Women ejaculate through a set of small glands embedded in the tissue surrounding the urethra, known as the paraurethral glands or Skene’s glands. These glands are now widely recognized as the female prostate, because they share tissue structure and biochemical markers with the male prostate. But the picture is more complicated than one gland producing one fluid: researchers have identified two distinct phenomena often lumped together under “female ejaculation,” each involving different anatomy, different fluid, and sometimes different triggers.
The Female Prostate
The glands responsible for female ejaculation sit on either side of the urethra, with ducts that open near the urethral opening. Histological studies have confirmed that these paraurethral glands are structurally homologous to the male prostate. In a study of 19 female urethral specimens ranging from newborns to women in their eighties, paraurethral glands were found in all but one case, and the majority stained positive for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase, the same markers used to identify male prostate tissue.1PubMed. Homology between the female paraurethral (Skene’s) glands and the prostate. Immunohistochemical demonstration There was no variation in glandular development or staining with age, suggesting these glands are a consistent feature of female anatomy across the lifespan.
Electron microscopy has shown that the cells lining these glands are actively secretory, with the same types of secretion mechanisms found in the male prostate. The glands display mature secretory cells and basal cells, reinforcing the view of the female prostate as a functional organ rather than a vestigial remnant.2PubMed. Ultrastructure of the normal adult human female prostate gland (Skene’s gland) The glands are small and vary somewhat in size between individuals, which likely contributes to the wide range of experiences women report.
Two Phenomena, Not One
One of the most persistent sources of confusion is that “female ejaculation” and “squirting” are used interchangeably in everyday conversation and even in some medical literature. Current research treats them as two separate events with different mechanisms, different volumes, and different fluid origins.
Female ejaculation in the strict sense refers to the release of a small amount of thick, whitish fluid from the paraurethral glands during orgasm. This fluid is rich in PSA. Squirting, by contrast, involves a larger volume of clear, watery fluid that comes from the bladder and is chemically similar to dilute urine, containing urea, creatinine, and uric acid at concentrations comparable to urine.3International Urogynecology Journal. Differential diagnostics of female “sexual” fluids: a narrative review A narrative review described squirting as involving roughly ten milliliters or more of transparent fluid expelled from the bladder, while ejaculation proper produces just a few milliliters of thick fluid from the paraurethral glands with high PSA concentration.4Clin Anat. Female ejaculation and squirting as similar but completely different phenomena: A narrative review of current research
In practice, the two often happen at the same time, which is why they get conflated. A woman may release prostatic fluid and bladder fluid simultaneously during orgasm, making it difficult to tell them apart without biochemical analysis. This overlap is part of what makes the research so tricky and why definitive claims about “what female ejaculation really is” tend to oversimplify.
What the Fluid Actually Contains
Biochemical studies have provided a surprisingly clear chemical fingerprint for each type of fluid. In one detailed case study, researchers collected and analyzed both types of fluid separately. The larger-volume fluid had the hallmarks of dilute urine: low density, and measurable urea, creatinine, and uric acid. The smaller-volume fluid, by contrast, contained PSA at concentrations comparable to components of male semen.5J Sex Med. New insights from one case of female ejaculation
A systematic review and meta-analysis looking across multiple datasets put more precise numbers on squirting fluid: a median volume of about 60 milliliters (with a wide range from 15 to 900 milliliters), high urea and creatinine consistent with urine, and a fluid-to-serum creatinine ratio above 1.0. Prostatic ejaculate, on the other hand, had a creatinine ratio below 0.05, confirming its non-urinary origin.6The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Female Ejaculation, Squirting, and Coital Incontinence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Biochemical, Imaging, and Urodynamic Diagnostic Criteria The prostatic fluid also appears to contain antimicrobial compounds, which may serve a protective role for the urethra.7Clin Anat. Female ejaculation: An update on anatomy, history, and controversies
Where the Squirting Fluid Comes From
One of the more striking findings in this field came from ultrasound imaging studies. In a study of seven women who reported squirting, researchers confirmed with pelvic ultrasound that each woman’s bladder was completely empty after she urinated before sexual stimulation began. During arousal, the bladder noticeably refilled. After squirting, the bladder was empty again. The researchers concluded that squirting is essentially an involuntary release of urine from the bladder during sexual activity, though a small contribution of prostatic secretion is often mixed in.8The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Nature and Origin of “Squirting” in Female Sexuality
This finding is consistent with the biochemical data from the same study, which showed that pre-stimulation urine, the squirting fluid, and post-squirting urine all had similar concentrations of urea, creatinine, and uric acid. But PSA, which was absent from baseline urine in most participants, showed up in the squirting fluid for five out of seven women, confirming that prostatic secretion gets mixed in during the event.9Journal of Sexual Medicine. Nature and origin of “squirting” in female sexuality The rapid bladder refilling during arousal remains somewhat unexplained. The kidneys would not normally produce that much urine in such a short time frame, which suggests the mechanism may involve filtration processes that are not yet fully understood.
What Triggers It
The triggers for both ejaculation and squirting center on stimulation of the anterior vaginal wall, the front-facing surface inside the vagina. This region has long been associated with heightened erotic sensitivity. Researchers have noted that a zone of tactile sensitivity exists on the anterior vaginal wall, and that some women emit fluid through the urethra at orgasm in connection with stimulation of this area.10PubMed. The “G spot” and “female ejaculation”: a current appraisal
The reason the anterior wall is so responsive lies in what is underneath it. The urethra, the paraurethral glands, and the internal structures of the clitoris all sit in close proximity behind the front vaginal wall. Ultrasound studies have shown that during vaginal penetration, the anterior vaginal wall moves downward, increasing contact between this region and whatever is providing stimulation. This observation led to the concept of the clitourethrovaginal complex, a cluster of structures that work together rather than as isolated parts.11PubMed Central. G-spot: Fact or Fiction?: A Systematic Review Pressure on this area compresses the paraurethral glands and stimulates the surrounding nerve-rich tissue, which can trigger both the release of prostatic fluid and, through reflex pathways, the involuntary bladder emptying associated with squirting.
Orgasm itself involves rhythmic contractions of the pelvic floor muscles. Studies measuring pelvic contractions during orgasm have found that anal and vaginal contraction waveforms are synchronized, with pressure initially low, building through the first half of the orgasmic series, and then tapering off.12PubMed. The female orgasm: pelvic contractions These contractions can physically squeeze the paraurethral glands and create pressure changes in the pelvic region that contribute to fluid expulsion. The broader neural circuitry of arousal and orgasm involves spinal-level reflexes coordinated by the autonomic nervous system, with inhibitory and excitatory signals from the brainstem and hypothalamus modulating the response.13PubMed. The neurophysiology of female sexual function
How Common Is It
Estimates of how many women experience ejaculation or squirting vary considerably depending on how the question is asked and which phenomenon is being measured. A large Swedish cross-sectional study found that more than half of women surveyed (58%) reported personal experience of ejaculation or squirting, with another 6% unsure whether it had ever happened to them. Among those who had not experienced it, about a third said they wished to, while another third answered “maybe.”14Sexual Medicine. Women’s experiences of female ejaculation and/or squirting: a Swedish cross-sectional study The same study found that women with non-heterosexual orientations were more likely to report having experienced it than heterosexual women.
An international online survey of 320 women who reported ejaculating found that the average age at first ejaculation was about 25, and that most of these women ejaculated a few times a week.15BJU International. International online survey: female ejaculation has a positive impact on women’s and their partners’ sexual lives That survey specifically recruited women who already identified as ejaculators, so it does not represent a random sample of all women. But taken together, the data suggest this is far from a rare phenomenon. It is also not something that all women experience, which makes sense given the anatomical variability in paraurethral gland size and the many psychological and physiological factors that influence orgasm and arousal.
Hormones and the Paraurethral Glands
Because the female prostate shares tissue characteristics with the male prostate, it responds to hormones in similar ways. Animal studies have demonstrated that testosterone exposure causes the female prostate to grow substantially, becoming more active in synthesis and secretion and acquiring characteristics similar to the male ventral prostate.16PubMed. Testosterone promotes an anabolic increase in the rat female prostate (Skene’s paraurethral gland) which acquires a male ventral prostate phenotype Studies in gerbils have shown that combined oral contraceptive exposure can cause glandular hyperplasia and increased expression of both androgen and estrogen receptors in the female prostate.17PubMed. Combined oral contraceptives promote androgen receptor and oestrogen receptor alpha upregulation in the female prostate (Skene’s paraurethral glands) of adult gerbils
These are animal studies, and translating their findings directly to human experience requires caution. But they point to something meaningful: the female prostate is a hormonally responsive organ. Fluctuations in hormonal levels across the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, or with hormonal contraceptive use could plausibly affect the gland’s size and secretory activity. This may partly explain why some women notice changes in their ejaculatory experience at different life stages or after starting or stopping hormonal medications.
The Antimicrobial Hypothesis
One intriguing idea about why these glands exist in women at all is that their secretions may protect against urinary tract infections. The hypothesis proposes that ejaculation delivers antimicrobial compounds, potentially including zinc, into the urethra during or after intercourse, when bacteria are most likely to be introduced. Women who could produce this protective secretion would have been less susceptible to UTIs, more willing to engage in frequent intercourse, and therefore more likely to reproduce.18PubMed. Does female ejaculation serve an antimicrobial purpose? The evidence here is still at the hypothesis stage. PSA itself has known antimicrobial properties, and the prostatic fluid does appear to contain antimicrobial compounds, but a direct demonstration that female ejaculation reduces UTI rates in humans has not been published. It remains a plausible evolutionary explanation that has not yet been rigorously tested.
Distinguishing Ejaculation from Coital Incontinence
One of the most clinically important questions in this area is telling normal sexual fluid release apart from coital incontinence, the involuntary loss of urine during sex that occurs in some women with pelvic floor disorders. The two can look almost identical from the outside, but they have different underlying causes and different implications. A systematic review emphasized that an in-depth understanding of these phenomena is essential for distinguishing normal, physiological sexual responses from signs of illness.19Journal of Sexual Medicine. Female ejaculation orgasm vs. coital incontinence: a systematic review
Coital incontinence typically occurs during penetration (from increased abdominal pressure) or at orgasm (from detrusor muscle overactivity), and it is associated with other urinary symptoms like stress incontinence or urgency. Squirting, while biochemically similar to dilute urine, occurs specifically during orgasm or high arousal in women who have no underlying bladder dysfunction, and it is not considered pathological.20Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. The complexity of female orgasm and ejaculation If you experience unwanted fluid loss during sex accompanied by other urinary symptoms, it is worth discussing with a healthcare provider. If the fluid release happens only at orgasm and is not accompanied by urgency or incontinence at other times, it is almost certainly within the normal range of sexual response.
How Pornography Distorts the Picture
The gap between the research and popular understanding is enormous, and pornography is a major reason why. Pornographic depictions of squirting frequently exaggerate both the volume and the consistency of the experience, creating the impression that it should be a dramatic, forceful event tied directly to intense orgasm.21The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Vaginal Squirting: Origin, Experiences and Discoveries: A Systematic Review In qualitative interviews, young women described how these portrayals had shaped their expectations and their partners’ expectations, often negatively. Some women did not recognize their own experiences as squirting because they did not match what they had seen in pornography. Others described pressure from partners who treated squirting as a goal or a measure of sexual satisfaction.22The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Experiences of young women in the practice of squirting: a descriptive qualitative study
The reality, as the research shows, is far more varied. Not all women ejaculate or squirt. Those who do may produce anywhere from a barely noticeable amount of fluid to much larger volumes. It may or may not coincide with orgasm. And the experience is influenced by a wide range of factors including arousal level, comfort, anatomy, communication, and emotional context.20Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. The complexity of female orgasm and ejaculation Treating it as a performance benchmark misses the point entirely.
Medications That Can Affect Orgasm and Ejaculation
Because ejaculation and squirting are tied to orgasm and high arousal, anything that affects a woman’s ability to reach orgasm can indirectly affect whether ejaculation occurs. A clinical review identified a long list of psychotropic medications reported to inhibit female orgasm, including certain antipsychotics, several classes of antidepressants (particularly older tricyclics and MAO inhibitors), and some anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines.23PubMed. Inhibited female orgasm resulting from psychotropic drugs. A five-year, updated, clinical review SSRIs, which came into widespread use after that review, are now among the most commonly implicated medications for delayed or absent orgasm in women. If you have noticed changes in your ability to ejaculate or squirt after starting a new medication, the medication’s effect on orgasm is a likely explanation.
Kunyaza and Cultural Context
The phenomenon is not limited to any one cultural context, and some traditions have actively cultivated techniques to facilitate it. In parts of Central and East Africa, a practice known as kunyaza involves a specific sexual technique in which the penis is rhythmically tapped and rubbed against the vulva and vaginal entrance before and during intercourse. This technique has a cultural reputation for triggering female orgasm accompanied by the expulsion of large quantities of fluid.24Sexologies. Another way for lovemaking in Africa: Kunyaza, a traditional sexual technique for triggering female orgasm at heterosexual encounters The practice emphasizes external and vestibular stimulation of the clitourethrovaginal area, which aligns with the anatomical understanding of how ejaculation and squirting are triggered. Its existence as a traditional technique passed down through generations suggests that these phenomena have been recognized and valued in some cultures long before Western science began studying them.
A Brief History of the Science
Western medical science has had a remarkably uneven relationship with this topic. The first scientific description of female ejaculation is credited to Reinier de Graaf in the seventeenth century. De Graaf was also the first to refer to the paraurethral glands as the female prostate, a term that stuck in scientific literature for centuries. The concept of the female prostate was carried forward by other scientists until 1952, when Ernst Gräfenberg published his influential paper on the role of the urethra in female orgasm, connecting urethral sensitivity with fluid emission during sex.25PubMed. The history of female ejaculation After Gräfenberg, the topic largely fell out of serious scientific inquiry for decades, dismissed by many clinicians as either urinary incontinence or fantasy. It was not until the biochemical and imaging studies of the 2000s and 2010s that researchers began to assemble the evidence base that now distinguishes ejaculation from squirting and both from incontinence. Even today, the field is relatively small and underfunded compared to its male counterpart, and many basic questions about the mechanisms of rapid bladder filling during arousal remain open.