When a female squirts, fluid is released from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm, typically in a sudden gush. The volume can range from a small amount to hundreds of milliliters, and the experience is often described as an intense, involuntary release that accompanies a strong orgasm. Roughly 10 to 40 percent of women experience this regularly or occasionally.
Where the Fluid Comes From
Squirting fluid exits through the urethra, not the vagina. Ultrasound studies have confirmed this by scanning women before and after squirting. In a 2014 study led by French gynecologist Samuel Salama, ultrasounds on seven women showed their bladders were full just before squirting and empty directly afterward, confirming the bladder as the primary source. The fluid itself is mostly clear and watery, and can range from tens to hundreds of milliliters.
This is where things get more nuanced, because squirting and female ejaculation are technically two different events that sometimes happen at the same time. Female ejaculation is the release of about 1 milliliter of thick, white, milky fluid from the Skene’s glands, two tiny glands (roughly the size of a small blueberry) located on either side of the urethra. These glands develop from the same embryonic cells as the male prostate, and the fluid they produce contains proteins similar to those found in semen. Squirting, by contrast, involves a much larger volume of dilute, clear fluid that comes primarily from the bladder. During a squirting episode, a small contribution from the Skene’s glands may mix in with the bladder fluid.
What Happens Inside the Body
During sexual arousal, blood flow increases to the entire pelvic region. The Skene’s glands swell in response to this increased circulation and begin secreting fluid. At the same time, the bladder appears to fill rapidly. Researchers still aren’t entirely sure why the bladder fills so quickly during arousal, but the ultrasound evidence is consistent: the bladder goes from relatively empty to noticeably full in a short period, then empties at the moment of squirting.
The release itself is involuntary. The pelvic floor muscles contract during orgasm, and this muscular activity is thought to play a role in expelling the fluid. Squirting can happen with or without orgasm, though it most commonly occurs alongside one. It is often linked to stimulation of the G-spot (a sensitive area on the front wall of the vagina, a few inches inside) or clitoral stimulation, or both at once.
What It Feels Like
Women who experience squirting consistently describe it as an intense physical release. Many report a building pressure or fullness in the pelvic area beforehand, followed by a sudden sensation of letting go. The orgasms associated with squirting tend to be stronger than average. One common description is a wave-like buildup of both physical and emotional intensity that peaks at the moment of release.
Some women describe the sensation as similar to the feeling of needing to urinate, which can cause hesitation or tension during the experience. This makes sense given that the fluid is being expelled through the urethra and originates largely from the bladder. Subsequent squirting episodes during the same session are often less intense, with less fluid released each time.
Squirting vs. Urinary Incontinence
Because squirting involves fluid from the bladder exiting through the urethra, a natural question is whether it’s simply urination. The short answer: it’s not the same thing, though there is overlap. Researchers classify peri-orgasmic fluids into several categories, including vaginal lubrication, female ejaculation, squirting, and coital incontinence (involuntary urine leakage during sex). These all occur naturally but have different biochemical profiles.
Squirting fluid is more dilute than typical urine and may contain small amounts of prostatic proteins from the Skene’s glands. Coital incontinence, on the other hand, is a recognized medical condition involving involuntary loss of urine during intercourse, usually related to pelvic floor weakness. The two can feel similar, but they arise from different physiological triggers. If the fluid release happens specifically during arousal or orgasm and doesn’t occur at other times, it is more likely squirting than incontinence.
Common Triggers and Stimulation
The most frequently reported trigger is G-spot stimulation, either with fingers, a partner, or a curved toy angled toward the front vaginal wall. Pressure on this area stimulates the tissue surrounding the urethra and Skene’s glands. Clitoral stimulation at the same time increases the likelihood, because it engages a broader network of nerve endings in the pelvic region. Penetrative positions that create consistent pressure on the front wall of the vagina can also contribute.
Relaxation plays a significant role. Because the sensation can mimic the urge to urinate, tensing up is a common response that works against the reflex. Women who experience squirting frequently describe learning to relax into the building pressure rather than resisting it. The experience varies widely from person to person. Some women squirt easily and regularly, others only occasionally, and many never do. All of these are normal variations. The size of the Skene’s glands differs between individuals, which likely contributes to this range of experiences.