A squirting orgasm is the expulsion of fluid from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. It can range from a small gush to a larger volume, and it happens to an estimated 40 to 54 percent of women at some point, based on survey data. Despite how common it is, squirting remains one of the more misunderstood aspects of female sexual response, partly because the science is still catching up and partly because it gets tangled up with myths from pornography.
What Actually Happens During Squirting
During intense sexual stimulation, some women release fluid from the urethra (the same opening urine exits from). This can happen at the moment of orgasm, just before it, or during a prolonged period of arousal without a distinct orgasm. The amount of fluid varies widely. Some women describe a small trickle they barely notice, while others produce enough to soak through bedding.
The sensation leading up to it is often described as a building pressure, similar to the feeling of needing to urinate. That resemblance is actually a clue to where the fluid comes from, and it’s also the reason many women instinctively clench and hold back rather than letting it happen. Women who do squirt frequently report that relaxing into that pressure, rather than fighting it, is what allows the release.
Where the Fluid Comes From
The fluid’s composition has been a topic of genuine scientific debate. Research now points to a mix: the liquid contains urea and creatinine, two waste products normally found in urine, confirming that at least part of the fluid originates in the bladder. But it also contains prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a substance produced by the Skene’s glands, not found in regular urine. That combination suggests squirting fluid is dilute urine mixed with secretions from the Skene’s glands.
A study from Okayama University demonstrated this directly. Researchers emptied participants’ bladders via catheter, then injected a blue dye before sexual stimulation. When the women squirted, the fluid came out blue, proving the bladder was involved. The bladder had rapidly refilled during arousal, something confirmed in earlier ultrasound studies showing an empty bladder before stimulation and a full one just prior to squirting.
This is worth understanding because many women feel embarrassed or worried they’re “just peeing.” The fluid does come partly from the bladder, but it’s produced under different circumstances than normal urination, and it typically looks, smells, and feels different from urine. Knowing this can remove a layer of anxiety that interferes with arousal.
The Role of the Skene’s Glands
The Skene’s glands are two small glands located on either side of the urethra, near the opening. They develop from the same embryonic tissue that becomes the prostate in males, which is why they’re sometimes called the female prostate. During arousal, these glands produce PSA and other secretions that drain into the urethra and mix with whatever fluid the bladder releases.
The size and development of the Skene’s glands vary significantly from person to person. Some women have prominent glands, others have very small ones, and a small percentage may lack them entirely. This anatomical variation likely explains part of why some women squirt easily, some only under certain conditions, and some never do. It’s a difference in anatomy, not in arousal or “skill.”
Stimulation That Triggers It
Squirting is most commonly associated with stimulation of the area known as the G-spot, which isn’t a single button-like spot but a zone felt through the front (anterior) wall of the vagina, roughly 2 to 3 inches inside. This area sits right over the internal structures of the clitoris, the urethra, and the Skene’s glands. When pressure is applied there, all of those tissues swell with blood, and the Skene’s glands can begin producing fluid.
Research from Beverly Whipple, who helped popularize the term “G-spot,” showed that firm, rhythmic pressure on this area can raise pain thresholds by 40 percent, indicating it activates a distinct neurological pathway. That deep-pressure stimulation, often described as a “come hither” motion with the fingers, is what most commonly leads to squirting. Clitoral stimulation alone can also trigger it in some women, and for others it’s the combination of both.
Mental state matters as much as physical technique. Tension, self-consciousness, or actively trying to prevent the “need to pee” sensation will typically stop it from happening. Women who squirt regularly often describe it as requiring a specific kind of letting go, both muscularly (relaxing the pelvic floor) and mentally (not worrying about what will come out).
How Common It Is
Surveys put the number higher than most people expect. In a study of 1,172 women by Darling and colleagues, 39.5 percent reported experiencing ejaculation of fluid during sex. A separate survey by Bullough found 54 percent of 233 women reported a spurt of fluid at orgasm. The wide range across studies reflects differences in how the question is asked and whether women recognize what’s happening as ejaculation rather than, say, excess vaginal lubrication or slight incontinence.
Interestingly, when people are asked how common they think female ejaculation is, the most common answer is “about 10 percent of women.” The actual numbers are three to five times higher. This gap between perception and reality contributes to the sense that squirting is rare or abnormal, when it’s neither.
Squirting vs. Female Ejaculation
Some researchers draw a distinction between squirting and female ejaculation, treating them as two separate events that can happen independently or together. Under this framework, female ejaculation refers to a small amount (a few milliliters) of thick, milky fluid produced by the Skene’s glands. Squirting refers to the larger, more watery gush that comes primarily from the bladder.
In practice, most women experience some blend of both, and the distinction matters more to researchers than to anyone in bed. What people colloquially call “squirting” usually involves fluid from both sources. The ratio varies depending on hydration, the intensity and duration of stimulation, and individual anatomy.
Why Some Women Experience It and Others Don’t
Several factors influence whether squirting happens. Skene’s gland size is one: women with larger glands produce more PSA-containing secretion and may be more responsive to G-spot pressure. Pelvic floor strength plays a role too. A strong pelvic floor can create more forceful contractions during orgasm, which may push fluid out rather than allowing it to flow back into the bladder.
Comfort level and arousal are equally important. Squirting tends to happen during prolonged, high-intensity arousal rather than quick encounters. Women who’ve experienced it often report it took time, sometimes months or years of sexual activity, before it first happened. Not experiencing it says nothing about sexual health or satisfaction. It’s one of many possible responses to stimulation, not a benchmark.