Squirting is the expulsion of fluid from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. It’s a normal physiological response that roughly 40% of adult women in the U.S. report experiencing at least once in their lifetime, based on a nationally representative survey of women ages 18 to 93. Despite how common it is, squirting remains one of the more misunderstood aspects of sexual health, partly because researchers themselves are still sorting out exactly what the fluid contains and where it comes from.
Where the Fluid Comes From
Two structures play a role in squirting: the bladder and a pair of tiny ducts called the Skene’s glands, which sit on either side of the urethra. The Skene’s glands develop from the same embryonic tissue that becomes the prostate in males, which is why they’re sometimes called the “female prostate.” During arousal, the tissue surrounding these glands swells, and they secrete a mucus-like fluid that can be released during orgasm.
Imaging studies have helped clarify the bladder’s involvement. In one well-known study, researchers performed ultrasound scans on women at three points: after they fully emptied their bladders, again during sexual stimulation just before squirting, and immediately after. In every participant, the bladder was confirmed empty at the start, noticeably refilled during arousal, and emptied again after squirting. A separate study went further by inserting a catheter, draining the bladder completely, and injecting a blue dye solution before stimulation. The squirted fluid contained the dye, confirming it had passed through the bladder.
So the fluid is primarily produced by the bladder during arousal, but it’s not simply stored urine being released. It accumulates rapidly in a way that normal urine production doesn’t, and its chemical composition differs from a typical urine sample.
What’s Actually in the Fluid
This is where the science gets interesting and where researchers still disagree. The fluid does contain some components found in urine, like urea and creatinine, which makes sense given that it passes through the bladder and urethra. But analysis also shows markers you wouldn’t expect in urine alone, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and elevated glucose levels. PSA is the same protein produced by the male prostate, and in women it originates from the Skene’s glands.
The presence of PSA suggests that Skene’s gland secretions mix with the bladder fluid before or during expulsion. In biochemical studies, the fluid’s profile more closely matched prostatic plasma than voided urine, which is a meaningful distinction. The practical takeaway: squirting fluid is a dilute mixture, mostly from the bladder but with contributions from the Skene’s glands that make it chemically distinct from urine.
Squirting vs. Female Ejaculation
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but researchers treat them as different events. Female ejaculation refers to a small release of thick, milky white fluid from the Skene’s glands. It’s typically low volume and may not be noticeable at all. Squirting, by contrast, involves a larger gush of thinner, more watery fluid that comes primarily from the bladder. Some women experience both simultaneously, while others experience one or the other, or neither.
The volume difference is the most obvious distinction. Ejaculate from the Skene’s glands is measured in drops. Squirting fluid can range from a small amount to a volume large enough to soak through bedding, which is one reason it gets so much more attention.
What Triggers It
Squirting is most commonly associated with stimulation of the G-spot, the area on the front vaginal wall a couple of inches inside the opening. This region sits close to the Skene’s glands and the urethra, which likely explains the connection. Clitoral stimulation can also trigger squirting in some people, and for others it happens with a combination of both. There’s no single reliable technique that works for everyone.
About 60% of women who have experienced squirting describe it as very or somewhat pleasurable. Only about 20% report that squirting and orgasm always happen together, meaning the two are related but not the same thing. You can orgasm without squirting, squirt without orgasming, or experience both at once.
Why It Varies So Much Between People
The size and development of the Skene’s glands vary significantly from person to person. Some women have well-developed glands with prominent ducts, while in others they’re nearly absent. This anatomical variation likely explains why some people squirt easily and others never do, regardless of the type or intensity of stimulation. It’s not a skill issue or a measure of arousal. It’s largely a matter of individual anatomy.
Among women who do squirt, the median number of lifetime experiences reported in the U.S. survey was three to five times, suggesting that for most people it’s an occasional event rather than a regular one. The median age of participants in that study was about 48, with a wide age range, indicating this isn’t something limited to younger women or any particular life stage.