For many women, sexual arousal and orgasm trigger the production of an ejaculate-like fluid. This is referred to as “squirting” or female ejaculation.
The fluid is produced by glands in the front of the vagina called the Skene’s glands. It can range from a small trickle to a geyser of liquid.
Vaginal Fluid
A female ejaculation, also called squirting, is the expulsion of milky fluid from the vagina. It can happen during sexual stimulation and is sometimes accompanied by pleasure or orgasm. Some women squirt a few drops, while others can shoot out a cupful of the stuff. The color and consistency of the fluid can vary from person to person and can change during different times of the menstrual cycle.
In some cases, the fluid that is squirted during a female ejaculation resembles male semen. It is usually thick and milky in texture, and it has been shown to contain an enzyme called prostatic acid phosphatase, which is found in male semen and helps sperm swim (1). The liquid can come from several sources, including the bladder and the cervix. However, the ejaculate most often comes from the Skene glands, also known as the Garter’s duct or the female prostate (2).
The squirting fluid that is released from these glands during a female ejaculation can also be similar in composition to urine. In fact, it contains creatine and urea, which are found in urine (3). But the scientists who have studied this phenomenon have found that the squirting fluid does not come from the bladder, as is commonly thought. This is because they have performed pelvic ultrasound and chemical analysis of the fluid.
Semen
Women don’t ejaculate urine (though some researchers still believe that squirting is just pee). Instead, the liquid that women expel during sexual arousal and orgasm comes from their urethra or Skene’s glands. It typically looks and tastes like watered-down fat-free milk, and it is usually about a teaspoon (3 to 5 cc) in volume.
It’s composed primarily of seminal fluid, which helps transport sperm cells. It’s also loaded with lipids to help with penetration, and it can have a texture ranging from creamy to viscous. The color of semen is off-white or yellowish, and the flavor can vary from sweet to salty to bitter. The amount of semen varies, too. Some women release only a few drops of the fluid, while others can shoot up to a cupful.
While some experts think that female squirting may play a role in fertilization, other scientists aren’t so sure. They note that the fluid is usually contaminated with a lot of urine, which could kill the sperm, and they point out that it’s not easy for the liquid to get from the urethra to the vagina where fertilization would occur. In fact, a 2022 study involved doctors injecting colored dye into the bladders of women before they provided them with sexual stimulation. Then, they scanned their bladders to see whether the dye appeared in the fluid they squirted out of their bodies.
Urinary Tract
Many women squirt milky white fluid (called female ejaculation or Amrita) out of their urethra during or before an orgasm. It can range in volume from a gush to a trickle — and it’s all perfectly normal! This fluid is a byproduct of the Skene’s glands, which are part of the lower end of the urethra and the female equivalent to the male prostate. The liquid that comes out of these glands is similar in chemical composition to urine and contains a dilute amount of creatinine and urea.
Although some people use the terms “female ejaculation” and “squirting” interchangeably, this is not accurate. The fluid that’s squirted out of the urethra during orgasm is not urine but rather a substance produced by the Skene’s gland, and it contains much less creatine and urea than actual urine.
Another difference is that squirt fluid has a different consistency than urine and also doesn’t have the pungent smell and taste that give urine its characteristic taste and scent. In fact, some scientific studies have described squirt fluid as being a diluted form of urine that’s lacking the element of ammonia that gives urine its distinctive odor and taste.
While the research on this is sparse, it’s been shown that some women who experience squirting orgasms may be at risk of urinary tract infections. These infections are often caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and cause a UTI. To prevent this, it’s a good idea for women to make sure they pee before or during sexual activity, and to try exercises that strengthen pelvic floor muscles.
Bladder
During orgasm, some women express liquid from their urethra. This fluid may look like milk and is sometimes called female ejaculation (FE). However, some women only expel a small amount of liquid and others say they “squirt” out large amounts of milky white fluid during orgasm.
Researchers don’t know much about how or why a woman’s urethra expels fluid during orgasm. They do know that this fluid is not urine and does not come from the vulva. Rather, it comes from the bladder or Skene’s gland and exits through the urethra during sexual arousal.
The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that is balloon-shaped. It sits inside your pelvis between your hip bones. The bladder holds the liquids your body needs, such as water and food. The bladder also contains the lining that protects your body from harmful bacteria.
Although some scientists believe that the ejaculate released during orgasm is important for fertility, this remains controversial. The ejaculate may contain PSA and fructose, which could help sperm reach an unfertilized egg. But it also contains other substances that can kill sperm or cause them to die before they can enter the uterus. Until more research is done, it’s not clear if this effect is real or just an illusion. Women’s hormone levels and other factors can affect whether they ejaculate during orgasm, or how much fluid they release.
