Female ejaculate is a small amount of thick, whitish fluid produced by the Skene’s glands, sometimes called the female prostate. It contains many of the same proteins found in male semen, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase, along with sugars like glucose and fructose. It has low levels of urea and creatinine, which means it is chemically distinct from urine.
That said, the topic gets confusing because there are actually two different fluids involved in female sexual response, and they’re often lumped together. Understanding which is which clears up most of the confusion.
Ejaculation and Squirting Are Two Different Things
Researchers now distinguish between female ejaculation and squirting as separate events, though they can happen at the same time.
Female ejaculation is the release of a small volume of thick, milky fluid during orgasm. It’s typically about a teaspoon (3 to 5 milliliters), looks like watered-down skim milk, and tends to taste sweet due to its sugar content. This fluid comes from the Skene’s glands and is rich in PSA and prostatic acid phosphatase, the same markers found in male prostate fluid. It contains very little urea or creatinine, making it chemically different from urine.
Squirting is the release of a much larger volume of clear, watery fluid. Ultrasound studies have shown that squirting fluid comes primarily from the bladder. In one well-known study, researchers performed pelvic ultrasounds on women at three points: after urinating, during arousal just before squirting, and immediately after. The bladder was empty at the start, noticeably full just before squirting, and empty again afterward. Biochemical testing confirmed that squirting fluid contains urea, creatinine, and uric acid at levels consistent with diluted urine. However, in most participants, the squirting fluid also contained a small amount of prostatic secretion mixed in.
So when people ask “what is it made of,” the answer depends on which fluid they’re talking about. The thick ejaculate is prostate-like fluid. The larger gush associated with squirting is mostly diluted urine with a contribution from the Skene’s glands.
Where the Fluid Comes From
The Skene’s glands are two small glands, each roughly the size of a blueberry, located on either side of the urethral opening. They sit within the tissue of the anterior vaginal wall, close to what’s popularly called the G-spot. During sexual arousal, the tissue surrounding these glands swells with blood, and the glands begin secreting fluid.
These glands are considered the female equivalent of the male prostate because they produce many of the same biochemical markers. Biochemical assays comparing female ejaculate to male ejaculate have found PSA levels in a similar range. The fluid also serves everyday functions beyond sexual response: it helps lubricate the urethral opening during urination and has antimicrobial properties that may help prevent urinary tract infections.
The size of the Skene’s glands varies quite a bit from person to person. This natural variation likely explains why some women produce noticeable ejaculate during orgasm and others don’t.
What’s Actually in Each Fluid
Here’s how the two fluids compare chemically:
- Female ejaculate (thick, milky): High in PSA, prostatic acid phosphatase, glucose, and fructose. Low in urea and creatinine. Chemically resembles diluted prostate plasma rather than urine.
- Squirting fluid (clear, watery): Contains urea (around 417 mg/dL in one case study), creatinine (around 21 mg/dL), and uric acid (around 10 mg/dL). These are hallmarks of diluted urine, though PSA is often present in small amounts, indicating some contribution from the Skene’s glands.
In studies that compared the biochemical profile of female ejaculate directly against voided urine from the same woman, the ejaculate showed a completely different chemical signature. It matched prostate plasma on every parameter tested, while the urine did not.
How Common It Is
Female ejaculation and squirting are more common than many people assume. In a Swedish cross-sectional study of 1,250 women, 58% reported having experienced ejaculation or squirting at some point. A US-based study found a prevalence of about 41%, which lines up with earlier surveys from North America and Egypt.
The experience tends to be reported more frequently among non-heterosexual women, possibly reflecting differences in sexual practices or comfort with self-reporting. Either way, it’s a normal part of sexual physiology, not a medical concern.
What Triggers It
Female ejaculation follows orgasm and is linked to stimulation of the anterior vaginal wall, the front-facing wall closest to the belly. This area sits right over the Skene’s glands and the internal structures of the clitoris, forming what researchers call the clitourethrovaginal complex. Stimulation of this area, rather than a single discrete “G-spot,” is what triggers the glands to release fluid.
Studies on orgasm intensity suggest that stronger orgasms are more likely when clitoral stimulation, anterior vaginal wall stimulation, and oral stimulation are combined. This makes sense anatomically: the clitoris is the primary organ for sexual pleasure, and the internal clitoral tissue extends around the urethra and vaginal wall, overlapping with the Skene’s glands. Stimulating the whole complex at once puts more pressure on the glands and increases the likelihood of noticeable ejaculation.