Squirting is an involuntary release of fluid during sexual arousal or orgasm, and for many people who experience it, the volume or unpredictability can feel frustrating. While there’s no guaranteed off-switch, understanding what causes it and what triggers it gives you several practical ways to reduce or manage it.
What Actually Happens When You Squirt
Squirting involves the rapid filling and involuntary emptying of the bladder during intense sexual stimulation. A 2015 study using ultrasound imaging confirmed that participants’ bladders filled noticeably during arousal, even after they had emptied them beforehand, and then emptied again at the moment of squirting. The fluid is mostly dilute urine, but it also contains small amounts of a protein called PSA, which comes from the Skene’s glands, two tiny glands located on either side of the urethra.
The Skene’s glands develop from the same embryonic tissue as the prostate in males. During arousal, increased blood flow causes these glands and surrounding tissue to swell. In some people, this produces a milky secretion during orgasm. That secretion mixes with the bladder fluid, which is why squirting fluid doesn’t look or smell exactly like urine even though it shares the same basic chemical markers (urea, creatinine, uric acid).
The key point: squirting is involuntary. It’s a reflexive response, not something you’re consciously doing wrong. That said, certain factors make it more or less likely to happen.
Why Some People Squirt and Others Don’t
Not everyone experiences squirting. In a large Swedish study of women who had experienced it at least once, only about 7% said it happened every time during sexual activity. Around 16% reported it happening about half the time, 22% said sometimes, and the majority, 52%, said it had only happened on a few occasions. So even among people whose bodies are capable of it, consistency varies widely.
The variation likely comes down to differences in Skene’s gland size and sensitivity, pelvic floor muscle tone, the type of stimulation involved, and how full the bladder is. Some of these factors are within your control.
Empty Your Bladder Right Before Sex
Since ultrasound research shows the bladder fills rapidly during arousal and then empties during squirting, starting with an empty bladder is the most straightforward step you can take. Urinate as close to sexual activity as possible. This won’t necessarily prevent squirting entirely, because the bladder can refill with fluid during arousal itself, but it reduces the total volume available and may reduce the intensity or likelihood.
Some people find it helpful to limit fluid intake in the hour or two before sex as well. This isn’t about dehydration; it’s simply about starting with less urine production in progress.
Change the Type of Stimulation
Squirting is strongly associated with firm, rhythmic pressure on the front wall of the vagina, the area commonly called the G-spot. This area sits about 1 to 3 centimeters inside the vaginal opening on the anterior (belly-button side) wall, directly over the Skene’s glands and surrounding spongy tissue. In one study, 73% of participants who experienced ejaculation linked it to stimulation of this specific spot. Another study found that 100% of participants with a well-defined, localized sensitive area on the front vaginal wall experienced ejaculation during stimulation, compared to only about 25% of those without one.
If you want to reduce squirting, the most effective adjustment is to shift away from direct, sustained pressure on the front vaginal wall. Practically, this means:
- Positions: Avoid positions that angle penetration toward the front wall, such as from-behind positions or positions where your hips are tilted upward. Positions where penetration is more neutral or angled toward the back wall create less pressure on the trigger area.
- Depth and angle: Shallower penetration at a neutral angle tends to involve less contact with the front wall than deep, upward-angled thrusting.
- Fingers and toys: The “come hither” motion with fingers, or curved toys designed for G-spot stimulation, are specifically engineered to target this area. Switching to external stimulation, or using straighter, smoother toys, reduces the trigger.
This doesn’t mean you have to avoid all internal stimulation. It means being intentional about where pressure is concentrated. Small adjustments in angle can make a significant difference.
Work With Your Pelvic Floor
Your pelvic floor muscles play a role in the reflexive release of fluid. Some people find that consciously relaxing these muscles during buildup toward orgasm reduces the expulsive force. Others find the opposite: that actively engaging (squeezing) the pelvic floor just before orgasm helps them maintain control. The right approach varies from person to person, and it often takes some experimentation.
If you’re not sure how to isolate your pelvic floor muscles, try stopping the flow of urine midstream once to identify the sensation, then practice contracting and relaxing those muscles outside of sexual situations. Over time, this gives you more voluntary control over the muscles involved in the release reflex. Consistent pelvic floor exercises can improve your ability to engage these muscles at the moment it matters.
Manage Arousal Intensity
Squirting tends to happen during periods of very intense, sustained arousal, especially when stimulation builds without interruption. Slowing down, taking brief pauses, or switching between types of stimulation can keep arousal from reaching the threshold where the reflex kicks in. Think of it as edging in reverse: rather than building toward maximum intensity, you’re deliberately moderating the climb.
This approach works best when combined with awareness of your own body’s signals. Many people who squirt regularly describe a recognizable “building pressure” sensation in the moments before it happens. If you can identify that feeling, you can use it as a cue to pause, shift positions, or redirect stimulation.
Practical Solutions for the Mess
If reducing squirting isn’t fully achievable, or if you’d rather not sacrifice the stimulation you enjoy, managing the aftermath is a valid alternative. Waterproof mattress protectors, absorbent sex blankets (sold specifically for this purpose), or folded towels placed underneath you can eliminate the stress of cleanup and laundry. For some people, removing the anxiety about making a mess actually reduces the intensity of the response, since stress and self-consciousness about squirting can paradoxically heighten awareness of the sensation and make it feel harder to control.
Squirting is a normal physiological response that your body produces involuntarily. You can influence how often and how intensely it happens through bladder management, stimulation choices, and pelvic floor awareness, but complete elimination isn’t always realistic. Finding the combination of strategies that works for your body usually takes some trial and adjustment.