Female ejaculation happens when small glands near the urethra release fluid during sexual arousal or orgasm. About 58% of women in a large Swedish survey reported experiencing it at least once, making it far more common than many people assume. The process involves specific anatomy, distinct types of fluid, and stimulation patterns that vary from person to person.
The Glands Behind It
The key structures are the Skene’s glands, two small glands located on either side of the urethra. Sometimes called paraurethral glands or, informally, the “female prostate,” they share a surprising amount in common with the male prostate gland. The fluid they produce contains proteins similar to those found in male semen.
During sexual arousal, increased blood flow to the area causes the tissue surrounding these glands to swell. As stimulation continues, the glands secrete a milk-like fluid that can be released through the urethra during orgasm. Not everyone’s Skene’s glands are the same size or equally active. Some women have larger, more developed glands, which may explain why some people ejaculate easily while others never do.
Two Different Types of Fluid
Research has identified two distinct phenomena that often get lumped together: female ejaculation and squirting. They involve different volumes, different compositions, and likely different sources.
Female ejaculation produces a small amount of thick, whitish fluid, typically around 3 to 5 milliliters (roughly a teaspoon). This fluid comes from the Skene’s glands and is chemically similar to components of male seminal fluid. It is not urine.
Squirting involves a much larger volume of clear, watery fluid. A 2015 ultrasound study tracked what happens inside the body during squirting: researchers confirmed that each participant’s bladder was empty before arousal began, filled noticeably during sexual stimulation, and emptied again at the moment of squirting. Biochemical analysis found that the squirted fluid contained urea, creatinine, and uric acid at concentrations comparable to urine. However, in most participants, the fluid also contained a small contribution of secretions from the Skene’s glands, meaning it’s not purely urine either.
Both responses are considered normal and physiological. Neither is a sign of a medical problem. This is an important distinction from coital incontinence, which is an involuntary urine leak caused by a urethral or bladder disorder and typically happens without orgasm.
What Triggers the Response
The most commonly reported trigger is stimulation of the anterior (front) vaginal wall, the area often referred to as the G-spot. This tissue sits directly over the Skene’s glands and the surrounding nerve-rich area, which is why pressure there can activate fluid release.
Firm, consistent pressure tends to be more effective than vibration for this type of stimulation. Many people find that rubbing the area in small, pressured circles works well. Some women also report a sensation similar to needing to urinate during this kind of stimulation, which makes sense given the anatomical proximity of the Skene’s glands to the urethra and bladder. That sensation often precedes ejaculation and is not a sign that something is wrong.
Ejaculation doesn’t always require internal stimulation, though. Some women experience it from clitoral stimulation alone, or from a combination of stimulation types. It can happen with or without orgasm, though it most commonly coincides with one.
What Happens Hormonally
Sexual arousal and orgasm trigger a cascade of hormonal changes that play a role in the ejaculatory response. Oxytocin rises steadily during arousal and peaks at orgasm. Immediately after orgasm, prolactin surges and stays elevated for about an hour before gradually declining. These hormonal shifts contribute to the muscular contractions of orgasm, which are part of what physically expels fluid from the Skene’s glands and urethra.
Why Some Women Experience It and Others Don’t
The size and development of the Skene’s glands vary significantly between individuals. Some women have glands large enough to be detected on imaging, while in others they’re barely present. This anatomical variation is the most likely explanation for why ejaculation comes easily to some people and never happens for others, regardless of technique or arousal level.
The Swedish survey of 1,568 women found that 58% had experienced ejaculation or squirting, 36% had not, and 6% were unsure. Women with non-heterosexual orientations reported higher rates (63%) compared to heterosexual women (52%), a difference researchers noted was statistically significant. The reasons aren’t entirely clear, but differences in sexual practices, comfort with exploration, or openness to recognizing the experience may all contribute.
There’s no medical reason to pursue or avoid ejaculation. It’s a normal variation in sexual response. For people who experience it unexpectedly and worry it might be urine, the distinction is worth understanding: a small amount of thick, whitish fluid is almost certainly prostatic secretion from the Skene’s glands, while a larger gush of clear fluid likely has a bladder component but is still a recognized, non-pathological part of sexual response.