Female ejaculate is a small amount of thick, milky-white fluid produced by the Skene’s glands, two tiny structures located on either side of the urethra. Its main distinguishing ingredient is prostate-specific antigen (PSA), the same protein produced by the male prostate, along with lower concentrations of urea and creatinine than you’d find in urine. The fluid also appears to have antibacterial properties that help protect the urinary tract.
If that answer surprises you, you’re not alone. Female ejaculation is one of the most misunderstood topics in sexual health, partly because two very different phenomena get lumped together under one name.
Ejaculation and Squirting Are Different Things
The single biggest source of confusion is that “female ejaculation” and “squirting” are often used interchangeably, but biochemical analyses show they involve different fluids from different sources.
True female ejaculation produces a small volume of whitish, viscous fluid from the Skene’s glands (sometimes called the female prostate). This fluid contains high levels of PSA, making it biochemically comparable to some components of male semen. It has relatively low levels of urea, creatinine, and uric acid, which means it is clearly distinct from urine.
Squirting, by contrast, involves a larger gush of clear, watery fluid. Chemical analysis shows this fluid has the profile of very dilute urine: elevated urea (around 417 mg/dL in one detailed case study), creatinine (around 21 mg/dL), and uric acid (around 10 mg/dL). It appears to originate from the bladder rather than the Skene’s glands. Many people experience both at the same time, which is part of why the two get conflated.
What the Fluid Contains
The hallmark component of true female ejaculate is PSA. In one well-documented case, PSA concentrations in the ejaculate measured roughly 4,000 ng/mL, a level consistent with prostatic secretion. PSA is an enzyme that, in men, helps keep semen fluid. Its role in female ejaculate isn’t fully understood, but researchers believe it may contribute to the fluid’s antimicrobial effects along the urethra.
Beyond PSA, the fluid contains trace amounts of urea and creatinine, but at concentrations far lower than urine. This is how researchers confirm it’s a separate secretion rather than involuntary urination. The overall composition is closer to a thin prostatic fluid than to any other body fluid.
Where It Comes From
The Skene’s glands sit just inside the opening of the urethra, embedded in the tissue of the front vaginal wall. They are the developmental equivalent of the male prostate, formed from the same embryonic tissue. Like the prostate, they produce PSA and secrete fluid into the urethra.
These glands vary significantly in size from person to person. Ultrasound studies have measured the surrounding tissue (often called the G-spot region) at an average volume of about 0.59 mL in women who report G-spot orgasms, compared to 0.26 mL in those who don’t. This size variation likely explains why some people produce noticeable ejaculate and others don’t.
How the Fluid Is Released
During orgasm, rhythmic contractions ripple through the pelvic floor muscles. These contractions occur simultaneously in the vaginal and anal muscles and typically start near the perceived beginning of orgasm. The intervals between contractions lengthen by about 0.1 seconds with each pulse, and the force of each contraction peaks roughly halfway through the series before tapering off. This muscular activity is what pushes fluid out of the Skene’s glands and through the urethra.
Because the fluid exits through the urethra, it’s easy to mistake it for urine. But the mechanism is fundamentally different: the glands fill during arousal and empty during orgasm, driven by the same pelvic contractions responsible for the orgasm itself.
How Common It Is
A 2024 Swedish survey of 1,250 women found that 58% reported experiencing ejaculation or squirting at some point. Among those who had experienced it, only 7% said it happened every time during sexual activity. About half said it had occurred on just a few occasions. Non-heterosexual women reported it significantly more often, possibly reflecting differences in sexual practices or comfort with exploration.
These numbers suggest the experience is far from rare, though it’s inconsistent for most people. The wide variation in Skene’s gland size, arousal patterns, and pelvic floor strength all contribute to how and whether someone produces noticeable fluid.
Why It’s Not Urine
The “is it just pee?” question is the most common one surrounding this topic, and the biochemistry gives a clear answer: true female ejaculate is not urine. It has a different chemical profile, a different consistency (thicker and milky versus clear and watery), and it originates from glandular tissue rather than the bladder.
Squirting fluid, on the other hand, does share characteristics with dilute urine and likely involves some bladder contents. This is not a sign of incontinence. The bladder appears to fill rapidly during intense arousal, and the fluid expelled during squirting is significantly more dilute than normal urine. Researchers believe the kidneys accelerate urine production during arousal, producing a fluid that passes through the bladder but differs from what you’d see in a standard urine sample.
For people who experience both simultaneously, the result is a mix: a larger volume of dilute, clear fluid combined with a smaller amount of thick, PSA-rich secretion. This blend is what most people encounter in practice, which is exactly why the composition has been so hotly debated for decades.