Which phases of the sexual response cycle are most commonly associated with female ejaculation and orgasm?
Executive summary
Research and clinical reviews consistently link female ejaculation and the release of orgasmic fluid most often to the late plateau and orgasm phases of the sexual response cycle: multiple reviews state that female ejaculation “follows orgasm” or is expelled at the height of sexual arousal and orgasm [1] [2]. Sources disagree on mechanism and frequency — studies report wide prevalence estimates (from about 10% to higher rates in self-stimulation contexts) and debate whether expelled fluid comes from Skene’s glands (female prostate), bladder urine, or both [3] [1] [4].
1. What the classical cycle says: plateau then orgasm
The canonical sexual response cycle used in clinical work — excitement/arousal, plateau, orgasm, resolution — frames orgasm as the peak that follows plateau and precedes resolution [5] [6]. Medical overviews note that contractions of pelvic muscles and rapid release of neuromuscular tension happen at orgasm, the moment most commonly associated with ejaculatory events in people with vaginas [5] [7].
2. Evidence that ejaculation “follows orgasm”
Several peer‑reviewed reviews and clinical papers state explicitly that female ejaculation is an orgasmic expulsion occurring at the height of sexual arousal and usually follows orgasm [1] [2]. Archival analyses describe small, whitish ejaculate from the female prostate (Skene’s glands) produced as part of the orgasmic response rather than as simple lubrication during early arousal [1] [2].
3. Competing view: some fluid can appear earlier or be mixed with urine
Popular summaries and clinical sources observe variation: some people report expressing fluid during stimulation before a clear orgasm, and “squirting”—a larger, urine‑containing emission—can occur during arousal or at orgasm and is physiologically distinct from true prostatic ejaculate [3] [7] [1]. Reviews caution that some expulsions reflect bladder urine (coital incontinence or “squirting”) while others represent prostatic secretions, so timing and origin are not identical across reports [1] [8].
4. Anatomy and mechanism remain contested
Researchers debate the origin and pathways: many posit Skene’s glands (a “female prostate”) as the source of whitish ejaculate, whereas other work finds prostate‑specific antigen (PSA) in post‑orgasm urine even among women who report no perceived ejaculation, suggesting variable internal routing or retrograde flow [9] [10]. Electrophysiologic and imaging studies note pelvic muscle contractions and shared brainstem activation during orgasm and ejaculation, but a consistent one‑to‑one physiological marker tying ejaculation strictly to one cycle phase is not universally agreed [11] [10].
5. How common and when — wide ranges, context matters
Estimates of how many people with vaginas ejaculate vary dramatically in the literature: reviews and public‑facing articles give ranges from single‑digit percents to figures as high as 70%, with higher rates commonly reported for self‑stimulation and studies that rely on retrospective self‑report [4] [8]. That variability reflects differences in definition (ejaculate vs. squirting), measurement methods, and whether researchers sample spontaneous reports or laboratory observations [4] [8].
6. Clinical and research implications: definitions change conclusions
How researchers define “female ejaculation”—true prostatic secretion, transurethral urine expulsion (“squirting”), or any fluid release—drives findings about timing and association with orgasm [1] [3]. Studies focused on PSA or biochemical markers tend to link ejaculate to orgasmic events, while imaging and urodynamic work reveal that some expulsions may involve bladder contents and can occur with or without a subjectively reported orgasm [9] [10] [11].
7. Bottom line for the reader
Available sources converge that the late plateau and orgasm phases are the moments most commonly associated with female ejaculation, but they also document significant variation in timing, fluid origin, and prevalence across individuals and studies [5] [1] [4]. The field lacks a single mechanistic account accepted by all researchers; debates center on whether expelled fluid is primarily Skene’s (female prostate) secretions or urine and on how often ejaculation coincides with subjective orgasm [1] [9] [10].
Limitations: current reporting shows disagreement about source, prevalence, and exact timing [3] [9] [4]. Available sources do not mention a single agreed‑upon biomarker or universal timeline that definitively separates ejaculation from other arousal‑linked fluids.