The fluid released during squirting is primarily a diluted form of urine, mixed with small amounts of secretions from the Skene’s glands (sometimes called the female prostate). It’s mostly clear, watery, and released in volumes ranging from tens to hundreds of milliliters through the urethra. This is distinct from female ejaculation, which is a separate, much smaller release of thick, milky fluid. The two are often confused, but they differ in source, volume, and composition.
What’s Actually in the Fluid
Squirting fluid contains urea, creatinine, and uric acid, the same waste products found in urine. This confirms it’s produced by the kidneys and stored in the bladder before release. However, the concentrations of these substances are lower than in regular urine. Studies comparing the two show that squirting fluid has roughly moderate levels of urea and creatinine, while voided urine has high levels. So while it originates from the same place as urine, it’s chemically diluted.
The fluid also contains trace amounts of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), fructose, and glucose. These come from the Skene’s glands, two small structures located on either side of the urethra. The Skene’s glands develop from the same embryonic tissue as the male prostate, which is why they produce some of the same proteins found in semen. During arousal, the glands swell with increased blood flow and release a small amount of secretion that mixes into the squirting fluid. This is why the fluid isn’t purely urine, even though most of it is.
Scientists still don’t fully agree on whether squirting fluid should be classified as urine or as a distinct diluted variant. The presence of prostatic secretions makes it biochemically different, but the bulk of the volume clearly comes from the bladder.
Squirting vs. Female Ejaculation
These terms are used interchangeably in everyday conversation, but researchers treat them as two different events. Female ejaculation is the release of about 1 milliliter of thick, white, milky fluid from the Skene’s glands. It’s rich in PSA, fructose, and glucose, giving it a composition similar to seminal fluid. You might not even notice it happening because the volume is so small.
Squirting, by contrast, involves a much larger gush of clear, watery fluid from the urethra. The volume can range from a small splash to over 100 milliliters. It’s the type most commonly depicted in pornography, which has contributed to confusion about what it actually is. Some people experience both simultaneously: a large release of diluted bladder fluid combined with a small amount of Skene’s gland secretion. Others experience one without the other.
Where the Fluid Comes From
Imaging studies have shown that the bladder fills rapidly during sexual arousal, even in participants who emptied their bladder immediately before the study began. The fluid is then expelled through the urethra during orgasm or intense stimulation. This rapid filling is part of why the fluid ends up more diluted than typical urine.
The Skene’s glands sit alongside the urethra and drain into it through tiny ducts near the urethral opening. Their contribution is small in volume but significant in composition, adding the prostatic proteins that distinguish squirting fluid from plain urine. The size and activity of these glands vary from person to person, which partly explains why the experience differs so much between individuals.
What Triggers It
Stimulation of the G-spot, located on the front wall of the vagina a few inches in, is most commonly associated with squirting. This area sits directly over the Skene’s glands and the surrounding erectile tissue, which is why firm, rhythmic pressure there tends to produce the sensation of fluid release. Internal pressure builds as the tissue becomes engorged with blood, and the release of that pressure during orgasm can result in expulsion of fluid from both the bladder and the glands.
Not all squirting happens during orgasm. Some people experience it during high arousal without climaxing. The estimated prevalence is around 5%, though survey numbers vary widely depending on how the question is asked and whether respondents distinguish between squirting and general vaginal wetness.
Why It Looks and Smells Different From Urine
People who experience squirting often note that the fluid doesn’t look or smell like urine, which is one reason the “it’s just pee” explanation feels incomplete. The dilution effect is a big part of this. Because the bladder fills quickly during arousal, the fluid has less time to concentrate waste products, resulting in a lighter color, milder odor, and thinner consistency than what you’d see from a normal trip to the bathroom. The addition of Skene’s gland secretions further changes its character.
The fluid is typically clear or very slightly yellowish, with little to no odor. On fabric or sheets, it tends to dry without leaving the kind of stain concentrated urine would. This doesn’t mean it isn’t bladder-derived. It just means the composition shifts enough during arousal to make it noticeably different from regular urine in everyday, practical terms.