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| The Skene or peri-urethral gland |
The controversy: two views about female orgasms
The official version, defended by sexologists and other
experts (Kilchevsky et al., 2012; Puppo and Puppo, 2014),
is that there is only one type of female orgasm: the one triggered by
stimulation of the clitoris. Although some women are able to reach orgasm
during penetration, this is because the penis stimulates the clitoris
indirectly with its movements in the vagina. The vaginal walls are practically
devoid of the nerve endings needed to trigger an orgasm (Kilchevsky et al., 2012). The G-spot does not exist and there are no
vaginal orgasms. Similarly, female ejaculation is a myth (Shafik et al., 2009); what
really happens is that some women produce a lot of vaginal lubrication.
However, there is another version, the one told by many women
who have embarked on a deep exploration of their sexuality. It is also
supported by scientific studies (Jannini et al., 2010; Schubach, 2002; Thabet, 2009). According
to this view, there are at least two types of orgasms, clitoral and vaginal,
which differ in their subjective qualities. The vaginal orgasm can be triggered
independently of clitoral stimulation through a point on the front of the
vagina, the so-called G-spot - an abbreviation of Grafenberg spot (Schubach, 2002). A
vaginal orgasm is often accompanied by a stream of clear fluid that is
different from urine or vaginal discharge. Although many women are unable to
achieve vaginal orgasms at first, they can be trained to do so by sensitizing
the G-spot with prolonged finger massage.
Who is right? Well, there is plenty of evidence to consider.
Orgasms vary widely among women
But first let me start by saying that women vary enormously in
their sexual response (Prause et al., 2016). Many
women find it difficult to achieve orgasm with anything other than clitoral stimulation.
However, there is also a large group of women who prefer vaginal stimulation,
not only during intercourse but also by masturbating using fingers or dildos inserted
into their vaginas. Some women cannot stand direct clitoral stimulation because
their clitoris is so sensitive that they find it unpleasant or even painful.
For other women it is the opposite: their clitoris is a bit insensitive while their
vagina provides a much more reliable source of pleasure.
Ideology seeps into sex research
In fact, the G-spot and female ejaculation have been known
since ancient times in numerous cultures (Korda et al., 2010). They
are described by Taoist texts of the 4th century, in the Hindu Kamasutra
and, in the Western world, by Aristotle and Galen. So why is there such a big controversy
regarding its existence?
The reason is ideological. In 1976 the American feminist Shere Hite published The Hite Report, which became a best-seller.
Based on informal questionnaires, it argued that the best way for women to
reach orgasm is to masturbate by touching the clitoris and that internal
stimulation of the vagina is not necessary. This was embraced by a group of
radical feminists who viewed penis-in-vagina intercourse as a form of male
domination. Some, following the writings of Andrea Dworkin, even
went to the extreme of saying that “penetration
is rape”.
This triggered vicious criticism of previous works on the
female orgasm. Dr. Grafenberg was called a sexist and accused of having
invented the G-spot in order to convince women to practice vaginal intercourse,
thus relegating them to the roles of reproducers and providers of male
pleasure.
Sigmund Freud was also called a sexist because in his “Three
Essays on the Theory of Sexuality” he sustained that only women who had
reached psychosexual maturity were able to enjoy sexual intercourse and that
those who resorted to clitoral stimulation were immature. Thus, he was the
first to categorize women as clitoral or vaginal. Of course, saying that women
who prefer to stimulate their clitoris are immature is nonsense, but so is
denying the existence of women who prefer vaginal stimulation.
Fortunately, sanity was eventually brought back by a new wave
of sex-positive feminists who consider it worthwhile to derive pleasure from
different types of sex. However, sexologists are still reluctant to talk about
vaginal orgasms for fear of being politically incorrect.
Evidence for the G-spot
According to an increasingly popular view, the G-spot is an
organ located below the anterior face of the vagina, called the Skene glands or periurethral
glands (Dwyer, 2012).
Its physiological function remains a mystery. However, it seems to be similar to
the male prostate (Schubach, 2002). During
sexual stimulation, the Skene glands produce a clear, odorless fluid that is
different from vaginal lubrication, which is produced by different glands - the
Bartholin's glands
- and is more viscous and milky. A detailed study of 50 normal and 125
circumcised (without a clitoris) Egyptian women found that 82% could have an
orgasm by stimulating the G-spot, which in 66% of the women was found as “two
small flaccid balloon-like masses on either side of the lower third of the
urethra” (Thabet, 2009). A
recent meta-analysis (a systematic review of previous studies) (Ostrzenski, 2019)
concluded that the G-spot exists as a distinct anatomical structure and that it
becomes engorged with blood during sexual stimulation. However, it is still
debated whether the G-spot is the same as the Skene glands.
As for the claimed lack of nerve terminals in the vagina, it
should be kept in mind that number of nerves does not necessarily correlate
with intensity of sensation. Numerous nerve terminals are required for precise
tactile sensations, like the ones in our fingertips, but not for diffuse
sensations like pain and pleasure. Amazingly, women with spinal cord injuries -
and thus unable to feel anything from the waist down - can have orgasms through
vaginal stimulation. Studies using fMRI (Komisaruk and Whipple, 2005; Komisaruk et al., 2004)
on these women showed that the usual neuronal pathways ascending the spinal
cord were not necessary for orgasms because the sensations traveled from the
vagina to the brain via the vagus nerve. The vagus is a nerve that originates
in the brain and meanders through the middle of the body contacting all major
organs. Its functions are both efferent (sending information from the brain)
and afferent (sending information to the brain). Therefore, it seems that
vaginal stimulation can trigger orgasms through the vagus nerve and does not
require the presence of numerous terminals of the pudendal nerve, like the clitoris,
which connects to the brain via the spinal cord.
Evidence for female ejaculation
I have witnessed female ejaculation on several occasions. I've
also seen plenty of videos showing it, although these could be of women peeing.
Still, 40% of women report ejaculating during orgasm, and 82% of women who
report having a G-spot also report ejaculating (Darling et al., 1990).
In contrast to the vaginal lubrication produced by the Bartholin's
glands, the secretion of the Skene glands contains biochemical markers similar
to those produced by the prostate, such as the PDE5 enzyme (cGMP-specific
phosphodiesterase type 5) and PSA (prostate-specific
antigen). The prostate is a male organ that makes the semen, the liquid in
which the sperm cells produced by the testicles are suspended. Therefore, the Skene
glands would produce a semen-like fluid in women, so it would be appropriate to
call their secretion "female ejaculate."
The problem is that the Skene glands are quite small and so
they do not seem to be able to produce the large amount of liquid observed when
women squirt. The same meta-analysis (Ostrzenski, 2019) that
showed the existence of the G-spot also ruled out that it is responsible for
female ejaculation. This has led to the speculation that squirting is really
urinating, something called coital incontinence. However, there is evidence
that female ejaculate is different from urine (Pastor, 2013).
In one study, two women who reported ejaculating during orgasm
were thoroughly examined (Wimpissinger et al., 2007).
Ultrasound revealed a gland lining the whole length of the urethra, and
urethroscopy showed openings into the urethra. Biochemical markers of the
prostate were found in their ejaculate, but not in their urine. This was taken
as evidence for the existence of the female prostate and female ejaculation.
However, another study on seven women (Salama et al., 2015) reached different conclusions. Before sexual stimulation, the
women were asked to empty their bladders, which was confirmed with ultrasounds.
The same method was used to observe that their bladder filled up during sexual
stimulation and that it was empty after squirting. Biochemical analyses of the
ejaculate showed that it contained urine but also PSA. Before sexual
stimulation, their urine did not contain any PSA.
There is a way to reconcile these two apparently contradictory
results. According to this interpretation, in women who squirt sexual
stimulation causes the Skene glands to release their secretions into the
urethra. Since the exit of the urethra is closed by the sphincter, all that
liquid is directed into the bladder, where it accumulates. At the same time,
the kidneys keeps filling the bladder with urine. When the women have an orgasm
all this liquid is released from the bladder as female ejaculation. Depending
on how large the contribution of the Skene glands is in relation to that of the
kidneys, the ejaculate will contain more PSA or more urine. This explains why
both PSA and urine is found in the ejaculate.
Then, why do women ejaculate? It has been hypothesized that
the biological function of squirting is to clean the urethra to avoid the
urinary tract infections that are common after sexual intercourse (Moalem and Reidenberg, 2009).
Another possibility is that this is just another signal that the woman has had
an orgasm, which increases bonding with her sexual partner.
Conclusion
Based on this evidence and my own personal experience, I am
convinced that the G-spot, vaginal orgasms and squirting are real.
I would go even further by saying that women are capable of
many other types of orgasms: anal, from nipple stimulation, from spanking and
other forms of pain, from exercise, and even to have full-body orgasms. But I
will leave these topics for future articles.
Take-home messages
1. Female
sexuality varies widely, much more so than male sexuality. When making love with
a woman whom you have just met, you should not assume that her sexuality will
be similar to your previous lovers.
2. Discarding
vaginal orgasms because they are politically incorrect does a disservice to
women because it denies them an important source of pleasure.
3. Beware
of the opinion of sexologists, especially if they seem to be ideologically
motivated.
4. The
G-spot and vaginal orgasms do exist. If you have only had clitoral orgasms so
far, it may be worthwhile to experiment with vaginal stimulation to have new
sexual experiences.
5. However,
you should not become frustrated if you are not able to squirt or cum by
stimulating your G-spot. Skene's glands appear to vary greatly from woman to
woman. About 18% of women do not seem to have a functional G-spot (Thabet, 2009).
6. Vaginal
orgasms and squirting are different things. It is OK to squirt. It is OK to not
squirt.
7. Do
not consider your sexuality as something static but something that can be
changed with practice. Keep learning and exploring.
