Anatomy
6 Myths to Stop Believing About Squirting
Published: SEPTEMBER 9, 2019
Many misconceptions still shroud this very popular - but poorly understand - sexual response.
Squirting is having a moment. It’s consistently among Pornhub’s 20 most popular categories, with a dramatic rise in popularity in recent years. And sex educator Lola Jean’s squirting classes sell out faster than any other class she teaches.
However, just because people are watching lots of squirting porn doesn’t mean they know a lot about squirting. In fact, many misconceptions still shroud this poorly understood phenomenon.
Here are 6 common myths about squirting - and the facts.
Myth #1: If Someone Squirted, They Orgasmed
Ejaculation is often considered synonymous with orgasm, but this isn’t true for all vaginas (or all penises, actually). Often, someone with a vagina will squirt without having an orgasm.
“If someone is accustomed to squirting, often times an orgasm will usually be accompanied by squirting, though squirting can happen on its own with the presence of pleasure, not an orgasm,” says Jean.
“Once someone has a depth of understanding of their body and squirting, it is actually much easier to achieve than an orgasm,” she adds. “I wish this was something people would learn as, personally, I’ve had so many partners think they’ve made me orgasm and stop pleasuring me or even think I’ve had multiple orgasms because I squirt so much and so often.”
So, don’t assume someone reached orgasm just because they’ve squirted (or for any reason, actually). The only way to know is to ask.
Myth #2: Squirting Means More Pleasure
Some people love squirting, while others feel nothing at all.
“It’s different for every person,” says Jean. “A squirting orgasm is different from a regular orgasm, but that doesn’t make it inherently better.”
When sex researcher Zhana Vrangalova held a discussion about squirting on Instagram earlier this year that highlighted how individual the experience can be. One person wrote that squirting felt like nothing “besides pressure,” another said it’s “amazing,” while yet another said squirting itself doesn’t feel like anything, but the build-up to it feels good.
So, don’t feel like you’re missing out just because you don’t squirt. As long as you’re enjoying sex, that’s all that matters.
Myth #3: Squirting Only Happens with G-Spot Stimulation
First, it’s under debate whether the G-spot actually exists as a separate sexual organ, or the area thought of as the G-spot is actually just a spot that stimulates the inner clitoris.
Terminology aside, squirting doesn’t only come from vaginal stimulation. This myth may stem from the misconception that the heights of female pleasure originate from a penis. In Vrangalova’s Instagram discussion, people wrote about squirting through clitoral stimulation, vaginal stimulation, and a combination of both.
Jean agrees that squirting can be elicited in multiple ways.
Myth #4: People Who Claim They Squirt Are Just Peeing
It’s quite possible that the actors in some “squirting porn” really are just peeing. After all, porn is all about performance! However, squirting is definitely a distinct phenomenon.
After a 2015 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported that women’s bladders emptied after squirting and their ejaculate was chemically identical to urine, squirting evangelists rallied around the hashtag #NotPee. But is it?
Whether or not there is urine in female ejaculate is up for debate. Jean believes it is likely a combination of urine and fluids from the paraurethral glands. Yet, even if there is urine, that doesn’t have to be such a big deal. It’s not like we thought sex was neat and tidy before this news came out.
“There is also amounts of pee in pre-cum,” Jean points out.
What’s not up for debate is that for most, the experience of squirting is different from the experience of peeing, regardless of the substance being expelled.
Unfortunately, squirting, like most aspects of female sexuality, is often portrayed as a show for the male gaze. Jean sees many female clients who want to squirt because men told them they’d enjoy it.
She also comes across men who want their female partners to squirt so that they have proof they’ve done a good job, even though it’s really not proof of anything (see myth #1).
“Part of what I’m trying to do is take that back for vulva owners - to learn how to squirt without the assistance of another person,” she says. “If you’re hell-bent on making this happen for you or a partner, ask yourself why. Are you chasing a gold medal? Are you just curious? Or are you actually concerned with someone’s pleasure?”
If squirting sounds like fun to you, go ahead and learn how to do it for yourself. But don’t feel like you have to for anybody else.
Myth #6: Squirting Is Gross
On the flip side, some people look down on squirting. Of course, male ejaculation is rarely shamed or questioned. While it’s OK not to be into squirting, it’s not OK to shame people for it.
“Not everyone has to like squirting, just like not everyone has to like choking, poop play, or sounding,” says Jean. “Stop knocking people who are into it, and stop trying to make everyone into it.”