Squirting fluid is typically clear and watery, similar in appearance to diluted urine. It’s distinct from female ejaculate, which is a smaller amount of milky white fluid. The two are often confused, but they come from different sources in the body and look noticeably different.
Squirting vs. Female Ejaculate
Scientists now recognize two separate types of fluid that can be released during sexual arousal or orgasm, and they look quite different from each other.
Squirting produces a larger volume of clear, watery fluid. It can range from completely colorless to a pale yellow, depending on hydration levels. The volume can be significant, sometimes enough to soak through sheets. Chemical analysis shows this fluid contains urea, creatinine, and uric acid, the same compounds found in urine. It’s produced by the kidneys and collects in the bladder before being released. That said, it isn’t simply urine. The fluid can also contain small amounts of proteins typically associated with the reproductive system, suggesting it’s a mix.
Female ejaculate, on the other hand, is a small amount of milky white fluid released at orgasm. It comes from the Skene’s glands, two tiny structures located near the urethra sometimes called the “female prostate.” This fluid contains proteins similar to those found in male semen. Beverly Whipple, a neurophysiologist at Rutgers University, has argued that the term “female ejaculation” should only refer to this milky white secretion, not the larger gush of squirting fluid.
Both can happen at the same time, which is why the fluid you see may appear slightly cloudy or whitish rather than perfectly clear. That’s normal.
What Affects the Color
Because squirting fluid is largely produced in the kidneys, the same factors that change urine color also affect squirting fluid. Hydration is the biggest one. If you’re well-hydrated, the fluid will be nearly colorless. If you’re dehydrated, it may appear more yellow. Foods, supplements, and certain medications can also shift the tint slightly, just as they would with urine.
The ratio of squirting fluid to ejaculate matters too. A higher proportion of the milky white ejaculate from the Skene’s glands will make the overall fluid look less transparent and more opaque. This varies from person to person and even from one experience to the next.
Colors That May Signal a Problem
Clear to pale yellow is the expected range. If the fluid consistently appears green, bright yellow, gray, or has a cottage cheese-like texture, that could point to something unrelated to squirting itself, such as a vaginal or urinary infection releasing discharge at the same time.
- Green, yellow, or gray and frothy: Can indicate trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection.
- Cloudy yellow or green: Sometimes associated with gonorrhea or chlamydia.
- Thick, white, and chunky: A hallmark of yeast infections.
- White or gray with a fishy smell: Common with bacterial vaginosis.
These discolorations come from vaginal discharge mixing with squirting fluid, not from the squirting fluid itself. A persistent unusual color, especially paired with odor, itching, or pelvic pain, points to an infection worth getting checked out.
Why It Varies Between People
Not everyone experiences squirting the same way. Some people produce mostly the clear, watery fluid. Others produce primarily the milky ejaculate. Many produce a combination. The Skene’s glands themselves vary in size from person to person, which likely influences how much of the white ejaculate component is present. Pelvic floor strength also plays a role in how fluid is released, since those muscles support both the bladder and the structures around the urethra.
There’s no single “correct” appearance. A range from clear and watery to slightly milky or off-white falls within normal. What matters more than the exact color is whether there’s been a sudden change, an unusual smell, or accompanying discomfort, which would suggest something else is going on beyond the squirting itself.