Female ejaculate is typically a small amount of thick, milky white fluid, sometimes described as resembling very diluted milk. But that’s only one type of fluid the body produces during sexual arousal and orgasm. Most people searching this question are actually encountering a mix of different fluids, each with its own look, texture, and source. Understanding which is which can clear up a lot of confusion.
The Three Types of Sexual Fluid
Women’s bodies produce at least three distinct fluids during sex, and they all look different. The first is vaginal lubrication, the “wetness” that appears early during arousal. This is a clear, slippery fluid that seeps through the vaginal walls as blood flow to the area increases. It acts as a natural lubricant and can range from watery to slightly slick, similar in consistency to saliva or a thin gel. The amount varies widely from person to person and even from one encounter to the next.
The second fluid is true female ejaculate. This is a thicker, whitish fluid produced by the Skene’s glands, two small glands located on either side of the urethral opening. These glands develop from the same embryonic tissue as the male prostate, which is why they’re sometimes called the “female prostate.” The fluid they release contains proteins similar to those found in male semen, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA), fructose, and glucose. It’s biochemically distinct from urine. The volume is small, often just a fraction of a milliliter, and you might not even notice it during the intensity of orgasm.
The third fluid is what’s commonly called squirting. This is a much larger volume of clear, watery liquid expelled from the urethra. It can range from a small splash to a significant gush. Studies have measured volumes anywhere from about 0.3 milliliters to over 150 milliliters. This fluid is chemically different from true ejaculate. It has the characteristics of very dilute urine, containing urea and creatinine, though at lower concentrations than normal urine. It also often contains PSA from the Skene’s glands, meaning squirting and ejaculation frequently happen at the same time.
How Ejaculate Differs From Squirting
The distinction matters because these two fluids look nothing alike. True female ejaculate is scanty, thick, and whitish. Squirting fluid is abundant, thin, and clear, more like water. A 2013 survey of women who ejaculate found that most described the fluid as “usually clear as water,” which suggests many women experience squirting more noticeably than they experience the smaller, thicker ejaculate.
Research led by Samuel Salama, a gynecologist in France, confirmed these are two separate phenomena by analyzing the fluids biochemically. The thick whitish fluid from the Skene’s glands is comparable to components of male semen. The clear gushing fluid originates from the bladder and is essentially very diluted urine mixed with prostatic secretions. Both can happen during the same orgasm, which is why many people experience them as a single event rather than two distinct ones.
How Common Is It?
Surveys put the numbers all over the map. One population-based study found that 54% of 233 women reported a spurt of fluid at orgasm. A larger mail survey of over 1,100 women found about 40% identified as ejaculators. Other research has placed the figure as low as 5%. The wide range likely reflects differences in how the question is asked, what women consider “ejaculation,” and how much of the fluid is even noticeable in the moment. Many women may ejaculate small amounts without realizing it.
The Skene’s glands also vary in size from person to person. Some women have larger, more developed glands that produce more fluid, while others have very small ones. This natural variation helps explain why some women experience dramatic fluid release while others never notice any.
What Arousal Fluid Looks Like by Phase
During the early stages of arousal, vaginal lubrication appears as a clear, thin coating inside the vagina. As arousal builds, the fluid can become more abundant and slightly thicker. It often has a mild, musky scent that’s distinct from urine. This lubrication comes from the vaginal walls themselves, not the Skene’s glands or the urethra, so it’s a completely separate process from ejaculation.
Around orgasm is when ejaculate and squirting fluid may appear. If you notice a small amount of whitish, creamy fluid on your fingers or a partner, that’s likely true ejaculate from the Skene’s glands. If you notice a larger release of clear, watery fluid, possibly enough to soak the sheets, that’s squirting. After orgasm, cervical mucus from deeper in the reproductive tract can also mix in, adding a slightly thicker, stretchier texture to whatever fluid is present.
Color, Smell, and What’s Normal
Normal sexual fluids range from completely clear to milky white. Arousal fluid is typically clear and odorless or mildly scented. True ejaculate tends to be white or off-white with a thicker consistency. Squirting fluid is clear and watery, and while it can have a faint urine-like smell because of its origin, it’s far more dilute than actual urine.
Yellow, green, or gray fluid with a strong or foul odor is not a normal variation of any of these fluids. The same goes for a chunky or cottage cheese-like texture, which could signal an infection. Normal sexual fluids should not cause itching, burning, or irritation. If the color, smell, or texture changes significantly from what you’re used to, outside of the context of sexual arousal, that’s worth paying attention to.