An expert has taken a look at some of the most common misconceptions around female ejaculation.
Female ejaculation — often called squirting — is one of those topics that tends to attract a lot of curiosity, as well as a lot of misinformation.
As conversations around female sexuality become more open and more people feel able to explore what they enjoy, accurate information matters. That can mean understanding bodies better, feeling safer and less inhibited, and ultimately making pleasure easier to access.
Sex expert Heather Foord has addressed several long-running myths about squirting in an article for Mamamia, highlighting how varied the experience can be from person to person.
According to Foord, some people find squirting happens with minimal stimulation, while others may need much more — and for some, it can be difficult regardless of technique.
She explains that female ejaculation is linked to the Skene’s glands, and that anatomy can differ significantly between individuals. Variation in gland size and surrounding structures can influence how easily someone is able to ejaculate fluid.
Even so, Foord’s message is that differences in ease or ability shouldn’t be treated as a reason to avoid exploring what feels good.
One persistent misconception is that squirting comes from the vagina.
This, Foord explained, is not anatomically possible.
She notes that when someone experiences what she described as a “high-volume” release, the fluid must be expelled via the urethra rather than the vagina. The Skene’s glands (also known as periurethral glands) are involved in producing and expelling that fluid, which is why the vagina isn’t the source.
Another myth frames squirting as a sign of weak pelvic floor muscles — as if the body is “leaking” during orgasm because it can’t hold in fluid. Foord argues that this misunderstanding doesn’t match what research suggests.
Instead, she points to multiple contributors associated with female ejaculation, including the periurethral glands, increased blood flow during arousal, heightened arousal itself, and pelvic floor contractions.
Rather than indicating weakness, Foord says people who squirt can demonstrate strong pelvic floor function — because generating forceful expulsion requires muscles that respond and contract effectively.
Foord also addressed why some people report feeling like they need to pee as they get close to squirting. She says the sensation is largely down to how the clitoris, vagina, bladder, and urethra sit close together.
During arousal, increased blood flow can cause swelling and engagement in the pelvic area, including the clitoris and pelvic floor. That combination can increase pressure around the bladder, creating a strong “need to pee” feeling — even when it isn’t actually urination.
She adds that this sensation can make some people tense up out of fear they’ll pee during sex, which can interfere with pleasure. Feeling safe, comfortable, and relaxed can be an important part of reaching orgasm.
Finally, Foord stresses that squirting shouldn’t be treated as something shameful or “wrong” simply because it comes out of the urethra — noting that this is also the passage used for ejaculation in penises, yet it’s rarely framed as a problem.
She wrote: “We need to stop perpetuating stigma, shame and myths around female pleasure.”