Squirting is the expulsion of fluid from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. It’s a real physiological response, though it’s less common than pop culture suggests, with an estimated prevalence of about 5% of women. The topic has been surrounded by confusion for years, partly because squirting, female ejaculation, and urinary incontinence during sex are three distinct phenomena that often get lumped together under one term.
What the Fluid Actually Contains
Research has consistently found that squirting fluid is primarily dilute urine. It contains urea, creatinine, and uric acid, the same chemical markers found in urine, though typically at lower concentrations. In a study from Okayama University, researchers confirmed that squirted fluids consisted mainly of urine in every case tested.
But that’s not the whole story. In four out of five participants in that same study, the fluid also contained prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the Skene’s glands. PSA is not found in urine, which means the fluid is a mixture: mostly urine, but often blended with secretions from glandular tissue near the urethra. This is why calling it “just pee” is an oversimplification, even though the bladder is clearly involved.
Squirting vs. Female Ejaculation
These two terms are used interchangeably in everyday conversation, but they describe different things. Female ejaculation involves a small amount of thick, milky white fluid released from the Skene’s glands. This fluid is rich in PSA, glucose, and fructose, with very low levels of the compounds found in urine. Its composition is actually closer to components of male semen (minus the sperm) than it is to urine.
Squirting, by contrast, produces a larger volume of clear, watery fluid that exits through the urethra and is chemically closer to dilute urine. It’s possible to experience both at the same time, since the Skene’s glands can release their secretion into the urethra as the bladder empties. This explains why squirting fluid sometimes contains PSA and sometimes doesn’t.
There’s also a third category: coital incontinence, which is involuntary loss of bladder control during sex. This affects a significant number of women, with estimates ranging from 20% to 45% of those with stress urinary incontinence. Coital incontinence is tied to pelvic floor issues rather than sexual arousal, though it can happen alongside orgasm, making it easy to confuse with squirting.
Where the Fluid Comes From
The Skene’s glands sit on either side of the urethral opening and are sometimes called the female prostate because they develop from the same embryonic tissue as the male prostate gland. They have tiny openings that are nearly impossible to see with the naked eye. During sexual arousal, blood flow to the area increases and the surrounding tissue swells, prompting the glands to secrete fluid that helps with lubrication.
In some people, these glands produce enough fluid during orgasm to create a noticeable release. The size and development of the Skene’s glands varies significantly from person to person, which likely explains why some women squirt and most don’t. Women whose Skene’s glands are larger or more developed may produce more of the PSA-containing secretion that mixes with the fluid expelled during squirting.
The bladder plays a role too. Ultrasound studies have shown that the bladder fills rapidly during arousal, even when it was recently emptied, and then empties during the squirting event. This rapid filling and release is distinct from normal urination, though the exact mechanism that triggers it isn’t fully understood.
What Triggers It
Squirting is most commonly associated with stimulation of the anterior vaginal wall, the area sometimes referred to as the G-spot. This region sits directly against the Skene’s glands and the urethral sponge, so pressure on it stimulates the tissue responsible for producing ejaculatory fluid. Pelvic floor muscle contractions during orgasm also appear to play a role in the expulsion itself.
Not everyone who receives this type of stimulation will squirt. The response depends on individual anatomy, the degree of arousal, and likely the size of the Skene’s glands. Some women report squirting regularly, others experience it once or twice, and most never do. None of these outcomes is abnormal.
Why It’s Often Misunderstood
Much of the confusion around squirting comes from two competing oversimplifications: that it’s “just urine” or that it’s a completely separate sexual fluid with no connection to the bladder. The research shows it’s neither. It’s a real physiological response involving the bladder, the urethra, and the Skene’s glands, producing fluid that is chemically distinct from plain urine even though the bladder contributes most of the volume.
The stigma around squirting often stems from its association with urination, which can cause embarrassment or anxiety during sex. Understanding the actual biology can help. The fluid’s composition, its connection to arousal and orgasm, and the involvement of glandular secretions all distinguish it from simple loss of bladder control. At the same time, the volume and appearance can vary widely from one person to the next and from one experience to another, so there’s no single “normal” version of what squirting looks like.