G-Spot, Squirting and Vaginal Orgasms - the Controversy and the Science

 

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 4^th 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.