People have been arguing about this for centuries. It’s a polarizing topic that somehow manages to be both a medical mystery and a point of pride for some, while others feel totally left out or confused. When we talk about what happens when a female ejaculates, we aren't just talking about one single thing. It’s actually a pretty complex cocktail of biology, chemistry, and individual anatomy that varies wildly from one person to the next. Some folks experience a small amount of thick, milky fluid. Others deal with a literal flood.
It's messy. It’s complicated. Honestly, it’s about time we stopped treating it like some urban legend or a pornographic myth and looked at the actual data.
The Chemistry of the Squirt
Let’s get the "what" out of the way first. Historically, researchers like Ernst Gräfenberg—the guy the G-spot is named after—noted that some women expelled a fluid that wasn't urine during orgasm. But for a long time, the medical community just shrugged and called it "urinary incontinence." They were wrong. Sort of.
Current research, including a notable 2014 study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine by Salama et al., used ultrasound and biochemical analysis to figure out what’s actually going on. They found two distinct things happening. One is "squirting," which is a sudden discharge of a large volume of clear fluid. The other is true "female ejaculation," which is much smaller in volume and looks more like watered-down milk.
What’s in it? Well, it’s not just pee. Researchers found Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). These are enzymes usually associated with the male prostate. In women, these come from the Skene’s glands, also known as the paraurethral glands or the "female prostate." These tiny glands sit right near the urethra. When stimulated, they produce this specific fluid.
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However—and this is the part where people get argumentative—the larger volume "squirting" fluid is mostly urea, creatinine, and uric acid. Basically, it’s highly diluted urine that has collected in the bladder and is expelled during intense arousal or climax. But it’s not just urine from a midday bathroom break; it’s chemically different because it’s mixed with those prostatic secretions from the Skene’s glands.
Physical Mechanics: How It Actually Occurs
You can’t just flip a switch. It’s usually tied to the stimulation of the anterior vaginal wall, about two inches inside. This is the "G-spot" area. When this tissue—which is actually part of the internal clitoral structure—gets engorged with blood, it presses against those Skene’s glands.
Some people feel an intense "need to go" right before it happens. This is the brain misinterpreting the pressure on the bladder and the Skene's glands. If you fight that feeling, you might never experience it. If you lean into it? That’s usually when the release occurs.
There’s a lot of muscular involvement here too. The pelvic floor muscles, specifically the pubococcygeus (PC) muscle, undergo rhythmic contractions. During what happens when a female ejaculates, these contractions can be so strong that they force the fluid out of the urethra in a spray or a steady stream. It’s a full-body event. Your heart rate spikes. Your skin might flush.
But here is a reality check: not everyone can do it. And that is perfectly fine.
Recent surveys suggest that anywhere from 10% to 54% of women report having experienced some form of ejaculation. That’s a huge range. Why? Because definitions vary. Some count a few drops; others only count a "soak the sheets" event. Anatomy plays a role too. Some women have larger, more active Skene’s glands, while others have glands that are almost microscopic or don't produce much fluid at all.
The Psychological Component and Misconceptions
We have to talk about the "porn effect."
Because of the rise of certain genres of adult media, there’s this massive pressure on women to perform this specific act to prove they are "really" enjoying themselves. This is total nonsense. Ejaculation is not a measure of the quality of an orgasm. In fact, for many, the two don't even happen at the same time. You can ejaculate without having an orgasm, and you can definitely have a world-shaking orgasm without a single drop of fluid.
The shame factor is real. I’ve talked to people who were terrified they were just wetting the bed in front of a partner. They felt embarrassed, "gross," or broken. But once you realize it’s a natural physiological response to a specific type of stimulation, that shame usually evaporates. It’s just fluid. It’s biology.
Why Some People Struggle With It
- Pelvic Floor Tension: If your muscles are too tight (hypertonic), they might "lock" the fluid in.
- Mental Blocks: The fear of urinating often causes people to pull back right at the moment of release.
- Anatomical Variation: If your Skene’s glands are smaller, you might never produce a noticeable amount.
- Dehydration: Believe it or not, if you’re dehydrated, there’s less fluid available for the body to move around.
What Science Still Doesn’t Know
We are still in the dark ages regarding certain aspects of female biology. For example, why did we evolve this way? In men, ejaculation has a clear reproductive purpose: transporting sperm. In women? The purpose isn't as clear. Some biologists, like Desmond Morris, have suggested it might have an antimicrobial function, protecting the urinary tract from infections during sex. Others think it’s just a vestigial remnant of our shared embryonic development—since we all start out with the same basic blueprints before hormones take over in the womb.
There is also the "co-contraction" theory. This suggests that the bladder neck relaxes while the pelvic floor contracts, creating a vacuum effect or a pressure differential that allows fluid to escape. It's still being debated in urology journals.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights
If you’re curious about this or it's something you’ve experienced and want to understand better, there are a few practical things to keep in mind. Knowledge is the best way to get over the "weirdness" of it all.
First, stay hydrated. If you want to understand what happens when a female ejaculates through your own experience, your body needs the resources to produce fluid. Water is your friend here.
Second, work on pelvic floor awareness. This doesn't just mean doing more Kegels. Sometimes it means learning how to relax those muscles. If you’re always "holding it in," you’re preventing the natural flow of things. Deep diaphragmatic breathing helps.
Third, communication is everything. If you’re with a partner, talk about it before it happens. Put a towel down. It sounds unromantic, but it removes the "oh no, the mattress" anxiety that kills the mood and stops the physiological process in its tracks.
Finally, stop comparing yourself to a screen. Your body is a unique biological system, not a performance. Whether you produce a cup of fluid or nothing at all, the mechanics of your pleasure are valid. The goal is the feeling, not the fountain.
Practical Steps for Exploration
- Map your own anatomy: Use a mirror or just spend time alone to find where your Skene’s glands are located (on either side of the urethra).
- Focus on "Come Hither" motions: When exploring the G-spot area, use a firm, rhythmic motion toward the belly button.
- Release the bladder anxiety: If you feel the urge to pee during arousal, try to breathe through it rather than tensing up.
- Track your cycle: Some women find they are more likely to ejaculate during certain points in their menstrual cycle when fluid retention and hormone levels are higher.
The bottom line is that the female body is incredibly efficient at surprising us. Ejaculation is a normal, healthy, and varied part of human sexuality. It’s not a requirement for a "good" sex life, but it’s a fascinating look at how our internal systems react to intense pleasure and pressure. Understanding the mix of prostatic fluid and diluted urea helps demystify the experience and takes the pressure off of everyone involved.