversity

Science is formal. **Squirting** is an involuntary, but not pathological, expulsion of fluid mainly from the bladder, triggered by intense stimulation of the Clitoro-Urethro-Vaginal Complex (CUV) and a **psychological letting go**. **Female ejaculation**, on the other hand, is the emission of genuine prostatic fluid (containing PSA), in a small quantity, from Skene's Glands. These two phenomena are:

• **Natural:** They are part of the range of possible sexual responses of the human body.
• **Non-Universal:** Only a fraction of people with a vulva experience it, and this has no bearing on the quality or intensity of their orgasm.
• **Destigmatized:** Knowing that the fluid is primarily diluted urine should not be a source of shame. On the contrary, it is proof of the body's extraordinary ability to completely let go under the effect of intense pleasure.

Overcoming Performance Pressure

The greatest danger posed by the idealization of squirting is the **performance pressure** it generates, often fueled by unrealistic pornographic representations. The fact that a person "squirts" in no way guarantees the depth of their pleasure, just as the absence of this phenomenon does not mean a mediocre orgasm. Focusing on such a specific physical goal as squirting can create anxiety and, ironically, **inhibit the letting go** necessary for its release.

The energy spent trying to achieve a jet could be better invested in mutual exploration, **honest communication**, and experimentation with various forms of pleasure. Ultimately, the most important organ in bed is neither the bladder nor Skene's Glands, but the **brain**, as it is the one that orchestrates the emotional response, trust, and desire.

Acceptance: The True Key to Sexual Fulfillment

True sexual liberation does not lie in achieving a physical "Grail" imposed by popular culture, but in the **acceptance of one's body**