Squirting is the release of fluid from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. The volume can range from a small amount to hundreds of milliliters, and it happens with or without orgasm. It’s a normal physiological response that somewhere between 5% and 54% of women report experiencing, depending on the survey.
Despite how often it comes up in conversations and porn, there’s been genuine confusion about what this fluid actually is and where it comes from. Researchers have only recently started untangling the answers, and the picture is more nuanced than most people realize.
Squirting and Female Ejaculation Are Different Things
One of the biggest sources of confusion is that “squirting” and “female ejaculation” are often used interchangeably, but they’re two distinct processes that can happen separately or at the same time.
Female ejaculation is the release of about 1 milliliter of thick, milky white fluid from the Skene’s glands, two small ducts located on either side of the urethra. These glands develop from the same embryonic tissue as the prostate in males, which is why they’re sometimes called the “female prostate.” The fluid they produce contains prostate-specific antigen (PSA), fructose, and glucose, a composition similar to seminal fluid.
Squirting, by contrast, involves a much larger volume of clear fluid, anywhere from tens to hundreds of milliliters. This fluid exits through the urethra but originates primarily from the bladder. Biochemical analyses show it contains urea, creatinine, and uric acid, the same compounds found in urine, confirming it’s produced in the kidneys and collected in the bladder. However, squirting fluid can also contain small amounts of PSA, fructose, and glucose. That overlap suggests the Skene’s glands often contribute some secretion during squirting, making the two processes happen simultaneously.
What the Fluid Actually Contains
A widely cited 2015 study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine used ultrasound and biochemical testing to track exactly what happens during squirting. Researchers collected urine samples before arousal, the squirting fluid itself, and urine samples afterward. Urea, creatinine, and uric acid concentrations were comparable across all three samples, confirming the fluid’s bladder origin.
The more interesting finding involved PSA. In six out of seven participants, PSA was absent from the urine collected before stimulation. But after squirting, PSA showed up in the squirting fluid and in the post-squirting urine of five out of seven participants. This means the Skene’s glands were actively secreting during the process, mixing their output with the bladder-origin fluid. So the fluid isn’t simply urine, but it isn’t entirely separate from it either. It’s a blend, with the proportions varying from person to person.
Where the Fluid Comes From Anatomically
The Skene’s glands sit on either side of the urethra, near the opening where urine exits the body. They’re small, and their size varies significantly between individuals. Some women have prominent Skene’s glands, others have very small ones, and this variation likely plays a role in whether someone produces noticeable ejaculatory fluid.
The larger-volume squirting fluid fills the bladder rapidly during arousal. Ultrasound imaging in studies has shown that even when a woman empties her bladder right before sexual activity, the bladder refills noticeably during stimulation and empties again during squirting. The kidneys appear to ramp up fluid production during high arousal, though exactly why this happens isn’t fully understood.
What Triggers It
Squirting most commonly occurs with stimulation of the G-spot (the area on the front wall of the vagina, a few inches inside) or the clitoris, though it can result from either type of stimulation or both together. It doesn’t require orgasm. Some women squirt before orgasm, some during, and some without orgasming at all.
Many women report feeling a strong urge to urinate just before squirting, which makes sense given the bladder’s involvement. That sensation leads some women to tense up or hold back, thinking they’re about to urinate. Relaxing through that feeling is what many women who squirt describe as the key moment.
How Common It Is
Estimates vary wildly depending on how the question is asked. In one population-based 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 study of 300 women found only about 5% reported the experience. The International Society for Sexual Medicine groups squirting under “peri-orgasmic fluid” alongside vaginal lubrication, female ejaculation, and stress incontinence during sex, all of which are considered natural occurrences with different underlying mechanisms.
The wide range in prevalence numbers likely reflects differences in how studies define squirting, whether women recognize it when it happens (small amounts can go unnoticed), and how comfortable respondents feel reporting it. Some women experience it regularly, others only occasionally under specific conditions, and many never do. None of these patterns is abnormal.
Why the Volume Varies So Much
Some women produce barely noticeable moisture, while others release enough fluid to soak through sheets. This variation comes down to a few factors: the size and activity of the Skene’s glands, how much fluid the bladder accumulates during arousal, hydration levels, and the type and intensity of stimulation. Pornography tends to show only the most dramatic end of the spectrum, which can create unrealistic expectations in both directions. Some women feel pressure to squirt, while others who do squirt feel embarrassed by the volume. Both reactions are based on a skewed picture of what’s typical.
The proteins found in Skene’s gland secretions are similar to those in male seminal fluid, reinforcing the idea that these glands are a functional analog of the prostate. But unlike the prostate, which is relatively uniform in size across men, the Skene’s glands vary enormously between women. In some, they’re barely detectable on imaging. This anatomical variation is the simplest explanation for why some women ejaculate easily and others don’t, regardless of technique or arousal level.