Squirting is a release of fluid from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm, and it happens through sustained stimulation of the front vaginal wall, the area commonly called the G-spot. Surveys put the number of women who have experienced it anywhere from 10% to 54%, depending on how the question is asked. The wide range reflects real biological variation: not every body responds the same way, and the glands involved differ in size from person to person.
What Actually Happens in the Body
During arousal, the bladder fills rapidly with a dilute fluid. A 2015 French ultrasound study confirmed this directly. Researchers had seven women empty their bladders, verified they were empty via ultrasound, then scanned them again just before climax. The bladders had completely refilled during stimulation alone. After the women ejaculated, their bladders were empty again. The fluid comes out through the urethra, which is why it was long confused with urine.
Chemically, squirted fluid is similar to very dilute urine but not identical to it. In several of the women studied, it contained prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the Skene’s glands. These small glands sit on either side of the urethral opening and are sometimes called the female prostate. They appear to be dynamic structures: in women who regularly ejaculate, the glands develop more openings to accommodate increased fluid output. This suggests the response can become easier over time with repeated experience.
There’s also a distinction worth knowing. Some women produce a small amount of thick, milky fluid at orgasm. That’s “true” female ejaculate, produced directly by the Skene’s glands. Squirting, by contrast, involves a larger volume of clear, watery fluid from the bladder. Many women experience both simultaneously.
Where and How to Stimulate
The key area is the front (anterior) wall of the vagina, roughly 2 to 3 inches inside the opening, on the side facing the belly button. This tissue feels slightly ridged or spongy compared to the smoother walls around it. Underneath it sits a complex of erectile tissue, nerve endings, and the Skene’s glands, all of which respond to firm, consistent pressure.
With fingers, a “come hither” curling motion against this front wall is the most commonly recommended technique. Start gently and increase pressure gradually. The sensation often feels like a need to urinate at first, which is a sign that the right area is being stimulated. Many women instinctively tense up or pull back from this feeling. Relaxing into it, rather than fighting it, is one of the most important factors in whether squirting happens.
A few practical tips that make a difference:
- Extended arousal first. Spending 20 minutes or more on other forms of stimulation before focusing on the G-spot area increases blood flow to the tissue and engorges the Skene’s glands, making the whole area more responsive.
- Consistent rhythmic pressure. Rather than varying your technique constantly, find a motion and pressure level that feels good and stay with it. The buildup is cumulative.
- Bearing down. When the pressure sensation builds, gently pushing outward with the pelvic floor muscles (as if pushing something out, not clenching) helps release the fluid rather than holding it in.
- Empty your bladder beforehand. This reduces anxiety about whether what you’re feeling is a need to urinate, making it easier to relax.
Positions That Help
Any position that angles penetration toward the front vaginal wall increases G-spot contact. A few that work well:
Hands and knees with a partner behind allows the angle of penetration to press naturally against the front wall. Leaning down onto your forearms or shifting your hips backward changes the angle further, so you can find the spot that works best. A variation on this is lying flat on your stomach at the edge of the bed with a partner standing behind you, which creates a similar angle with less effort.
A modified missionary position can also work. Start in standard missionary, then bring your legs together while your partner’s legs straddle the outside of yours. This creates a tighter fit and more friction against the front wall, even with shallower penetration. Placing a pillow under your hips in any face-up position also tilts the pelvis to improve the angle.
Curved toys designed for G-spot stimulation can be more effective than penetration alone, because they apply targeted, consistent pressure to a specific spot. Many women find it easier to squirt with a toy or fingers than during intercourse, simply because the stimulation is more precise.
Why It Doesn’t Happen for Everyone
Survey data shows enormous variation. One study of 1,172 women found that about 40% reported ejaculating. Another put the number at 54%. Yet another found fewer than 5%. Part of this is definitional (what counts as ejaculation versus lubrication versus a small release of fluid), but part of it is genuine anatomical difference. Skene’s glands vary significantly in size between individuals. Some women have larger, more developed glands that produce more fluid. Others have very small glands, which may make large-volume squirting unlikely regardless of technique.
Mental state matters as much as physical technique. Anxiety, self-consciousness, or worrying about making a mess all activate the same tension response that clamps down the pelvic floor and prevents release. Laying down a towel, communicating openly with a partner, and removing any pressure to “perform” can make a bigger difference than any specific stimulation method.
Squirting vs. Incontinence
Some women worry that what they’re experiencing is urinary leakage rather than ejaculation. The two are different. Coital incontinence is caused by bladder control issues, specifically problems with the urethra or involuntary bladder contractions, and it can happen during penetration or orgasm without any pleasurable sensation attached to it. Squirting, by contrast, occurs alongside arousal and is linked to stimulation of the G-spot area and Skene’s gland activity.
If fluid release during sex is accompanied by discomfort, happens without arousal, or occurs in other non-sexual situations, that points toward a pelvic floor issue worth exploring with a specialist. If it happens at the peak of pleasure and feels like a release, that’s squirting working as expected.