Squirting fluid exits the body through the urethra, the same opening where urine comes out. It does not come from the vaginal opening. However, there’s a second, related fluid called female ejaculate that exits from tiny ducts right next to the urethra. These are two distinct processes that often get lumped together, and understanding the difference clears up a lot of confusion.
Squirting Exits Through the Urethra
The urethra is a small opening located between the clitoris and the vaginal opening. During squirting, a relatively large volume of clear fluid, ranging from tens to hundreds of milliliters, is released from this opening, typically during orgasm or intense arousal. Pelvic ultrasound studies have confirmed that the fluid comes from the bladder. It contains urea, creatinine, and uric acid, all substances produced by the kidneys and collected in the bladder. In other words, squirting fluid is chemically a very dilute form of urine, though it’s produced rapidly during arousal rather than through the normal urination process.
This is why squirting can feel similar to the sensation of needing to pee. The bladder fills quickly during stimulation, and the fluid is expelled through the same tube. It’s not the same as urinating, but it shares the same exit route and some of the same chemical markers.
Female Ejaculate Comes From a Different Source
What many people call “squirting” is actually two separate phenomena. True female ejaculate is a small amount, roughly 1 milliliter, of thick, whitish, milky fluid. It comes from the Skene’s glands (sometimes called the female prostate), two tiny ducts that sit on either side of the urethra. These glands have their own microscopic openings near the urethral opening, though they’re nearly impossible to see with the naked eye.
The composition of this fluid is strikingly different from squirting. Female ejaculate contains high levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), fructose, and glucose, making it biochemically similar to components of male semen. The Skene’s glands swell during sexual arousal as blood flow increases to the area, and they may release this fluid during orgasm.
Both fluids can be released at the same time, which is part of why they’ve been so hard to study and why most people think of them as one thing. In practice, squirting often involves a mix of the dilute bladder fluid and a smaller amount of the thicker glandular secretion.
Why the Two Get Confused
Porn typically shows squirting as a dramatic gush of fluid, which is the large-volume bladder-origin type. The smaller, thicker ejaculate from the Skene’s glands is far less visible and often goes unnoticed. A 2015 biochemical study confirmed this distinction by analyzing both fluids separately, finding that the squirting component matched diluted urine while the ejaculate component matched prostatic secretions.
This also explains why squirting volume varies so much from person to person. The amount of fluid the bladder accumulates during arousal differs based on hydration, the length and type of stimulation, and individual anatomy. The Skene’s glands themselves vary significantly in size between people, and some produce more secretion than others.
How Common Is It
Survey data on female ejaculation and squirting varies widely depending on how the question is asked. One population-based survey found that 54% of 233 women reported a spurt of fluid at orgasm. A larger mail survey of 1,172 women put the number at about 40%. Other research has estimated figures as low as 5%. The wide range likely reflects differences in definitions, since some surveys distinguish squirting from ejaculation and others don’t, and many people may experience small amounts of fluid without recognizing it as ejaculation.
The Role of the Skene’s Glands
The Skene’s glands do more than produce ejaculate. They secrete a lubricating substance around the urethral opening during urination, which helps protect against urinary tract infections. During arousal, the surrounding tissue swells with increased blood flow, contributing to the overall engorgement of the vulvar area. The glands contain tissue that is structurally similar to the male prostate, which is why researchers sometimes refer to them as the female prostate.
Because these glands are so small and variable in size, they don’t show up on most imaging. Their openings are located in the vestibule of the vulva, the area just inside the labia minora where the urethral and vaginal openings are found. Even during active secretion, the amount of fluid they produce is small enough that it can easily be missed or attributed to other sources of vaginal lubrication.
So to answer the question directly: squirting fluid comes out of the urethral opening, not the vagina. The smaller, thicker ejaculate comes from the Skene’s gland ducts located right beside the urethra. Both exit points are within millimeters of each other, which is why it looks like a single event from the outside.