Showing posts with label female ejaculation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label female ejaculation. Show all posts

12.17.2018

Orgasm Interviews: ANNA Part II (Intercourse and Non-Intercourse Activities)


Orgasm Interviews - my basic intro (can skip if you've already read one of these)
Welcome back to this new series in SSL where a women answers questions about her orgasm, masturbation, and sexual experiences. I'm super excited about this because I think women sharing their orgasm experience with fo-realness is powerful as fuck.

At the same time, I think women speaking about their orgasm experiences before they have grounded understanding of orgasm or before they have learned how to have an honest relationship with their sexual bodies, can be misleading at best to the women they speak to and damaging at worst. To be frank and blunt about what I mean here, let me say it this way; I strongly suspect there are lots of women that lie about their orgasms - about how they happen, when they have them and if they have them. I don't think it's a mean or intentional thing. I don't even think I'd really call it lying most of the time because I don't think it's a conscious lie. It's more about not understanding what an orgasm physiologically is before speaking about it with an undeserved authority. I just think we women are so mislead and confused about our bodies, about the physiology of orgasm, and about how we should obtain, express, and speak about our orgasm that we often twist our understanding of our own experiences to fit into how we think things should be, and then we speak about them from that twisted, non-scientifically based view and other people take it to heart.

I say that all to let you know that I will be hand-picking all the women I ask to take this survey. I am choosing women I believe have a grounded understanding of orgasm, have exhibited what I believe is an honest relationship with their sexual bodies, and have shown they are able and at least somewhat interested in expressing their feelings and experiences. So, these are also women I have already had the chance to speak to about their orgasms. This series, clearly, is no scientific-based investigation, but I still would like to make it clear to all of you that this is the bias with which I am coming at this.

What I ultimately hope is that these women's stories and insights bring comfort or insight to the other women reading this.

ANNA 
This is the 2nd in her 3 part installment.
Find her PART 1 HERE.
The following is also the description I have in Part 1, so if you've already read it, you can move onto the questions.

The first brave lady I have chosen for this is Anna. I met her online because she wrote me with some worry and criticism about a post I had written. Her insight, openness, and thoughts intrigued me, and we began a really lovely discussion. She graciously accepted the offer to do this, and put a lot of time and effort into being as honest as possible. In an email asking me what format to send it to me in, she said,
"I've been spending a lot of time on your survey, trying to be as honest and thorough as possible. It brought back memories and helped me put into words some vague thoughts I have had. Maybe I was too thorough: I wrote more than ten pages. I couldn't separate orgasms from sex in general. I kept adding context. The answers didn't seem to make sense otherwise."
This will be the second of 3 post from her survey. She did, much to my happiness, write a lot - more than 1 post's worth. Please read her interview in detail. Anna is an extraordinary woman, I think, and although her orgasmic life might have taken a slightly different route from many of you, there is
soooo much to relate to and a lot to learn from. I asked a few follow-up questions that I will include as well. The ability to ask follow-up questions I think is an important perk to this kind of direct questioning.

2. Intercourse 
2a. Describe your relationship to and experience with intercourse. 
Well, for one thing, I thought I would never get a chance to experience it. From middle school and onwards it was made very clear to me how ugly, weird and disgusting I was. Bullying is very damaging.

When I was 17, I met a boy who seemed not only interested but enthusiastic, so I took my (only) chance. We had so much fun! Neither of us had any experience (and also, no internet), so we experimented: "Does this feel good? Harder? Softer? To the left? What about if I do like this instead?" When we tried intercourse I was a bit disappointed that it would not bring me to orgasm but it wasn't that big of a deal. We just tried different ways to include my clit. What worked best was me using my fingers during intercourse. (Too bad all we had in common was sex. It only lasted a couple of months.)

I enjoy intercourse. The pressure inside me can feel really good. I like being close to my partner and seeing his pleasure. Intercourse can bring an extra dimension to my orgasm too, but it doesn't cause orgasms.

2b. If you ever orgasm while having intercourse (either with or without the use of hands, toys or other accessories), please describe exactly what needs to happen to you physically in order to get the stimulation you need to orgasm. If there is more than 1 scenario, describe each. Please be as detailed as you can. 
I'm not sure I understand the question. "What needs to happen to you physically"... Frankly, what needs to happen is that he doesn't get in the way.

I used to orgasm during intercourse most of the time. I would do my usual circular rubbing. He would hold back until I was done, then he would come. I have come from being fingered while he was inside me from behind. It was nice, but it's just as good and also much more reliable if I do it myself.

I have had a few sexual partners: some boyfriends, some more casual. (I haven't counted. Probably more than ten, definitely less than twenty.) With most of them, my finger method worked perfectly. With my current boyfriend it just doesn't. If I put anything between us it doesn't feel as good for either of us, and it doesn't feel as good from behind either. I think it's partly due to anatomical factors but mostly psychological.

My boyfriend so desperately wants it to be good for me that he gets stressed and loses his erection. He is 50+ and has some prostate trouble, but what really derails him is his inner model of how sex SHOULD work. He feels that it's his job to give me orgasms, and that I am somehow being cheated if I have to "help" him. It is better for both of us when he relaxes and lets himself enjoy his own pleasure.

My trusty vibrator doesn't work for me during intercourse. I need it to be positioned very precisely. Intercourse makes it move around too much.

2c. How often would you say you orgasm during intercourse? What are your feelings about that?
It used to be quite often. These days, basically never.
It doesn't matter either way. Intercourse is not all-important. I get orgasms with my boyfriend practically every time we have sex, except when we decide that I won't (as part of play, or because we only have time for one of us - and when that happens, it's usually I who get the orgasm and he who waits)

3. Non-intercourse Partnered Sex 
3a. Have you ever orgasmed during cunnilingus (while being ate out / gone down on / given oral sex)? If so, please describe in detail (as best you can since you aren't in the front row of what's happening down there) what you need to do physically and what needs to physically happen to you in order to orgasm this way. 
I have, but it was a long time ago. The mechanics are the same as when I masturbate: consistent, firm, rhythmical pressure.

Cunnilingus can be nice as part of the build-up phase, but I usually don't orgasm from it. Tongue and lips are not firm enough for more than teasing. Also, I tend to thrash around a lot when I orgasm, so the stimulation tends to vanish when I want it the most.

Most of my partners, current included, seem very enthusiastic, but I sometimes get distracted with worry that he is getting bored or that it tastes bad.

3b. Have you ever orgasmed while a partner was stimulating you with a hand or finger(s)? If so, please describe in detail what you need to do physically and what needs to physically happen to you in order to orgasm this way. 
I have, but mostly I like it as part of the build-up. It's just easier and more reliable if I do the last bit myself.

 3c. Have you ever orgasmed while a partner was stimulating you with a sex aid (a vibrator, dildo, feather - anything like that). If so, please describe in detail what you need to do physically and what needs to physically happen to you in order to orgasm this way.
No. I only got my first toys after I met my current boyfriend. We tried a little bit, but it just works so well when I do it myself.

3d. Have you ever orgasmed while grinding or rubbing against a partner's body? If so, please describe in detail what you need to do physically and what needs to physically happen to you in order to orgasm this way.
No. I have rubbed my vulva on my partner. It feels nice, but it is too indirect to make me orgasm. 

3e. Anything else you'd like to say about these activities in your sex life?
My boyfriend and I discovered the perfect way to make me orgasm. I lie on my stomach and hold my little vibrator on my clit in the same way as when I masturbate. My boyfriend lies beside me and pushes rhythmically and firmly with his thumb on the alleged g-spot area, and when I say firmly I mean as in "Are you sure I'm not hurting you? Are you really certain? I can't believe I'm not hurting you." I get an orgasm every time, and it's usually more powerful than anything I can get on my own.

3e Follow-up Questions 1 and 2 (answered together) 1. Did your orgasms that happened while there was pressure on your G-spot ever include any kind of ejaculation or 'squirting' or anything like that? 2. Have you ever experienced ejaculation or 'squirting'? If so, please explain the situations in detail. 
It has happened but I haven't really thought much about it. I don't know how often it happens. Sometimes everything gets really wet when I orgasm, but it's hard to tell if it's from ejaculating or just a lot of vaginal lubrication if no one sees it happen. I have been told that it looks like a little orgasm fountain. Partners tend to think it's a big deal, like a mark of their excellence as lovers. Maybe they have a point: every time I've been told about has been with g-spot pressure, and the orgasms have been significantly more powerful than average. (I wish everybody knew that vaginal lubrication is a bad indicator of how turned on you are.)

Follow-up to the Follow-up: So, you are saying that you have been told that it looks like a 'little orgasm fountain' when you orgasm. However, the only times you've been told that are when you have received the strong g-spot stimulation along with the clitoral stimulation. Is that correct? Also, is it correct that you haven't been told about a 'little orgasm fountain' or any other squirting/ejaculation during orgasms that did not include G-spot stimulation? Otherwise, you have noticed being very wet after an orgasm, but that could very well be vaginal lubrication - is that correct?
No partner has mentioned a fountain when there has been no pressure.

I just realized something: when I masturbate with a toy in my vagina I get some pressure, and occasionally there is a lot more wetness than usual after I orgasm. It is more water-like, not as slippery. It smells sweet, not like either urine or vaginal fluid. I always thought this was due to the toy stimulating extra lubrication, but maybe there has been an ejaculation? I really don't know. I never thought much about it before you asked.


3e Follow-up Questions 3: Also, can you explain in any more detail how your orgasms with lots of G-spot pressure differed from your orgasms without g-spot pressure?
This is a difficult question. There is a big difference, but how to describe it? The pressure orgasm is more full, more nuanced. My whole body is more involved. If it's a strong one I tend to scream out loud and my back and legs spasm. The first few times with my boyfriend's special technique he thought he had seriously injured me, for sure. Now we just have to be careful to shut the windows and scream into a pillow. I can force myself to be silent and still, but when I do it takes so much effort I can't fully enjoy the orgasm.

Orgasms without pressure are sharper and thinner. My body cramps rather than spasms. I don't make much noise either. This makes it sound like orgasms without pressure are inferior, and they kind of are, but also not. Chocolate analogy: quality is better than cheap, but sometimes the cheap stuff is what you crave. Music analogy: some music is complex and rewards the listener for making the effort, and some music is less complex but just as enjoyable in other ways.

If I'm without pressure and get stuck on the build-up plateau, pressure usually pushes me into the orgasm.

1.30.2016

A Big Ol' List of Summarized Journal Articles Relating To Female Orgasm



Below you will find links to all of the posts I made in the "A Journal Article I Read" Series. For each one, I read an article, summarize it, and sometimes, if I want to, give a little discussion about what I think the contents of that article mean to the broader understanding of lady-gasms. I try my best not to skip details that are important in understanding what this study did and did not touch upon. Ideally, I want to make these like 20 times more readable than an actual article but also really comprehensive, and I do the best I can to make that happen. Hopefully you enjoy them a bit.

Honestly, these are one of my favorite things to do on this blog, and if I didn't have an actual job, I'd be all over this. I think it really helps me understand the science available on this stuff much better. It is one thing to read an article, but when you have to tell other people all these details about it, it really starts to sink it into your brain, and you can see things you missed in the first read-through. Anyway, I like to do this, and when I do more, I'll continue to add them here.

Enjoy!

***Also - HERE's a critique I did of a BBC article on female orgasm. It references a lot of the articles here and also gives a good overview of how far removed the cultural understanding of female orgasm is from the scientific understanding.

p.s. As I've always said in this blog and in my movie, I have never found in a scientific article an instance in which stimulation inside the vagina (without additional external clitoral area stimulation) elicited the rhythmic pelvic muscular contractions known to be the physical expression of orgasm in both men and women (You can see more about that HERE). These articles are no exception, but if I do find one, rest assured I will post it here and amend this paragraph to let you know about it.




Articles about female orgasm that include recording of pelvic muscle activity

The journal article: "The female orgasm: pelvic contractions." Bohlen JG, Held JP, Sanderson MO, Ahlgren A. Arch Sex Behav. 1982 Oct;11(5):367-86.
The summary is titled: Good Orgasmic Pelvic Contraction Study from 1982 - A Journal Article I Read.

The journal article: "Relationships Among Cardiovascular, Muscular, and Oxytocin Responses During Human Sexual Activity." Carmichael, et al. Archives of Sexual Behavior Vol. 23, No. 1 1994.
The summary is titled: Oxytocin, Orgasm, Muscle Contractions, and Blood - A Journal Article I Read

The journal article: "8-13 Hz fluctuations in rectal pressure are an objective marker of clitorally-induced orgasm in women." Van Netten JJ1, Georgiadis JR, Nieuwenburg A, Kortekaas R. Arch Sex Behav. 2008 Apr;37(2):279-85.
The summary is titled: 8-13 Hz Fluctuations In Rectal Pressure A Good Marker For Female Orgasm?: A Journal Article I Read

The journal article: "Regional cerebral blood flow changes associated with clitorally induced orgasm in healthy women." Georgiadis JR1, Kortekaas R, Kuipers R, Nieuwenburg A, Pruim J, Reinders AA, Holstege G. Eur J Neurosci. 2006 Dec;24(11):3305-16.
The summary is titled: A Good Study About Female Orgasm In The Brain: A Journal Article I Read

Articles about female orgasm that do not include recording of pelvic muscle activity

The journal article: "Vaginal Erotic Sensitivity By Sexological Examination." Hoch, Z. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1986;65(7):767-73.
The summary is titled: Vaginal Erotic Sensitivity By Sexological Examination: A Journal Article I Read

The journal article: "Vaginal erotic sensitivity." Alzate H, Londoño ML. J Sex Marital Ther. 1984 Spring;10(1):49-56.
The summary is titled: Vaginal Erotic Sensitivity - A Journal Article I Read

The journal article: "Cardiovascular and endocrine alterations after masturbation-induced orgasm in women". Exton MS1, Bindert A, Krüger T, Scheller F, Hartmann U, Schedlowski M. Psychosom Med. 1999 May-Jun;61(3):280-9.
The summary is titled: 1 Shitty and 4 Kinda Interesting Articles about Orgasm and Prolactin (the female masturbation study)

The journal article: "Coitus-induced orgasm stimulates prolactin secretion in healthy subjects." Exton MS1, Krüger TH, Koch M, Paulson E, Knapp W, Hartmann U, Schedlowski M. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2001 Apr;26(3):287-94.
The summary is titled: 1 Shitty and 4 Kinda Interesting Articles about Orgasm and Prolactin (the male/female intercourse study)

The journal article: "The post-orgasmic prolactin increase following intercourse is greater than following masturbation and suggests greater satiety." Brody S1, Krüger TH. HBiol Psychol. 2006 Mar;71(3):312-5.
The summary is titled: 1 Shitty and 4 Kinda Interesting Articles about Orgasm and Prolactin (the shitty study)

The journal article: "Measurement of the thickness of the urethrovaginal space in women with or without vaginal orgasm." Gravina GL, Brandetti F, Martini P, Carosa E, Di Stasi SM, Morano S, Lenzi A, Jannini EA. J Sex Med. 2008 Mar;5(3):610-8.
The summary is titled: Thicker Urethrovaginal Space = Vaginal Orgasm?: A Journal Article I Read

The journal article: "A woman's history of vaginal orgasm is discernible from her walk." Nicholas A1, Brody S, de Sutter P, de Carufel F. J Sex Med. 2008 Sep;5(9):2119-24.
The summary is titled: Freudian BS in a Legit, Peer-Reviewed Journal: A Journal Article I Read

The journal article: "Some Considerations Concerning Orgasm in the Female." Marmor, J. Psychosomatic Medicine. Vol. 16 No. 3 (May 1954), pp. 240-245
The summary is titled: A 1954 Theory of Female Orgasm - A Journal Article I Read


Orgasm and Spinal Cord Injury (recording of pelvic muscle activity during orgasm either not taken or not reported)

The journal article: "Brain activation during vaginocervical self-stimulation and orgasm in women with complete spinal cord injury: fMRI evidence of mediation by the vagus nerves." Komisaruk BR1, Whipple B, Crawford A, Liu WC, Kalnin A, Mosier K. Brain Res. 2004 Oct 22;1024(1-2):77-88.
The summary is titled: Cervical Stimulation and Orgasm in Women with Spinal Cord injuries - A journal Article I read

The journal article: "Orgasm in women with spinal cord injuries: a laboratory-based assessment." Sipski ML1, Alexander CJ, Rosen RC. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1995 Dec;76(12):1097-102.
The summary is title: Orgasm in Women with Spinal Cord Injury (Sipski Study) - A Journal Article I Read


Articles about the brain's relationship to female genital anatomy, sensitivity, arousal, or orgasm

The journal article: "Women's clitoris, vagina, and cervix mapped on the sensory cortex: fMRI evidence." Komisaruk BR1, Wise N, Frangos E, Liu WC, Allen K, Brody S. J Sex Med. 2011 Oct;8(10):2822-30.
The summary is titled: MRIs of Stimulation to the Clitoris, Cervix, and Vagina - A Journal Article I Read

The journal article: "The Somatosensory Representation of the Human Clitoris: An fMRI Study."  LarsMichels, UlrichMehnert, SönkeBoy, BrigitteSchurch, SpyrosKollias. NeuroImage 2010 Jan. Vol.49 Issue 1, p.177-184. (you might be able to find the full text article available HERE)
The summary is titled: Where Does Touch To the Clit Activate In The Brain - A Journal Article I Read 

The journal article: "Electroencephalographic laterality changes during human sexual orgasm." H D Cohen, R C Rosen, L Goldstein. Arch Sex Behav. Vol. 5 No. 3 (May 1976), pp. 189-99.
The summary is titled: 
Orgasm and EEG in 1976 - A Journal Article I Read

Articles about female genital anatomy and sensitivity or arousal

The journal article: "Physiological Changes in Female Genital Sensation During Sexual Stimulation." Gruenwald I1, Lowenstein L, Gartman I, Vardi Y. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Volume 4 (2) – Mar 1, 2007.
The summary is titled:   Sensitivity of Clit and Vagina While Aroused and Unaroused

The journal article: "A prospective study examining the anatomic distribution of nerve density in the human vagina." Pauls R, Mutema G, Segal J, Silva WA, Kleeman S, Dryfhout Ma V, Karram M. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2006 Nov;3(6):979-87.
The summary is titled: Vaginal Nerviness and What I would Say Differently If I Made This Movie Now

The journal article: "Pilot echographic study of the differences in clitoral involvement following clitoral or vaginal sexual stimulation." Buisson O1, Jannini EA. J Sex Med. 2013 Nov;10(11):2734-40.
The summary is titled: Ultrasounds of clit and vaginal stimulation: A Journal Article I Read

The journal article: "Coitus as revealed by ultrasound in one volunteer couple." Buisson O1, Foldes P, Jannini E, Mimoun S. J Sex Med. 2010 Aug;7(8):2750-4.
The summary is titled:  Coitus as revealed by ultrasound in one volunteer couple - a Journal Article I Read

The journal article: "Anatomy of Sex: Revision of the New Anatomical Terms Used for the Clitoris and the Female Orgasm by Sexologists" Vincenzo Pupp and Giulia Puppo Clinical Anatomy 28:293-304 2015
The summary is titled: Clit and Female Orgasm Terminology: An Article I Read

The journal article: "Neuroendocrine response to film-induced sexual arousal in men and women." Exton NG1, Truong TC, Exton MS, Wingenfeld SA, Leygraf N, Saller B, Hartmann U, Schedlowski M. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2000 Feb;25(2):187-99. (you might be able to find the full text article available HERE)
The summary is titled: 1 Shitty and 4 Kinda Interesting Articles about Orgasm and Prolactin (the male/female arousal study)

The journal article:  "Anatomical relationship between urethra and clitoris."H E O'Connell 1, J M Hutson, C R Anderson, R J Plenter. Journal of Urology. 1998 Jun;159(6):1892-7. (You might be able to find the full text article HERE)


Articles about female orgasm in relation to the distance between a woman's vagina and clitoral glans

The journal article: "Clitoral size and location in relation to sexual function using pelvic MRI." Oakley SH1, Vaccaro CM, Crisp CC, Estanol MV, Fellner AN, Kleeman SD, Pauls RN. J Sex Med. 2014 Apr;11(4):1013-22.
The summary is titled: A New Study about Clit Size and Orgasms!!!

The journal article: "Female sexual arousal: Genital anatomy and orgasm in intercourse." Kim Wallens and Elisabeth A. Lloyd. Hormones and Behavior 59 (2011) 780-792.
The summary is titled: Distance From Clitoris to Vagina: Does It Matter to Orgasms?


Articles about psychological or experiential elements of female arousal, orgasms and/or sexual dysfunction

The journal article: "Do all orgasms feel alike? Evaluating a two-dimensional model of the orgasm experience across gender and sexual context."  Mah K1, Binik YM. J Sex Res. 2002 May;39(2):104-13.
The summary is titled: Do All Orgasms Feel the Same?: A Journal Article I Read

The journal article: "What is the 'true' prevalence of female sexual dysfunctions and does the way we assess these conditions have an impact?" Hayes RD, Dennerstein L, Bennett CM, Fairley C.  J Sex Med. 2008 Apr;5(4):777-787.
The summary is titled: Comparing Measurements of Female Sexual Dysfunction: An Article I Read

The journal article: "Self-assessment of genital anatomy, sexual sensitivity and function in women: implications for genitoplasty." Justine M. Schober, Heino F.L. Meyer-Bahlburg, Philip G. Ransley. BJU Volume 94, Issue 4 September 2004 Pages 589–594
The summary is titled: How Women Rate Their Genital Sensitivity and Appearance: An Article I Read

The journal article: "A Sex Difference in the Specificity of Sexual Arousal." Meredith L. Chivers, Gerulf Rieger, Elizabeth Latty and J. Michael Bailey. Psychological Science. Vol. 15, No. 11 (Nov., 2004), pp. 736-744  (You might be able to find the full text article HERE)

The journal article: "Some Considerations Concerning Orgasm in the Female." Marmor, J. Psychosomatic Medicine. Vol. 16 No. 3 (May 1954), pp. 240-245. 
The summary is titled: A 1954 Theory of Female Orgasm - A Journal Article I Read 

Articles about female ejaculation and fluid expulsion during sexual activity

The journal article: "Female ejaculation orgasm vs. coital incontinence: a systematic review." Pastor ZJ. Sex Med.2013 Jul;10(7):1682-91. 2013 May 1.
The summary is titled: Fluid Expulsion During Female Sexual Activiy - A Journal Article I Read

The journal article: "Do women with female ejaculation have detrusor overactivity?" Cartwright R1, Elvy S, Cardozo L. J Sex Med. 2007 Nov;4(6):1655-8.
The summary is titled: Ejaculation Associated With Bladder Muscle Overactivity? - A Journal Article I Read

Articles about male orgasm 

The journal article: Neuroendocrine and cardiovascular response to sexual arousal and orgasm in men. Krüger T1, Exton MS, Pawlak C, von zur Mühlen A, Hartmann U, Schedlowski M. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1998 May;23(4):401-11.
The summary is titled: 1 Shitty and 4 Kinda Interesting Articles about Orgasm and Prolactin (the male masturbation study)

Unique case studies

The journal article: "Sexual function in a woman with congenital bladder exstrophy and multiple pelvic reconstructive surgeries: a case report." Vaccaro CM1, Herfel C, Karram MM, Pauls RN. J Sex Med. 2011 Feb;8(2):617-21.
The summary is titled: Vaginal Orgasm in Woman With Unique Pelvic Anatomy? - A Journal Article I Read

3.14.2015

Fluid Expulsion During Female Sexual Activiy - A Journal Article I Read



J Sex Med.2013 Jul;10(7):1682-91. 2013 May 1.
Female ejaculation orgasm vs. coital incontinence: a systematic review. Pastor Z

So this is another installment of A Journal Article I Read. Let's get right down to it. This is a review article, which means it's not about a study the author did. The author simply looks at the articles that exist on a particular subject and discusses where there is agreement and where there is not, and then gives a conclusion, given the current scientific understanding, about the topic in question.

I very much like a review because it's kind of what science is all about. One study is one study - might be useful, might be a bit of an anomaly, might be bullshit. However, looking at many studies on a topic from all different directions, with different biases and methods and disciplines involved - now that is the way to get to the bottom of something.

This article does, in fact, try to get as close to the bottom of a thing as it can - which isn't really very far given the lack of high quality studies to go from, but in the right direction none the less. It's about liquid coming out of women during sexual activity - what the hell is it and why does it happen? It's a fair question. Not only are there women who report that something spurts out of them during certain sexual activity or orgasm, but there is also objective documentation of this in a lab situation. The problem is, it's hard to categorize it all as one thing because the timing of the expelling of liquid (during orgasm, arousal, penetration?) and the amount and make-up of the liquid seems to be quite variable. Currently there seems to be a few different ways that studies describe liquid expelling from women during the ol' sex and some are sexual releases or arousal related and some are due to Coital Incontinence (CI), otherwise known as some pee escaping during the sex. So, this article aims to see what the existing studies on liquid expulsion have shown so far.

The author used a variety of terms were used to search through literature databases, and anything that focused on "evaluating fluid expulsion occurring during female sexual activity or describing types of CI, including characteristics, quantity, and composition of the fluid and mechanism of leakage" were used. In the end 46 studies were evaluated including 4 reviews - and 4 books were also used.

So types of fluid expulsion:

First off, we're not really talking about vaginal lubrication here. Vag lube is a fluid that is emitted from the walls of the vagina during arousal. Although, a lack of this fluid can be problematic for some women, increased lube doesn't cause a problem and is considered a discharge more than a gush. Apparently Alfred Kinsey and his crew suggested that lubrication could be forced out through contractions of the perivaginal muscles thus resembling Female Ejaculation (FE). However, there is no actual evidence of an "expulsion" of this kind happening. The authors here talk about vaginal lube very quickly at the beginning of the article in much the same way I do above, but the focus of this article is liquid that comes out of the urethral opening - or as I like to call it the ol' pee hole. I want to mention this because this can be confusing. A lot of people think women actually pee out of the vagina or ejaculate out of the vagina, but we don't. We have a pee hole down there for that, and if you didn't know that, don't worry, you are very much not alone. I used to (into my 20's really) think I peed out of my clit, but that's another story.

So anyway, here's just that basics - because to really give you all the nuances- and there are a lot, you would just need to read the article in its entirety - which I suggest you do if you have any further questions or are interested in this kind of thing. Anyway, the body of evidence so far seems to suggest that the quantity and composition are kinda good indicators of where the fluid is coming from and what it's all about.

Here's the kinda flow chart that was made for the different categories of fluid.


 Female ejaculation orgasm vs. coital incontinence: a systematic review. Pastor Z J Sex Med.2013 Jul;10(7):1682-91. 2013 May 1.



  1. Female Ejaculation (FE) - A little bit of milky white fluid that contains some prostate enzymes and sugars also seen in male ejaculate. This likely originates from the female prostate (kinda similar to the male prostate before puberty) in response to clitoral or vaginal stimulation in some women or during orgasm. 
  2. Squirting - A larger amount of fluid released that may be a chemically altered urine from the bladder. Some very small studies were done that emptied the bladder before orgasm and then checked the make-up of the fluid released during squirting. It did have a little bit of uric acid and urea, but it also had some sugars and prostate enzymes. It was not urine, but probably came from the bladder. The mechanism for how this happens - even after the bladder is drained, is not fully understood. It seems to be a clear liquid that doesn't smell like pee.
  3. The other possible fluid release is basically urine. It can happen during arousal, stimulation, penetration and orgasm. There is some speculation in different studies about what types of problems (stress urinary incontinence or detruser over activity for instance) are most likely to cause urine leakage during which sexual activities, but there is little agreement. This type of fluid looks chemically like urine, though.


Here's the table showing the chemical make-up of the different categories of fluid.

Female ejaculation orgasm vs. coital incontinence: a systematic review. Pastor ZJ Sex Med.2013 Jul;10(7):1682-91. 2013 May 1.

Other things this article said were suggested from the studies so far:


  • Women who squirt or ejaculate as described above don't generally have issues with incontinence, but women who have urine leakage do tend to. 
  • I noticed from the article that the estimates of the percentage of women who complain of urine leakage during sexual activity varies wildly, but it seemed to me it's not insignificant...my point being that it seems to be a fair amount of women, so if this is you - you're not alone by any means.
  • There are clearly some women who naturally have fluid release in relation to certain stimulation or orgasms, but it doesn't seem to be a very high number of women.
  • A lot of the studies don't involve solid clinical evidence: "Only eight studies objectively confirmed FE in a total of 52 respondents. Studies reporting a higher prevalence of FE in hundreds of cases were based on questionnaire studies or anecdotal evidence" 
  • "A consensus regarding terminology and classification may contribute to more precise diagnosis and provision of correct information to both healthcare professionals and the public." - I mean, right?
  • There are better studies about this stuff that can and should be done. They may not be super easy, but good science never is...usually...I think.

So that's the very basics. I know some people can tend to get a little defensive and worried when it comes to defining fluid during sexual activity - given that ejaculation/squirting has and still is misunderstood. However, I hope everyone can recognize that gaining knowledge through good research on this topic is important, and that we can all figure out how to be tolerant and accepting no matter what things are learned as more research is done.

4.21.2014

Press Kit Response to the Most Controversial part of Science, Sex and the Ladies



I have about 15 blog posts rolling around in my mind that I would like to write. However, I can't seem to find the time to do any of those right now (sorry about the almost week between this and last post by the way...). The day job and some other things are taking priority right now. So, I am posting something here, but it is actually something I recently wrote for our online press kit for the movie. We have a section in there called Q&A, where we answer some commonly asked questions about the movie.

Let me just say that the responses we have been getting from this movie have all been positive, I know that sounds ridiculous, but let me explain further. Some responses are super positive through and through, but others are mostly positive but with some concerns. The concerns always come from the most controversial part of the movie, so I get it. There is a lot of content in this movie and most are things that are hard not to get behind. It's that whole part about us saying that the stimulation of the vaginal walls has never been shown to cause orgasm that gets some people. However, it's the part I think is most important. We as a culture have ignored this issue for far too long, and I think that's part of the reason we're in the situation we are in now.

So, I figured we needed to talk more about this part of the movie in the press kit, because I know it really does strike nerves - sometimes hurtfully and sometimes refreshingly, and I think responses to it can be guttural and emotional, so I think it's important to clearly reiterate what exactly the movie is saying and to keep it in perspective. So here's that little section of our Press Kit Q&A.

still from Sciences, Sex and the Ladies

Do you really think that vaginal orgasms don’t exist?
 We knew that discussing the vaginal orgasm in the way we do would be controversial.  However, this discussion is a fundamental elements of SSL’s argument, and we believe it opens up important  conversations that our culture must engage in if there is to be any real change. 
What the movie actually states is that an orgasm caused by stimulation of the vaginal walls has never been documented. Given the media omnipresence and the cultural importance of women attaining orgasm merely through the penile/vaginal penetration, and given that there are women who clearly say that they do orgasm this way, this statement could seem overly bold and even harsh. Yet, it’s a true statement, at least as true as we can tell. Of course, one never knows what may pop up in the literature, but we do keep up pretty well on the research. 
There are some popularly cited studies used often to give credit to the idea of this vaginally activated orgasms (VAOs); studies involving the close proximity of the inner clitoral legs to the vagina, brain scans of women claiming (although not physically verified) to have experienced VAOs, instances in which arousal is recorded or pleasure is reported due to g-spot/vaginal/cervical stimulation. However, we have yet to find a study where there is a causal link between vaginal/ g-spot/cervical stimulation and a verified instance of orgasm (orgasm being the universally accepted description documented by Masters and Johnson). In fact the only physical sexual release related to vaginal stimulation that has been recorded is ejaculation, which is physically quite different from an orgasm. It may seem like VAOs should exist, but if they do, the scientific community has yet to document them.

13. So, are you calling women who say they have vaginal orgasms liars?  The movie speculates that most women who claim to orgasm from vaginal stimulation alone – actually may not be orgasming in this way.  Shaming  women by calling them liars is certainly not our intention, and we hope the movie reflects this. Name calling and blaming is of no use to such a nuanced and important topic, but clarity and honest discussion most certainly is. 
It is uncontroversial to say that the vast majority of women do not orgasm through vaginal stimulation. Most surveys would put that number at 70-85% of women. However, to speculate about the accuracy of the vaginal orgasm claims of the remaining 15-30% is quite controversial. Yet, the fact remains that there is a discrepancy. There has never been a recorded instance of orgasm caused by vaginal stimulation, yet some women claim these happen. Something has to give, and we argue that of those 15-30% of women, some may actually be ejaculating and calling that an orgasm, or having some kind of spiritual/emotional climax and calling that an orgasm, or attaining a high level of physical arousal and calling that an orgasm, or simply claiming on a survey that they orgasm this way when they do not. 
We understand that women have traditionally had explanations of their own experiences ignored far too often, and we know that second guessing a person’s answers may strike some as condescending. We get that, but we don’t think it does women or the scientific understanding or orgasm any good to blindly slide past this hard issue. 
We would argue that given the saturation of vaginally stimulated orgasm in our media,  given the cultural importance placed upon orgasm through penile vaginal stimulation,  given that our society often leaves women and girls ignorant about their orgasm functioning and genital structure in ways it does not for men, and given that even sexual advisers and researchers, when speaking about women, are known to use the word “orgasm” in relation to things other than the established definition of orgasm (such as ejaculation, emotional/spiritual climax, and high levels of arousal) - given all of that, we don’t see why it would be such a leap to wonder whether the last 15 to 30% of women might not actually be experiencing orgasm. 
As opposed to seeing this inquiry as a means to call women liars and creating a harsh  hierarchy of female orgasm, we see this as a means for giving women the accurate information they are craving and for creating a clear vocabulary for which women can speak about their sexual experiences. We believe women are fully capable of moving forward in this way without judging each other or themselves for the way all women have had to rather blindly negotiate their way around this confusing sexual landscape thus far. 
If you’d like to read further about these ideas, check out the following posts on the SSL blog. 
http://www.sciencesexandtheladies.blogspot.com/2012/10/yeah-you-heard-me-vaginal-stimulation.html 
http://sciencesexandtheladies.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-g-spotvaginal-orgasm-debate-is.html


2.20.2014

Is Ejaculation an Orgasm? Betty Dodson Tells Ya Straight



I'm sure I've mentioned before that I think Betty Dodson is kick ass. Well I agree with myself once again. Betty and her cohort Carlin Ross answer the question in their vlog, "Is female ejaculation an orgasm?" Hells no. Ejaculation is ejaculation. Betty lays that shit down straight. I. Love. It. All too often, the word "orgasm" is used to describe all kinds of things that are not actually orgasms.

It's a confusing problematic aspect of sexpert talk in an already confusing sexual culture for us ladies. I'm over it, and I think Betty might be too. If anyone is fighting the good fight for the Orgasm Equality Movement, these ladies are! Check it out.