Squirting is the release of fluid from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. It can range from a small amount to a large gush, with reported volumes anywhere from 1 ml to 900 ml. Somewhere between 10 and 54 percent of women report experiencing it, and it can happen with or without orgasm.
Where the Fluid Comes From
The fluid exits through the urethra, not the vagina. This was a point of confusion for decades, with earlier researchers attributing it to vaginal lubrication or various glands near the vaginal opening. Ultrasound imaging during arousal has since confirmed the urethra as the exit point.
Two structures play a role. The first is the bladder itself. A 2015 study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine used ultrasound to monitor women’s bladders before, during, and after squirting. The bladders filled noticeably during arousal and emptied at the moment of squirting. Biochemical analysis of the fluid showed it is primarily composed of diluted urine, though its composition differs somewhat from regular urine.
The second structure is the Skene’s glands, two small glands located on either side of the urethra. These 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, they swell with increased blood flow and can release a small amount of milky, whitish fluid that contains proteins similar to those found in male prostatic fluid. This secretion mixes into the larger volume of fluid during squirting.
Squirting vs. Female Ejaculation
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but researchers now consider them separate events. Female ejaculation refers to the small quantity of thick, whitish fluid produced by the Skene’s glands. Squirting refers to the larger, more watery gush that comes primarily from the bladder. Both can happen at the same time, and the Skene’s gland secretions are often present in squirting fluid, but the mechanisms are distinct.
This distinction matters because the massive volume some people experience during squirting can’t be explained by the Skene’s glands alone. Those glands are tiny. The bulk of the fluid is urinary in origin, though it’s typically more diluted than what you’d see in a normal trip to the bathroom.
What Triggers It
Squirting is most commonly associated with G-spot stimulation, which targets the tissue along the front wall of the vagina. This area sits right against the urethra and the Skene’s glands, so firm pressure there can stimulate all of those structures simultaneously. Clitoral stimulation can also trigger squirting, either on its own or combined with internal stimulation.
Not everyone who receives the same type of stimulation will squirt. Individual anatomy plays a role: the size and sensitivity of the Skene’s glands vary from person to person, as does nerve density in the surrounding tissue. Pelvic floor muscle strength and the ability to relax those muscles during arousal also appear to be factors. Some researchers believe most people with vaginas could potentially squirt given the right combination of stimulation, relaxation, and arousal, but this hasn’t been conclusively proven.
Squirting does not require orgasm. Some people squirt well before climax, while others only experience it at the peak of orgasm. The two events are related but independent.
Is It the Same as Urinary Incontinence?
Because the fluid is largely urinary in composition, a natural question is whether squirting is just incontinence during sex. Researchers draw a line between the two, though it’s not always a clean one.
Coital incontinence, or the involuntary loss of urine during sex, is a recognized condition that can happen during penetration or at orgasm. It’s typically linked to pelvic floor dysfunction, particularly stress urinary incontinence, where physical pressure on the bladder causes leaking. The prevalence of coital incontinence in studies ranges widely, from less than 1 percent to as high as 66 percent depending on the population studied.
Squirting, by contrast, is associated with high levels of arousal and often feels pleasurable or intentional rather than accidental. The fluid also tends to contain those prostatic secretions from the Skene’s glands, which wouldn’t be present in simple incontinence. Still, the overlap is real, and for some people what they experience may fall somewhere between the two. Neither is harmful, and neither requires treatment unless it causes distress.
What the Skene’s Glands Do Beyond Sex
Outside of sexual arousal, the Skene’s glands serve a protective function. They secrete a substance that lubricates the urethral opening during urination and contains antimicrobial properties that help prevent urinary tract infections. During arousal, the glands swell and contribute to overall genital lubrication. Their size varies significantly between individuals, and in some people they’re so small as to be nearly undetectable, which may partly explain why not everyone experiences ejaculation or squirting.