Squirting is the release of fluid from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. It’s a normal physiological response that some women experience, involving a rapid gush of fluid that can range from half an ounce to about 3 ounces. Understanding what’s actually happening in the body makes it easier to understand why it happens for some people and not others, and what conditions make it more likely.
What Squirting Actually Is
There are two distinct fluid releases that happen during female sexual response, and they’re often lumped together. True female ejaculation is a small amount of thick, whitish fluid, usually less than a quarter teaspoon, produced by the Skene’s glands. These are two tiny ducts that sit on either side of the urethra. They develop from the same embryonic cells that become the prostate in males, which is why they’re sometimes called the “female prostate.” The fluid they produce even contains prostate-specific antigen (PSA), the same marker found in male ejaculate.
Squirting is different. It’s a larger, more noticeable gush of clear fluid from the urethra. Chemically, it’s a mix: some components resemble dilute urine, while others match the prostatic secretions from the Skene’s glands. A 2015 ultrasound study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine tracked what happens inside the body during squirting. Researchers had seven women empty their bladders, confirmed they were empty via ultrasound, then monitored them during arousal. Just before squirting, scans showed the bladder had noticeably refilled. After squirting, the bladder was empty again. So the fluid does come from the bladder, but it’s not simply urination. It contains additional secretions and occurs involuntarily as part of sexual response.
In practice, most people use “squirting” to refer to both phenomena, since they can happen simultaneously and the distinction is hard to notice in the moment.
Why Some Women Squirt and Others Don’t
The Skene’s glands vary significantly in size from person to person. Some women have well-developed glands, others have very small ones, and a small number may not have them at all. This anatomical variation likely explains much of the difference in who experiences squirting. It’s not a skill issue or a measure of arousal. The size and activity of these glands are simply part of individual anatomy, like any other body part that varies between people.
Estimates of how common squirting is vary widely depending on how the question is asked and who’s surveyed. One cross-sectional study found about 69% of participants reported experiencing some form of urethral fluid release related to orgasm, though this was in a specific population and may not reflect the general average. Many women experience it occasionally rather than every time.
Stimulation That Makes It More Likely
Because the Skene’s glands sit along the front wall of the vagina near the urethra, the type of stimulation most associated with squirting is firm, rhythmic pressure on the anterior (front) vaginal wall. This is the area commonly referred to as the G-spot, which isn’t a distinct anatomical structure but rather a zone where the internal portions of the clitoris, the urethra, and the Skene’s glands are all in close proximity. Stimulating this area effectively puts pressure on all three.
A “come hither” motion with one or two fingers inserted about 1 to 2 inches, pressing toward the belly button, is the most commonly described technique. The tissue in this area feels slightly ridged or spongy compared to the smoother back wall of the vagina. Consistent, moderately firm pressure tends to be more effective than light touch. Some women find that combining this internal stimulation with external clitoral stimulation increases the likelihood of squirting.
Arousal level matters significantly. The Skene’s glands produce more fluid during sustained arousal, and the bladder-filling mechanism observed in ultrasound studies also takes time. Extended foreplay and building arousal gradually before focusing on G-spot stimulation creates more favorable conditions than jumping straight to it. Many women report that the sensation just before squirting feels similar to needing to urinate, which makes sense given the bladder involvement. This sensation causes some people to tense up or hold back. Relaxing through that feeling, rather than clenching, is often described as the key difference between squirting and not.
Positions and Practical Considerations
Positions that angle penetration toward the front vaginal wall make G-spot contact more consistent. During partnered sex, the receiving partner on top allows control over angle and pressure. From behind, the natural curve of penetration tends to press against the front wall. Missionary with a pillow under the hips tilts the pelvis to create a similar angle.
Curved toys designed for G-spot stimulation can be more precise than fingers or a partner, since they maintain consistent pressure at the right angle. Some women find it easier to first experience squirting during solo play, where there’s no performance pressure and full control over speed and intensity.
From a practical standpoint, laying down a towel or waterproof blanket removes the worry about making a mess, which in turn makes it easier to relax. Emptying your bladder beforehand can reduce the “do I need to pee?” anxiety, though some fluid will still accumulate in the bladder during arousal as the studies showed. Staying hydrated helps, since the fluid has to come from somewhere.
What It Feels Like
Women who squirt describe the sensation differently. For some, it accompanies an intense orgasm and feels like a release of pressure. For others, it happens separately from orgasm, during high arousal but before or without climax. The fluid release itself is involuntary, similar to how orgasmic contractions are involuntary. You can create conditions that make it more likely, but you can’t force it to happen through willpower alone.
The feeling of needing to urinate right before it happens is the most consistently reported sensation. This is the point where relaxing and bearing down slightly, rather than clenching pelvic floor muscles, tends to allow the release. Some women describe a warm, spreading sensation followed by a feeling of relief. Others barely notice the fluid and only realize it happened afterward. The volume varies widely between individuals and between sessions, from a small trickle to a noticeable gush that soaks through sheets.
Not every woman will squirt regardless of technique, and that’s entirely anatomical. It’s not an indicator of better sex or stronger orgasms. Some women who squirt don’t find the sensation particularly pleasurable, while others consider it one of the most intense physical experiences they have. The goal worth focusing on is the stimulation pattern that feels best, not the fluid output as a benchmark.