The volume varies widely depending on which type of fluid release is involved. Female ejaculation, the thicker milky fluid, typically produces about one teaspoon (around 5 milliliters). Squirting, which is a separate phenomenon involving a larger gush of clear fluid, can produce significantly more, sometimes enough to soak through sheets or towels.
Ejaculation and Squirting Are Different Things
One of the biggest sources of confusion around this topic is that “female ejaculation” and “squirting” are often used interchangeably, but they’re physiologically distinct. The International Society for Sexual Medicine distinguishes between the two based on volume, appearance, and source.
Female ejaculation is a small amount of thick, whitish fluid that looks somewhat like diluted semen. It comes from the Skene’s glands, two small structures about the size of a blueberry located on either side of the urethra. These glands are sometimes called the female prostate because they produce many of the same compounds found in male prostate fluid, including fructose, glucose, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Because these glands are tiny, the volume they can produce is limited to roughly a teaspoon.
Squirting is a larger release of clear, watery fluid. It comes primarily from the bladder, not the Skene’s glands, and can range from a small splash to a much larger volume. The amount varies considerably from person to person and even from one experience to the next.
Where Squirting Fluid Comes From
A well-known study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine used pelvic ultrasound to track what happens inside the body during squirting. Participants emptied their bladders, and an ultrasound confirmed the bladders were completely empty. Then, during sexual stimulation, a second ultrasound taken just before squirting showed noticeable bladder filling. A third scan taken immediately after squirting showed the bladder had emptied again.
This means the kidneys rapidly produce fluid that fills the bladder during arousal, and that fluid is then expelled during squirting. However, it isn’t simply urine. Chemical analysis shows squirting fluid contains lower concentrations of urea, uric acid, and creatinine than normal urine, while also containing small amounts of PSA, glucose, and fructose from the Skene’s glands. The fluid passes through the urethra and picks up secretions from those glands on the way out, making it a mix rather than one thing or the other.
Why Volume Varies So Much
There’s no single “normal” amount. Several factors influence how much fluid is released during squirting:
- Hydration level. Because the fluid originates largely from the bladder, how much water you’ve had to drink plays a direct role in how much fluid is available.
- Duration and type of stimulation. Longer arousal periods give the body more time to fill the bladder with fluid. The type of stimulation matters too, as internal pressure on the front vaginal wall (near the Skene’s glands and urethra) is most commonly associated with squirting.
- Individual anatomy. Skene’s gland size varies from person to person. Some people have larger, more developed glands, which may contribute to a greater overall volume of mixed fluid.
- Pelvic floor engagement. Bearing down or relaxing the pelvic floor muscles during orgasm can influence whether fluid is expelled and how forcefully.
Because of these variables, some people experience a small trickle they barely notice, while others produce enough to warrant putting a towel down. Both are normal.
How Common Squirting Is
A U.S. probability sample of women ages 18 to 93, published in 2023, found that 40% of adult women reported having squirted at least once in their lifetime. Among those who had experienced it, the median frequency was three to five times total. This suggests squirting is relatively common but not necessarily a regular occurrence for most people who experience it.
The wide age range in that study also indicates this isn’t something limited to a particular life stage. Some people discover it early in their sexual lives, others much later, and many never experience it at all. None of these outcomes reflect anything about sexual health or function.
What Porn Gets Wrong About Volume
Pornography has created deeply unrealistic expectations around squirting. The dramatic, high-pressure streams shown on screen often involve performers who have consumed large amounts of water beforehand, or in some cases, involve fluid that was introduced vaginally before filming. These depictions bear little resemblance to what most people experience.
In reality, squirting often looks like a gush or a trickle rather than a forceful spray. The volume for most people falls somewhere between a few teaspoons and a few tablespoons of fluid. Larger amounts are possible but not typical, and the experience is not a reliable indicator of orgasm intensity or sexual satisfaction.