5 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Squirting

on Oct 5, 2018

The year is 2018. Scientists have proved that water exists on Mars. But can they definitively tell us what female ejaculation is and where it comes from?

You bet they can’t.

Female ejaculation, also known as ‘squirting’ or ‘gushing’, has been branded “one of the most hotly debated questions in modern sexology”, and for a very good reason. The scientific community can give us no definitive answer as to what female ejaculation actually is!

(I wish I had the time and resources to solve this mystery for women everywhere. It would only be a matter of buying some durable wellies, and getting my hands on enough absorbent kitchen towel.)

But until I do, I've found 5 facts you probably never knew about squirting.

1. Squirting is illegal in the United Kingdom

Relax, no one is going to arrest you. The law states that if you are producing "adult entertainment" in the UK, you are not allowed to depict female ejaculation.

The government banned porn from depicting it 2014, on the grounds that it's "content that is not acceptable".

But bukkake is.

Seems fair…

2. We have known about squirting for centuries

Female ejaculation is not a modern phenomenon, like smashed avocado or kale smoothies.

The Kama Sutra, written around 200-400AD, called squirting "female semen", and the philosopher Aristotle observed that when women ejaculate, they produce far more liquid than men.

Something to bring up in your next Ancient History tutorial, perhaps.

3. Not everyone can do it

Some sexperts will say that all women are capable of squirting. This is not necessarily true.

Some studies report that 6% of women can ejaculate, whereas other studies say a whopping 60% can! So, TLC was right, ladies: don't go chasing waterfalls.

If squirting is something you just can't do, that's perfectly normal.

4. It's definitely not wee

Until 1982, no one thought to actually analyse exactly what was in female ejaculate, but when they did, they found there was a clear difference between the liquid emitted when squirting and urinating.

These finding have been confirmed many times over, so if you find it suddenly happens when you orgasm one day and you think you've peed the bed, don't fret - you almost certainly haven't.

5. There's no set volume

Some women have reported that they are able to soak the bed or even “spray the wall” while squirting.

Others say the liquid only amounts to a few cups' worth. So it doesn’t matter if you can fill several pints, or only a manage a shot glass – everyone's different.

Lastly – don't ever let anyone make you feel embarrassed about squirting. In the past, I've denied myself orgasms for fear of freaking out a partner with an abrupt spurt of liquid.

But, denying yourself orgasms is no way to live! So open those floodgates, and remember, there is nothing to feel ashamed of.

Just keep a towel handy when you're getting down and dirty.

Audrey Andrews is a student blogger for Lovehoney. In her spare time she loves to do craft, but would not advise knitting your own condoms.

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Written by Audrey Andrews.

Originally published on Oct 5, 2018. Updated on Aug 5, 2020