Roughly 5% of women report experiencing squirting during sexual activity, making it far less common than pop culture and pornography suggest. That number comes from survey data, though the true figure is hard to pin down because many women may not recognize subtler forms of fluid release, and others may feel reluctant to report it.
Part of the confusion stems from the fact that “squirting” and “female ejaculation” are actually two different things, and the science behind both is still evolving. Here’s what researchers currently know.
Squirting and Ejaculation Are Not the Same
Most people use “squirting” as a catch-all term, but scientists distinguish between two separate events that can happen during arousal or orgasm.
Female ejaculation is a small release of thick, milky fluid, typically less than a quarter teaspoon. It comes from the Skene’s glands, two tiny structures located near the urethral opening. These glands develop from the same embryonic tissue as the male prostate, which is why they’re sometimes called the “female prostate.” The fluid they produce contains prostate-specific antigen (PSA), the same protein found in male ejaculate. Because the volume is so small, many women may ejaculate without ever noticing.
Squirting, on the other hand, involves a much larger gush of fluid from the urethra, ranging from about half an ounce to three ounces. It’s watery and clear rather than thick and white. Chemically, it’s a mix: it shares some markers with urine but also contains PSA from the Skene’s glands, making it a hybrid fluid that isn’t purely one thing or another.
Where the Fluid Actually Comes From
A well-known 2015 study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine used ultrasound imaging to track what happens inside the body during squirting. Seven women who regularly experienced large-volume fluid release emptied their bladders, confirmed empty by ultrasound, and then were monitored during arousal. Just before squirting, their bladders had noticeably refilled. Immediately after, their bladders were empty again.
Biochemical testing showed the squirted fluid contained urea, creatinine, and uric acid at levels similar to urine. But in five of the seven women, the fluid also contained PSA, which was absent from the urine samples taken before arousal. The researchers concluded that squirting is primarily an involuntary release of diluted urine from the bladder, with a smaller contribution of prostatic secretions mixed in.
This finding doesn’t diminish the experience. The fluid fills the bladder rapidly during arousal through a process that isn’t fully understood, and the release is involuntary, often happening alongside intense pleasure or orgasm.
Why the Prevalence Is Hard to Measure
The 5% estimate reflects women who report noticeable, large-volume squirting. But female ejaculation in its subtler form, that tiny amount of milky fluid from the Skene’s glands, likely happens more often and simply goes undetected. A few drops of fluid during sex can easily be mistaken for normal vaginal lubrication or go entirely unnoticed.
Skene’s glands also vary significantly in size from person to person. Some women have well-developed glands, while in others they’re very small or difficult to locate on imaging. This anatomical variation likely plays a role in who experiences ejaculation or squirting and who doesn’t. It’s not a skill issue or a matter of arousal level alone; the underlying anatomy differs between individuals.
Survey results on sexual experiences also depend heavily on how questions are worded and how comfortable respondents feel. Stigma and embarrassment can suppress reporting, while increased cultural awareness (or pressure) can inflate it. The 5% figure is a reasonable estimate, but it comes with those caveats built in.
What Triggers It
Both squirting and female ejaculation are most commonly linked to stimulation of the G-spot, which is the area on the front vaginal wall a couple of inches inside. Despite its reputation as a distinct “button,” the G-spot is actually part of the internal clitoral network. Stimulating it applies pressure to clitoral tissue, the urethra, and the Skene’s glands all at once, which is likely why it’s associated with fluid release.
That said, it’s not exclusively a G-spot phenomenon. Some women report ejaculating from clitoral stimulation alone, and others from vaginal penetration without specific G-spot focus. Some experience it with orgasm, while others report it happening during high arousal without climaxing. The triggers vary widely, and there’s no single reliable technique that works for everyone.
What the Numbers Actually Mean
If you’ve never experienced squirting, you’re in the vast majority. The 5% prevalence means roughly 1 in 20 women report it, and even among those who do, it doesn’t necessarily happen every time. Pornography dramatically overrepresents squirting, creating unrealistic expectations for both women and their partners. It’s a normal variation in sexual response, not a benchmark of arousal or satisfaction.
For women who do experience it and find it distressing or inconvenient, knowing that the fluid is mostly dilute bladder contents (not a sign of incontinence problems) can be reassuring. For those curious about experiencing it, G-spot-focused stimulation during high arousal is the most commonly cited approach, but anatomy plays a bigger role than technique. Some bodies are simply more inclined toward it than others, and neither outcome says anything about sexual health or function.