​Female Ejaculation, Myth or Reality? Science Gives Us the Answer

Female ejaculation is absolutely real—not a myth, not a sign of urinary incontinence, and not something that only happens in adult films—but rather a legitimate physiological phenomenon supported by decades of scientific research showing that some women expel fluid from their urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm, though the topic remains surrounded by confusion because researchers have identified two distinct types of fluid emission with different origins and compositions. The first type, true female ejaculation, involves the release of small amounts (typically a few milliliters) of thick, milky fluid from the Skene’s glands (also called the female prostate or paraurethral glands) that contains prostate-specific antigen (PSA), prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), and other biochemical markers similar to those found in male seminal fluid, making it chemically distinct from urine despite exiting through the urethra.

The second type, commonly called “squirting,” involves the release of larger volumes of clear, thin fluid (sometimes substantial amounts) that scientific analysis reveals is primarily composed of diluted urine with occasionally small amounts of PSA mixed in, originating from the bladder rather than the Skene’s glands, though this doesn’t make the experience any less real or valid for women who experience it. Research published in respected medical journals including The Journal of Sexual Medicine, studies using ultrasound imaging and biochemical analysis, and comprehensive reviews of the scientific literature all confirm that female ejaculation exists as a normal variation in sexual response, occurring in anywhere from 10% to over 50% of women depending on the study, though many women who experience it feel ashamed or confused because of widespread misinformation suggesting they’ve lost bladder control or that the phenomenon doesn’t exist.

Understanding the science behind female ejaculation is important not just for satisfying curiosity but for reducing shame, validating women’s experiences, and improving sexual health education—when women expel fluid during sexual activity and worry they’ve urinated or that something is wrong with their body, accurate information empowers them to understand their own physiology, communicate with partners without embarrassment, and embrace their sexual response as normal and healthy rather than defective or unusual.

The existence of female ejaculation has been documented throughout history—from ancient texts to Renaissance medical writings—yet modern medicine initially dismissed or pathologized it, leading to decades where women’s experiences were invalidated; now, contemporary research is finally catching up to what many women have known about their own bodies all along, providing the scientific validation that yes, female ejaculation is real, it comes in different forms, it serves potential biological functions including possibly protecting the urinary tract from infection, and experiencing it (or not experiencing it) are both completely normal variations in human sexuality.

Let’s address the elephant in the room immediately: For decades, women who expelled fluid during sex were told they were incontinent, that it was just urine, that they were mistaken about their own bodies. Medical professionals dismissed their experiences. Partners reacted with confusion or disgust. Women learned to suppress their sexual response to avoid the embarrassment.

This dismissal wasn’t based on science—it was based on lack of research, cultural discomfort with female sexuality, and assumptions that if something happened to women that seemed analogous to male ejaculation, it couldn’t be real because female and male sexual anatomy were understood so differently.

But science has now definitively answered the question: Female ejaculation is real. It’s not myth. It’s not always urine. It’s a legitimate physiological response that happens to many women, though not all, and understanding the science helps separate fact from fiction.

The Two Types of Fluid Emission

One major source of confusion about female ejaculation is that researchers have identified two distinct phenomena that often get lumped together under the same umbrella term. Understanding the difference is crucial for making sense of sometimes contradictory research findings and personal experiences.

True female ejaculation involves the release of a small amount of thick, whitish or milky fluid from the Skene’s glands. These glands, located on either side of the urethra near its opening, are sometimes called the female prostate because they’re developmentally analogous to the male prostate and produce similar biochemical substances.

The fluid produced during true female ejaculation typically amounts to only a few milliliters (roughly a teaspoon or less). It’s expelled from the urethra, often during or just before orgasm, though it can occur during intense arousal without orgasm. Biochemical analysis shows this fluid contains prostate-specific antigen (PSA), prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), and glucose, with lower concentrations of urea and creatinine than urine. Its composition is strikingly similar to male prostatic fluid.

Squirting, by contrast, involves the release of significantly larger volumes of clear, thin fluid—anywhere from a few tablespoons to amounts that can soak towels or bedding. This fluid is released more forcefully, sometimes ejected a distance from the body, and typically accompanies orgasm though not always.

The landmark 2015 French study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine used ultrasound imaging to track what happens inside the body during squirting. Researchers found that even though participants had completely emptied their bladders immediately before sexual stimulation began, ultrasound showed their bladders filling during arousal and then emptying at the moment of squirting. Chemical analysis of the expelled fluid showed it was primarily composed of urine, though five of seven participants also had small amounts of PSA present.

This finding initially upset many women who squirt, who understandably didn’t want their experience dismissed as “just peeing.” But here’s the important nuance: the fluid’s composition doesn’t invalidate the experience. It’s not the same as simple urinary incontinence. It’s a specific sexual response where the bladder fills rapidly during arousal (through mechanisms not fully understood) and releases at or near orgasm as an involuntary reflex, often mixed with secretions from the Skene’s glands.

Many women experience both phenomena—a small amount of thick ejaculate followed by or mixed with larger volumes of clear fluid. Others experience only one or the other. And many women experience neither, which is equally normal. There’s tremendous individual variation in sexual response, and female ejaculation/squirting represents one point on that spectrum.

The Anatomy Behind It: Skene’s Glands

To understand female ejaculation, you need to understand the Skene’s glands, also called paraurethral glands or sometimes the female prostate. These structures are key to producing the fluid involved in true female ejaculation.

The Skene’s glands are small glands located on the anterior (front) wall of the vagina, around and opening into the lower end of the urethra. They’re embedded in tissue surrounding the urethra and vary considerably in size and structure between women—some women have prominent glands while others have minimal glandular tissue, which may partly explain why some women ejaculate and others don’t.

These glands are developmentally analogous to the male prostate. During fetal development, the same embryonic tissue differentiates into the prostate in males and the Skene’s glands in females under the influence of sex hormones. This shared developmental origin explains why the fluids these structures produce have similar biochemical compositions—both contain PSA, both contain prostatic acid phosphatase, both serve potential protective and facilitative functions in reproduction.

The Skene’s glands produce secretions that are released through small ducts that open into the urethra or near its opening. During sexual arousal, particularly when the G-spot (an area on the anterior vaginal wall) is stimulated, these glands may become engorged and produce fluid. At orgasm or during intense arousal, muscular contractions may expel this fluid through the urethra.

Anatomical studies have shown considerable variation in Skene’s gland anatomy between women. Some have large, easily identifiable glands; others have minimal glandular tissue. The ducts also vary—some open directly into the urethra, others near it. This anatomical variation likely contributes to differences in whether and how women experience ejaculation.

The G-spot’s connection to ejaculation is significant. The G-spot isn’t actually a distinct anatomical structure but rather an area where you can stimulate the Skene’s glands and surrounding erectile tissue through the anterior vaginal wall. Pressure on this area, which some women find intensely pleasurable and others find uncomfortable or cause a sensation of needing to urinate, may stimulate the glands to produce and release fluid.

What Does the Research Actually Show?

Scientific investigation of female ejaculation has accelerated significantly in recent decades, though it remains understudied compared to male sexual function. Let’s look at what key studies have found.

The 1981 case study by Addiego and colleagues published in The Journal of Sex Research was groundbreaking. The researchers studied one woman who regularly expelled fluid during orgasm and had been embarrassed by it for years. They collected samples of both her urine and her orgasmic fluid and performed chemical analysis. The results showed clear differences between the two fluids—the orgasmic fluid had much higher concentrations of prostatic acid phosphatase and lower concentrations of urea and creatinine than her urine.

This study was significant because it provided the first solid biochemical evidence that the fluid expelled during female orgasm wasn’t simply urine but had a distinct composition more similar to male prostatic fluid. It validated what this woman (and presumably many others) had experienced but had been told wasn’t real.

A 2007 study by Zaviacic and colleagues examined the Skene’s glands histologically (under microscope) in tissue samples and confirmed these glands have the same structural features as the prostate and produce PSA. They found PSA in fluid collected from the Skene’s glands and in fluid expelled during female ejaculation, establishing the anatomical source and biochemical composition of true female ejaculate.

The controversial 2015 French study by Salama and colleagues used pelvic ultrasound to examine seven women who reported squirting during sex. The methodology was rigorous: participants provided urine samples and had ultrasounds confirming empty bladders, then engaged in sexual stimulation until near orgasm (a second ultrasound showed filled bladders), then climaxed while researchers collected the expelled fluid (a third ultrasound showed empty bladders again).

Chemical analysis showed that two women’s squirted fluid was identical to their urine, while five women’s fluid contained urine plus small amounts of PSA. This led researchers to conclude that squirting primarily involves involuntary release of urine that has collected in the bladder during sexual arousal, sometimes mixed with ejaculate from Skene’s glands.

A 2021 comprehensive review article in the journal Clinical Anatomy examined 44 publications on female ejaculation from 1889 to 2019. The authors concluded that “clinical and anatomical studies conducted during recent decades provide substantial evidence in support of the female ejaculatory phenomenon.” They confirmed that the ejaculate originates in the Skene’s glands, differs from urine in its composition, and may serve protective functions for the urinary tract.

More recent studies have explored potential functions of female ejaculation. A 2024 study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology proposed that female ejaculation might enhance reproductive success by neutralizing vaginal acidity, creating a more sperm-friendly environment. The fluid’s alkaline nature and presence of PSA might serve protective and facilitative reproductive functions, though this remains theoretical.

How Common Is Female Ejaculation?

Estimating how many women experience female ejaculation is challenging because of varying definitions, social stigma that prevents honest reporting, and women’s own uncertainty about what they’ve experienced. Studies report widely ranging prevalence rates depending on how the question is asked.

A 1990 study published in The Journal of Sex Research surveyed 1,289 women and found that 40% reported experiencing ejaculation of fluid at orgasm. However, this included women who may have been describing different phenomena (true ejaculation vs. squirting vs. vaginal lubrication).

A 2013 study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that 10-54% of women report expelling fluid during sexual stimulation or orgasm, with the huge range reflecting differences in study methodology and populations surveyed.

What’s clear is that female ejaculation is far from rare. Many women have experienced it at least occasionally, though not all women ejaculate regularly or with every sexual encounter. Some women never experience it at all, which is equally normal—just as some men produce more seminal fluid than others, some women’s Skene’s glands produce more secretions than others.

It’s also important to note that many women who ejaculate have suppressed the response because they were embarrassed, thought they were urinating, or had partners who reacted negatively. With greater education and acceptance, some women who previously inhibited ejaculation report being able to relax and allow the response to occur.

Common Myths and Misconceptions

Despite scientific evidence, numerous myths about female ejaculation persist. Let’s address the most common ones.

Myth: Female ejaculation is just urinary incontinence. While squirting does involve release of diluted urine, it’s not the same as stress incontinence or loss of bladder control. It’s a specific sexual response involving rapid bladder filling during arousal and reflexive release at orgasm. True female ejaculation produces fluid from the Skene’s glands that’s chemically distinct from urine.

Myth: All women can ejaculate if they just try hard enough. Anatomical variation in Skene’s gland size and structure means some women may not have the glandular tissue necessary for substantial ejaculation. Pressuring women to ejaculate or treating it as a superior form of orgasm is unhelpful and can create anxiety that interferes with sexual pleasure.

Myth: Female ejaculation only happens with G-spot stimulation. While G-spot stimulation often triggers ejaculation in women who experience it, some women ejaculate through clitoral stimulation or other forms of arousal. There’s no single pathway that works for everyone.

Myth: If a woman ejaculates, it means she had a better/stronger orgasm. Ejaculation and orgasm are separate physiological responses that often coincide but don’t always. Some women ejaculate without orgasm; others orgasm without ejaculation. Neither is superior—they’re just different expressions of sexual response.

Myth: Female ejaculation is a new phenomenon discovered by modern pornography. Historical records document female ejaculation going back thousands of years. Ancient texts from Greece, Rome, India, and China mention women’s sexual fluids. The phenomenon has always existed; what’s new is scientific investigation of it.

Myth: Ejaculating means there’s something medically wrong. For most women, ejaculation is a normal variation in sexual response, not a medical problem. However, if you’re experiencing involuntary urine leakage during non-sexual activities or have concerns about bladder control, consult a healthcare provider to rule out pelvic floor dysfunction.

The Cultural and Historical Context

Female ejaculation isn’t a modern discovery—historical texts from various cultures document its existence for millennia, though it was understood and described differently across time and place.

Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (circa 400 BCE) wrote about female seed or fluid released during sexual intercourse. Aristotle mentioned female fluid in his writings on reproduction. The ancient Indian text Kama Sutra describes female ejaculation. Chinese Taoist texts discuss female sexual fluids in the context of sexual cultivation practices.

In Renaissance Europe, anatomists who dissected female bodies noted glandular structures around the urethra. Dutch anatomist Regnier de Graaf described these glands in 1672, though they’re now named after Alexander Skene, who wrote about them in 1880.

Despite this historical documentation, Western medicine in the 19th and 20th centuries largely dismissed female ejaculation. Sigmund Freud and other influential thinkers promoted theories of female sexuality that didn’t include ejaculation. Women who reported expelling fluid were typically diagnosed with urinary incontinence and told it was a medical problem to be corrected.

The modern rediscovery began in the 1980s when sex researchers like Beverly Whipple, John Perry, and others started systematically studying women who reported ejaculation. Their work faced skepticism from the medical establishment, which was reluctant to acknowledge a phenomenon that challenged existing models of female sexuality.

Cultural attitudes have slowly shifted, partly due to increased visibility in popular culture (including adult entertainment, for better or worse). Today, while female ejaculation is more openly discussed, many women still feel shame or confusion about their experiences because comprehensive sex education rarely includes information about this aspect of sexual function.

Practical Implications and Questions

Understanding the science of female ejaculation has practical implications for sexual health, relationships, and wellbeing. Here are some common questions and their answers.

Is it sanitary? Both true female ejaculate and squirting fluid are generally considered sanitary. Research suggests female ejaculate may actually have antibacterial properties that protect the urethra. Even squirting, which is primarily diluted urine, is typically sterile unless there’s a urinary tract infection present.

Should I be concerned about the mess? Some women feel self-conscious about the volume of fluid, particularly with squirting. Practical solutions include using towels, waterproof pads, or mattress protectors. Many partners find female ejaculation arousing rather than off-putting, but communication about preferences and logistics helps everyone feel comfortable.

What if I want to ejaculate but don’t? Many women who are curious about ejaculation try to force it, which typically backfires because anxiety and pressure interfere with sexual response. If you’re interested in exploring whether you can ejaculate, focus on relaxation, arousal, and experimentation with different types of stimulation (particularly anterior vaginal wall stimulation) without attachment to a specific outcome. Some women find that emptying their bladder before sex and consciously relaxing the urinary sphincter during arousal helps, but there’s no guarantee it will happen, and that’s completely fine.

What if I ejaculate but don’t want to? Some women find ejaculation uncomfortable or disruptive to their sexual experience. Pelvic floor exercises may help with control, though complete suppression might not be possible or desirable. Communication with partners about preferences is important—many partners are supportive once they understand it’s a normal physiological response.

Could it be a medical problem? For most women, ejaculation is simply a variation in sexual response, not a medical issue. However, if you experience involuntary urine leakage during daily activities (laughing, coughing, exercise), have pain during sex, or have other urinary symptoms, consult a healthcare provider to rule out pelvic floor dysfunction or other conditions.

FAQs About Female Ejaculation

Is female ejaculation the same thing as squirting?

No, scientific research indicates these are two distinct phenomena that often get conflated. True female ejaculation involves the release of small amounts (a few milliliters) of thick, milky fluid from the Skene’s glands that contains prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and other biochemical markers distinct from urine. Squirting involves the release of larger volumes of clear, thin fluid that research shows is primarily diluted urine from the bladder, sometimes with small amounts of PSA mixed in.

Many women experience both—a small amount of true ejaculate followed by or mixed with squirting. Others experience only one or the other. The terminology confusion exists partly because both fluids exit through the urethra and often occur during sexual arousal or orgasm, making them difficult to distinguish without laboratory analysis.

What matters most isn’t whether it’s “technically” ejaculate or squirting but understanding that both are normal physiological responses, both are real experiences that women have, and neither represents a medical problem or should be a source of shame. The composition of the fluid doesn’t invalidate the experience or make it any less legitimate.

Do all women ejaculate or can all women learn to ejaculate?

No, not all women ejaculate, and not all women can necessarily learn to ejaculate even with practice or specific stimulation techniques. Just as people vary in all aspects of physiology, women vary in their sexual responses, including whether they produce and expel fluid during arousal or orgasm.

Anatomical studies show significant variation in Skene’s gland size and structure between women. Some women have prominent glands capable of producing substantial amounts of fluid, while others have minimal glandular tissue. This anatomical variation means some women may not have the physiological capacity for significant ejaculation regardless of technique or arousal level.

Additionally, sexual response involves complex interactions between physical, psychological, and emotional factors. Even women with the anatomical capacity to ejaculate might not experience it due to differences in arousal patterns, types of stimulation that work for them, comfort level, or simple individual variation in sexual response.

The important message is that ejaculating or not ejaculating are both completely normal. Neither represents superior or inferior sexual function. Pressuring yourself or being pressured by partners to ejaculate can create performance anxiety that interferes with pleasure and spontaneity. Focus on what feels good to you rather than trying to achieve a specific outcome.

Is the fluid that comes out during female ejaculation just urine?

This depends on which type of fluid emission you’re asking about. True female ejaculation produces fluid that is NOT urine—it’s a distinct substance produced by the Skene’s glands with a different biochemical composition than urine, containing PSA, prostatic acid phosphatase, and other components not found in urine, with lower concentrations of urea and creatinine.

However, squirting (the release of larger volumes of clear fluid) does primarily consist of diluted urine according to biochemical analysis from multiple studies, particularly the 2015 French study that used ultrasound to demonstrate that the bladder fills during arousal and empties during squirting. About five out of seven women in that study also had small amounts of PSA in their squirted fluid, suggesting it may contain some ejaculate mixed with the diluted urine.

This finding initially disappointed many women who squirt, but it’s important to understand that squirting isn’t the same as simple urinary incontinence or “peeing yourself.” It’s a specific sexual response where the bladder fills rapidly during arousal through mechanisms not fully understood, then releases reflexively at or near orgasm. The fact that the fluid is primarily urine doesn’t make the experience invalid or something to be ashamed of—it’s just the physiological reality of what’s happening during that particular sexual response.

Can female ejaculation get pregnant?

No, female ejaculation cannot cause pregnancy. Female ejaculate doesn’t contain eggs or have any direct role in conception. However, some researchers have proposed that female ejaculation might play an indirect facilitative role in reproduction by neutralizing the acidic vaginal environment, potentially creating more favorable conditions for sperm survival and motility.

The fluid’s alkaline nature and the presence of PSA (which in males helps sperm swim) suggest it might serve protective or facilitative functions in the reproductive tract. A 2024 study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology hypothesized that female ejaculation could enhance reproductive success by creating a more sperm-friendly environment, though this remains theoretical and hasn’t been definitively proven.

Additionally, some researchers suggest the fluid might have antibacterial properties that protect the urethra from infection, which could be particularly important given the proximity of the urethra to the vagina and the increased risk of urinary tract infections associated with sexual activity. These proposed functions remain areas of ongoing research, and the exact biological purpose of female ejaculation (if there is a specific evolutionary purpose) remains debated.

Is it normal to feel like you need to urinate right before ejaculating?

Yes, this is extremely common and completely normal. Many women report that immediately before ejaculation or squirting, they experience a sensation very similar to needing to urinate. This sensation often occurs during G-spot or anterior vaginal wall stimulation and can be uncomfortable or anxiety-producing, particularly for women who are concerned about urinating during sex.

This sensation makes anatomical sense because the urethra and bladder are located very close to the anterior vaginal wall, and pressure on this area during sexual activity can create sensations similar to bladder fullness. Additionally, for women who squirt, the bladder does actually fill during arousal, so the sensation of needing to urinate reflects what’s physically happening—the bladder is filling and preparing to release.

Many women have learned to suppress their sexual response when they feel this urge because they’re afraid of urinating in front of a partner or making a mess. If you’re curious about whether you might ejaculate or squirt, experts suggest emptying your bladder before sexual activity and then, when you feel that urge, trying to relax and “push through” the sensation rather than holding back. This might result in ejaculation or squirting, or it might not, but releasing the tension and allowing your body to respond naturally can enhance pleasure regardless of whether fluid is expelled.

Should I see a doctor if I ejaculate during sex?

For most women, ejaculating during sex is a normal variation in sexual response that doesn’t require medical evaluation. If you’re otherwise comfortable with the experience, it’s not causing problems in your relationships, and you’re not experiencing pain or other urinary symptoms, there’s no medical need to see a doctor about it.

However, you might want to consult a healthcare provider if you experience any of the following: involuntary urine leakage during non-sexual activities like laughing, coughing, sneezing, or exercise (which could indicate stress incontinence or pelvic floor dysfunction); pain during sex or with ejaculation; frequent urinary tract infections; difficulty emptying your bladder; sudden changes in your urinary patterns; or significant emotional distress about the experience that’s affecting your quality of life or relationships.

A healthcare provider specializing in sexual health or a pelvic floor physical therapist can help address concerns, provide education, assess for any underlying issues, and offer strategies for management if desired. Many providers are now better educated about female ejaculation than in the past, though you may still encounter some who are unfamiliar with the research—bringing peer-reviewed articles to your appointment can help facilitate informed discussion.

Can I control or prevent female ejaculation if I don’t want it to happen?

Control over ejaculation varies between women. Some women can exert conscious control over whether they ejaculate by contracting their pelvic floor muscles or changing arousal patterns, while others find it happens involuntarily regardless of what they do. Many women who ejaculate report that they learned to suppress the response for years due to embarrassment but find it difficult to completely prevent once they’ve stopped actively inhibiting it.

If you want to reduce the likelihood of ejaculation or squirting, strategies include: emptying your bladder completely before sexual activity; avoiding or reducing stimulation of the anterior vaginal wall (G-spot area) if that triggers your ejaculatory response; using pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises to strengthen control over the urethral sphincter; and changing positions to avoid angles that create pressure on areas that trigger ejaculation.

However, completely preventing ejaculation may not be possible for all women, and attempting to suppress it might interfere with sexual pleasure and arousal. A potentially better approach is addressing any underlying concerns through communication with partners (most partners are supportive once they understand it’s normal), using practical solutions like towels or waterproof pads to manage fluid, and working on accepting this aspect of your sexual response rather than fighting against it.

If concerns about ejaculation are significantly impacting your sex life or causing distress, consider working with a sex therapist who can help you explore why it bothers you, improve communication with partners, and develop strategies that work for your specific situation. The goal is finding approaches that allow you to enjoy sexual activity without anxiety or shame, whether that involves managing ejaculation, accepting it, or celebrating it.