Female sexual fluid is primarily produced by two small glands located on either side of the urethra, and its composition is surprisingly similar to some components found in male semen. The exact makeup depends on which type of fluid you’re talking about, because there are actually two distinct types that often get lumped together: ejaculate and squirting fluid. They come from different sources, look different, and contain different chemicals.
The Two Types of Fluid
What most people call “girl cum” can refer to one of two things, and the distinction matters. Female ejaculate is a small amount of thick, milky-white fluid, typically about 1 milliliter. Squirting, on the other hand, involves a much larger volume of clear, watery fluid that can range from tens to hundreds of milliliters. These are separate processes, though they can happen at the same time.
Female ejaculate comes from the Skene’s glands (also called paraurethral glands), two tiny structures that sit on either side of the urethra. Squirting fluid exits through the urethra as well but originates largely from the bladder. Both can occur during arousal or orgasm, and many people experience one, the other, both, or neither.
What Female Ejaculate Contains
The milky fluid from the Skene’s glands contains a high concentration of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), the same protein produced by the male prostate gland. It also contains fructose, glucose, and prostatic acid phosphatase. This composition closely mirrors seminal fluid, minus the sperm. One study of female ejaculate measured PSA levels around 0.75 ng/mL, fructose concentrations around 12 mmol/L, and citric acid at roughly 729 mg/L.
The reason for this overlap is anatomical. The Skene’s glands are now recognized as the female equivalent of the male prostate. Histological studies confirm they contain the same basic components: glandular tissue, ducts, and smooth muscle. Both structures develop from the same embryonic tissue, which is why the fluid they produce shares so many of the same proteins and sugars. Some researchers now refer to the Skene’s glands simply as the “female prostate.”
What Squirting Fluid Contains
Squirting fluid is chemically distinct from ejaculate. It’s a clear, watery liquid that contains urea, creatinine, and uric acid, all compounds found in urine. However, these compounds appear at lower concentrations than in regular urine. Squirting fluid also contains small amounts of PSA, glucose, and fructose, which suggests that some ejaculate from the Skene’s glands mixes in during the process.
So squirting fluid is dilute and urine-like, but it isn’t simply urine. It’s best understood as a diluted bladder fluid mixed with traces of prostatic secretions. The bladder fills rapidly during arousal in people who squirt, and the fluid expelled during orgasm is compositionally different from urine collected at other times.
Where Vaginal Lubrication Fits In
Neither ejaculate nor squirting fluid should be confused with vaginal lubrication, which is a third type of fluid altogether. Lubrication is produced by the vaginal walls themselves through a process called transudation, where blood flow to the vaginal tissue during arousal causes plasma to seep through the mucous membrane. Bartholin’s glands, located near the vaginal opening, also contribute a small amount of mucus. This lubrication is slippery and clear, and its purpose is reducing friction during sex rather than serving any ejaculatory function.
How Common Is Female Ejaculation
Not everyone produces noticeable ejaculate, and the Skene’s glands vary significantly in size from person to person. In some people, they’re barely detectable. Survey data suggests that roughly 40% of women report experiencing ejaculation during sexual activity. Among those who do ejaculate, the frequency varies widely. In one international survey of over 300 women who ejaculate, about 31% reported it happening a few times a week, 28% a few times a month, 19% daily, and 21% monthly or less. The median was ejaculation during about 57% of sexual encounters.
The tissues surrounding the Skene’s glands swell during sexual stimulation, similar to erectile tissue. This engorgement is what triggers fluid production and release. Whether someone ejaculates, squirts, or produces no noticeable fluid beyond lubrication depends on individual anatomy, the type of stimulation, and the level of arousal. None of these outcomes is more “normal” than any other.