Streaming is the ‘discreet’ masturbation technique loved by 20 million women

About 62% of women have practised streaming (Picture: Metro/Getty) Who said taking a shower has to be just for freshening up? There’s a steamy sex act loved by 20 million women which typically takes place in the bathroom. It involves using a shower head to get to orgasm, with 62% of women reporting that they get sexual pleasure from streaming water on to their vulva. That is according to sex education site OMGYES, which has dubbed this masturbation act ‘streaming’. It’s a pretty handy way to get yourself off, says Gigi of sextoysuk, who has dubbed the shower the ‘Jack of all trades’. So, if you’re looking to have a steamy encounter with your water pressure,we’ve got you covered. Getting to grips with streaming Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Simply put, streaming is where you use water pressure on your clitoris to masturbate while having a shower or bath. ‘It’s a discreet way to masturbate because showers are private by nature, it’s time you get for yourself,’ Gigi tells Metro. ‘You have an opportunity to connect with your body and have the relaxation you need to have an orgasm.’ Sign up to The Hook-Up, Metro's sex and dating newsletter Love reading juicy stories like this? Need some tips for how to spice things up in the bedroom? Sign up to The Hook-Up and we'll slide into your inbox every week with all the latest sex and dating stories from Metro. We can't wait for you to join us! Showers can be very sensual and a great place for women to orgasm (Picture: Getty Images) As well as the private setting that minimises the risk of someone barging in on you, the various techniques allow for a very personalised intimate experience. ‘Showers can be very sensual, so start by warming up the rest of your body with the shower head, then circle the clitoris, then place the water on your vulva,’ she suggests. ‘Variations in water pressure can add different sensations, just as vibrators come with different vibration patterns and intensity levels, so you can turn the water down or up. ‘Some showers will allow you to change the way the water comes out to rainforest or a straight stream, which is an interesting way to change it up.’ The closer the shower head is to the vulva, the more intense the sensation is going to be. On OMGYES, women shared the different ways they like to use this water to pleasure themselves. ‘The run down’ is one technique, where water pressure is placed on the cushion of the clitoral hood and the entire vulva gets a cascade of water – avoiding direct clitoral stimulation – which can be good for those who are more sensitive. Applying the water directly onto the clitoris is another way but while it could feel amazing, some find it too much. One to build up to. Other women enjoyed indirect splashes of water by focusing the shower to the side of the clitoris, so just spray hits the sensitive parts. Who practises streaming? Interestingly, Gigi says that while a lot of women use the shower head to masturbate, it’s often the first way they’ll attempt self-pleasure in their lives. This is because the bathroom is far more private than your bedroom when you’re still living with your parents. But it doesn’t mean that only younger women are having fun this way. A shower head can be used to create a very personalised sexual experience (Picture: Getty Images) ‘People still do it in adulthood but less so because they then have their own space and can buy sex toys,’ Gigi, for sextoys.co.uk, explains. ‘But when shower heads have been their primary form of masturbation they might be quite habituated to that so it’s a more reliable way to orgasm.’ The don’ts of streaming Now, you may think that not much can go wrong with streaming, but there are just a couple of things to be aware of. ‘It’s only really safe for external clitoral stimulation because you don’t want to be shooting water up your vagina because that’s how you wipe out the good vaginal flora and you’ll end up with a UTI, yeast infection, or bacterial vaginosis – and you don’t want that,’ Gigi says. The second thing to be aware of temperature play. The expert says that shower head play can have a kink element to it in terms of pain play, where you switch from really warm water to really cold water – but exercise this with caution. ‘You don’t want to use scalding hot water on your vulva because it’s very sensitive tissue,’ Gigi adds. ‘Normal warm water is fine, you can use cold if you like, it won’t hurt you but it could be painful for some.’ But Gigi warns of getting carried away in shared spaces. ‘People use pools and hot tubs to masturbate, but they’re shared communal spaces and shooting your juices into that shared space isn’t hygienic or respectful,’ she says. Deals of the Day Wuka launches the UK’s first period-proof swimwear for heavy flows Bridgerton fans are rushing to buy these new Netflix-inspired perfumes now £12 off The affordable summer wardrobe update you'll wear from rooftop drinks to beach holidays The £7.99 lip balm beauty fans love for glossy, hydrated lips just dropped four new shades This Keskine hydrogel mask could fix your summer skin ‘But by all means, use your own shower to your heart’s content.’ More like this... Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: This is how many times a week men should get morning erections, according to age Arrow MORE: The hazardous sex act women adore and men think is ‘magnificent’ Arrow MORE: The heatwave was leaving me sexually frustrated – until I found the answer The Hook Up Metro's hottest newsletter, with juicy stories and tips for spicing things up in the bedroom. 18+