Sexology has a short time span as a science . The inclusion of the knowledge it encompasses has not been treated within the scientific context until well into the twentieth century, finding an evident absence of research in this area.

One of the most negative consequences of this delay is the lack of clear conclusions that help to understand the mechanisms that determine many fundamental aspects of human sexuality, such as a person’s sexual orientation and identity, the multi-orgasmic phenomenon or the woman’s ejaculatory capacity, among many others.

Is there such a thing as female ejaculation?

One of the phenomena that has generated more interest within the sexuality of women is undoubtedly the ejaculatory capacity , attributed to men exclusively until not long ago. Nevertheless, we should not forget that there are millenary references, such as that of Hippocrates, who spoke of a female semen or Galen, who affirmed the existence of a female seminal fluid during sex. However, it is Whipple and Perry who contributed most to the social diffusion of the phenomenon in 1982.

During that decade, studies (Belzer, 1981; Bohlen, 1982; Zaviacic et al, 1984; Addiego et al, 1981; Sensabaugh and Kahane, 1982; Pollen and Dreilinger, 1984; Stifter, 1987; etc.) revealed the existence of a fluid different from urine and the woman’s own lubrication during orgasm. Although it is true that this phenomenon is not experienced in a generalised way by all women, we will explain why later on.

What is ejaculation in women?

It must be said that this physiological phenomenon goes beyond the actual lubrication that occurs in the excitation phase and would have the following peculiarities:

  • We are talking about a less viscous liquid than semen and slightly whitish that would come out of the vagina during the orgasm phase.
  • The relatively recent phenomenon of disclosure to the discovery of the “G-spot” , in honor of Dr. Ernst Grafenberg, a hollow structure found in the anterior wall of the vagina (about 5 cm from the entrance) and which many attribute as an internal branch of the clitoris, would not only be sensitive to pleasure, but also be related to the ejaculatory mechanism. Thus, the origin of the fluid emission could be in the Skene glands or paraurethral glands, located in that part of the vaginal anatomy, around the urethra and with a structure similar to the male prostate.
  • The fluid emitted in female ejaculation is formed by glucose, PSP (prostatic acid phosphatase), creatinine and traces of urea.
  • This ejaculation would not be homologous to that of man as it differs in function (it has no reproductive purpose) and basic composition.

Research

Francisco Cabello, a doctor, psychologist and sexologist from Malaga, is the one who carried out an interesting investigation on this physiological process. His initial conceptual hypothesis was based on the fact that since all women have a “female prostate”, they would all ejaculate during the orgasm phase . The difference is that some women are aware of this fact, mainly because of the amount emitted and expelled, while others are not aware of the small amount generated or because the ejaculate is directed retrogrades to the bladder as occurs in retrograde ejaculation in some men.

To do this, he analyzed the urine of women who underwent the experiment and who showed no ejaculation, just after orgasm to identify the presence of prostatic antigen (PSA) and other compounds that would confirm part of the hypothesis. This sample was compared with a sample taken before the beginning of the sexual relation to see the possible differences. The results found showed that 100% of the women who reported emitting a fluid during orgasm emitted PSAs. On the other hand, 75% of the women who claimed not to ejaculate, had PSA in their post-orgasm urine sample. The initial hypothesis was confirmed.

What should we know about female orgasms?

  • For all the above reasons, it is convenient to interpret this physiological process, if it occurs, as something natural and normal . This scientific knowledge can distance us from certain prejudices and beliefs that are often present in sexual relations.
  • In the same way that it happens in men, where not all emit the same amount of ejaculate in each relationship , in women we will also find differences depending on the context and many other variables. As we have seen, there is a part of the female population that even though they ejaculate, they are not aware of it since the amount is either not enough to identify it, or the direction is retrograde towards the bladder.

In any case, and despite the scientific advances that have been made in this field, there is still much to be clarified. It is clear that the lack of investment in sexological research (except when there is the possibility of marketing a drug that solves the male/female function) prevents progress in the knowledge of human sexuality. Hopefully this reality will begin to change in the near future.

Bibliographic references:

  • Hair, F. Contributions to the study of female ejaculation. Sexual Health Journal 1(1), 5-12. 2007.