Decoding Female Ejaculation, Squirting and the G-Spot

The topics of female ejaculation and squirting have long been sources of mystery, debate, and oftentimes unrealistic expectations. By exploring the latest scientific understanding, anatomical facts, and practical advice, we aim to demystify this topic.

What is the difference between female ejaculation and squirting?

Female ejaculation and squirting are two different types of fluid release that can occur during sexual arousal and orgasm, though both stem from related and similar anatomical structures.

Is female ejaculate real, and where does the fluid come from?

Yes, female ejaculate is real. It is the release of a small amount of fluid produced by the paraurethral glands, also known as the Skene’s glands. 

These glands are located in the urethral sponge, which is spongy tissue that surrounds and protects the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body). This spongy tissue contains erectile tissue and other tissue that expands during sexual arousal.

Researchers, notably Milan Zaviačič and colleagues (1990–2000), have studied these Skene’s glands (again glands inside the spongy tissue that surrounds the urethra). They’ve found that:

• The Skene’s glands produce Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA), a marker typically associated with the male prostate.
• The tissue and enzymes are similar to those found in the male prostate, leading scientists to officially name the Skene’s glands the “female prostate.”
• The fluid expelled during female ejaculation is biochemically comparable to components of male semen.

Also, importantly, this fluid lubricates the urethra to help prevent UTIs during sexual activity. You may have produced female ejaculate and not known it due to it being mixed with other liquids of sex (male ejaculate, your own wetness). Or maybe you haven’t perceived this, as there’s evidence that for some of us, the ejaculate goes backwards into the bladder.

And squirting? Again, research suggests it’s a mix of female ejaculate and liquid similar in composition to diluted urine from the bladder. Importantly, studies show that this liquid accumulates during sexual activity, which is why squirting can occur even if one empties their bladder before sex. Ultrasound studies show women with empty bladders filling up quickly during sexual activity and then secreting this fluid with squirting.

Studies (by Amy Gilliland) have found that women who do not ejaculate may have higher levels of PSA in their urine post-orgasm. This supports the theory that for some, female ejaculate may go backwards in the bladder instead of being expelled, and then released later during urination.

What is the G-Spot, and how is it related to squirting?

The G-spot (Gräfenberg spot) is an area located on the anterior (front) wall of the vagina, a few centimeters up from the entrance. IIt’s not a spot but a zone (or area), officially called the Clitoral-Urethral-Vaginal Complex (CUV complex).

It’s called this because it includes three interconnected parts: 

1. Internal clitoral tissue (the clitoral bulbs)
2. Vaginal tissue
3. The urethral sponge (discussed above)

Stimulation of the G-spot is most often (though not always) what results in squirting.

Do all women have a G-spot and can all women squirt?

In terms of the “G-spot” here’s what surveys tell us. Most of us (about 60%) haven’t tried to find it. Among those who have tried, 37% can’t find it. Among those who find it, a bit less than half (47%) say stimulating it brings pleasure and orgasm.

And there’s good evidence that anatomical variation between us may be what differentiates those who find and/or like it and those who don’t. And, what about squirting? Sadly, some women who squirt feel ashamed of it, and some who don’t squirt feel ashamed that they don’t.

While there are a lot of instructions on the web teaching women to squirt, please don’t follow these or try to do so. Some clinical and medical wisdom indicates that forcing your body to do this if it doesn’t do so naturally can harm your pelvic floor muscles, which are central to orgasm. Instead of altering your body’s responses, lean into the things your body likes to respond to.

Still, if you want to try to find your G-spot and see if it gives you pleasure and what happens, here’s how.

Finding your G-Spot (If You Want)

If you want to experiment with finding your G-Spot, it’s easier when you’re aroused. So, get yourself aroused with self-pleasure.  A clitoral vibrator can help! 

Then, lie on your back with your knees bent and spread, with a pillow under your hips, if you choose. Lube up your fingers with some LELO personal moisturizer and gently insert one or two, palm-side up, into the vagina. Curl your fingers up into a come-hither motion and see if you can find an area that doesn’t feel smooth like the rest of the tissue. It may feel rougher, textured, or spongy. It may be anywhere from 1–3 inches into your vaginal canal.

If you find it, apply pressure or circular motions to this area, or simply keep making the come-hither motion, and see what you feel. You may feel like you need to urinate, you may feel pleasure, or you may feel the first followed by the second feeling. As you explore, you may want to pair this with external stimulation or go back and forth between the two. 

Still, the best way to find this is to follow these instructions but instead of using your fingers to stimulate the area, use a G-spot vibrator.such as the INA Wave or the MONA Wave.

You could also use a rabbit vibrator to pair clitoral and g-spot stimulation.  

And, remember, there is no right or wrong. You may find your G-spot and love it and squirt. You may find it and not like the feeling at all.  Honor your body!

Why is there cultural and scientific controversy around female ejaculation?

The skepticism and historical silence surrounding female ejaculation are part of a broader cultural pattern that has long marginalized female pleasure.

• Historical Omission: Though referenced in ancient texts like the Indian Kāmaśāstra and Chinese Taoist texts, discussions of female ejaculation largely disappeared from Western discourse until the 20th century, with figures like Dr. Ernst Gräfenberg (1950s). This long silence contributed to the modern view of female pleasure as “amorphous, mysterious, and secondary” to male pleasure.

• Medical Misunderstanding: For decades, the Skene’s gland was poorly understood, and when fluid was expelled, it was often dismissed as involuntary urination (urolagnia). The lack of funding and focus on female sexuality has created a scientific knowledge gap, leading to the ongoing, but increasingly discredited, “debate” about the phenomenon’s authenticity, as noted in a review published on PubMed (search for “female ejaculation physiology”).

• Pornography and Legislation: The depiction of female ejaculation in pornography has been a major point of contention. For example, in 2014, the UK government banned the depiction of female ejaculation in legally produced pornography, while male ejaculation remained acceptable. This suggests a cultural double standard that frames the female climax as potentially obscene and something that needs to be controlled or hidden, reinforcing a culture where male pleasure is seen as the default.

By continuing to educate and normalize these forms of female climax, we can move past these outdated attitudes and celebrate the full spectrum of human sexuality.