The fluid released during squirting comes primarily from the bladder and exits through the urethra, not the vagina. It is largely a diluted form of urine mixed with small amounts of secretions from glands near the urethra. This is a normal physiological response to sexual arousal, and research over the past two decades has clarified both what the fluid contains and where it comes from.
Squirting and Ejaculation Are Two Different Things
One of the biggest sources of confusion is that “squirting” and “female ejaculation” are often used interchangeably, but they describe two distinct events that can happen separately or at the same time.
Squirting refers to a larger gush or stream of clear, watery fluid expelled from the urethra during arousal or orgasm. This fluid originates in the bladder. Ultrasound studies have shown that the bladder is empty before sexual stimulation begins, fills rapidly during arousal, and then empties again at the moment of squirting. The volume varies widely. Sometimes it soaks the sheets, sometimes it’s a small trickle.
Female ejaculation is a separate, much smaller release of thick, milky white fluid. This comes from the Skene’s glands, two tiny ducts located on either side of the urethral opening. These glands develop from the same embryonic tissue that becomes the prostate in males, which is why they’re sometimes called the “female prostate.” The fluid they produce contains proteins similar to those found in male semen, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and fructose.
What the Fluid Actually Contains
Biochemical analysis of squirting fluid shows it contains urea, creatinine, and uric acid at concentrations comparable to urine. These are waste products filtered by the kidneys, which confirms the fluid is collected in the bladder. However, there’s still debate among researchers about whether it’s chemically identical to regular urine or a more diluted version. The answer may depend on how much urine was already in the bladder when arousal began.
What makes the fluid different from a typical urine sample is the presence of PSA and prostatic acid phosphatase, both secreted by the Skene’s glands. These compounds mix into the fluid as it passes through the urethra. People who have experienced squirting consistently report that the fluid doesn’t look, smell, or taste like urine, and the biochemical profile supports that it’s at least somewhat distinct.
The milky ejaculatory fluid from the Skene’s glands has a clearly different composition. It contains higher concentrations of glucose than urine (though still 10 to 15 times lower than in male prostatic fluid), along with PSA, fructose, and other markers typically associated with prostate tissue. This fluid is produced in very small quantities, often just a few drops.
Where the Fluid Comes From
Both types of fluid exit through the urethra, which is the same opening used for urination. Neither comes from the vagina itself, despite how it can appear during sex.
The Skene’s glands sit just beside the urethral opening and swell during sexual stimulation. They secrete fluid during arousal that serves a dual purpose: lubricating the urethral opening and helping protect against urinary tract infections by creating an antimicrobial barrier. During orgasm, these glands can release a thicker, mucus-like substance that mixes with whatever other fluid is being expelled.
The bladder’s role in squirting was demonstrated in a well-known study where participants were given a blue dye to drink before sexual stimulation. The expelled fluid came out blue, confirming its origin in the bladder. The kidneys appear to rapidly produce and send fluid to the bladder during arousal through a mechanism that isn’t fully understood yet.
How Common Squirting Is
Estimates vary dramatically depending on how the question is asked. In one population survey of 233 women, 54% reported a spurt of fluid at orgasm. A larger mail survey of 1,172 women found that about 40% identified as having experienced ejaculation. On the low end, one clinical study of 300 women found only about 5% ejaculated during observed sexual stimulation.
The wide range likely reflects differences in definitions (squirting vs. ejaculation vs. any fluid release), the amount of fluid involved, and whether participants recognized or noticed it happening. Some people experience a dramatic gush, while others produce such a small amount that it goes unnoticed. Factors like anatomy, pelvic floor muscle strength, and nerve sensitivity all play a role in whether squirting occurs and how much fluid is involved.
Why It Happens
The exact trigger isn’t fully mapped out, but several factors contribute. Sexual arousal causes the tissues around the urethra and Skene’s glands to engorge with blood, similar to erection in males. Stimulation of the anterior vaginal wall (the area often called the G-spot) puts direct pressure on these structures and the urethra from inside the vaginal canal.
Strong pelvic floor muscles appear to make squirting more likely. The muscular contractions of orgasm can create enough pressure to expel fluid from both the bladder and the Skene’s glands simultaneously. This is an involuntary reflex for most people, not something consciously controlled, and it can happen with or without orgasm.
The rapid filling of the bladder during arousal remains the least understood part of the process. The kidneys seem to accelerate urine production in response to sexual stimulation, but why this happens in some people and not others is still an open question. It does not indicate a bladder control problem, and it’s considered a normal variation in sexual response.