Squirting is the release of fluid from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. It’s a real physiological response, not a myth, and surveys suggest somewhere between 10% and 54% of women have experienced it at least once. Despite how common it is, the exact mechanism is still debated, though recent research has clarified a lot about where the fluid comes from and what it contains.
Where the Fluid Comes From
A 2015 ultrasound study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine tracked what happens inside the body before, during, and after squirting. Participants emptied their bladders, then researchers confirmed with ultrasound that the bladder was completely empty. During sexual stimulation, the bladder rapidly refilled. After squirting, the ultrasound showed the bladder had emptied again. This confirmed that the fluid released during squirting originates primarily from the bladder and exits through the urethra.
That doesn’t mean it’s simply urine, though. The fluid is typically clear and odorless, and chemical analysis shows it contains urea (a compound found in urine) but also prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, which is produced by the Skene’s glands. These are two tiny glands that sit on either side of the urethra. During arousal, they secrete fluid that mixes with what the bladder releases. So squirting fluid is best described as a dilute mix: mostly water from the bladder, with contributions from glandular secretions.
Squirting vs. Female Ejaculation
Researchers actually distinguish between two different events, even though people use the terms interchangeably. Female ejaculation refers to a small amount of thick, milky white fluid released from the Skene’s glands during orgasm. It doesn’t gush or spray. You might not even notice it. Squirting, by contrast, involves a larger volume of clear, watery fluid that can come out forcefully. It also doesn’t require orgasm to happen. Some women squirt from arousal alone.
The International Society for Sexual Medicine notes that the two can occur simultaneously. A woman might ejaculate a small amount of glandular fluid at the same time a larger volume of dilute fluid is released from the bladder. This overlap is part of why the topic has been so confusing for both researchers and the general public.
The Role of the Skene’s Glands
The Skene’s glands are sometimes called the “female prostate” because they produce PSA, the same marker associated with the male prostate. They sit just inside the opening of the urethra, with tiny ducts that are nearly impossible to see with the naked eye. Their day-to-day job appears to be lubricating the urethral opening, but during sexual arousal, they become more active and secrete additional fluid.
The size of these glands varies significantly from person to person. Some women have larger, more developed Skene’s glands, while in others they’re almost vestigial. This anatomical variation likely explains why some women squirt easily, others rarely, and some never do. It’s not a skill issue or a matter of arousal level. It’s partly structural.
What Triggers It
Squirting is most commonly associated with stimulation of the G-spot, the area on the front wall of the vagina a few inches inside, which sits directly over the Skene’s glands and the surrounding erectile tissue. Pressure on this area can stimulate the glands and the surrounding network of nerves. That said, some women squirt from clitoral stimulation alone, and others experience it during penetration without any targeted G-spot focus.
Pelvic floor strength may also play a role. Some experts believe that stronger pelvic floor muscles make squirting more likely, possibly because the contractions during arousal or orgasm generate more pressure on the bladder and surrounding tissues. But this hasn’t been studied rigorously enough to say with certainty.
One important point: squirting can happen without orgasm, and orgasm can happen without squirting. The two are related but independent events. Women who squirt often describe a sensation of building pressure followed by release, which can feel pleasurable on its own regardless of whether a full orgasm accompanies it.
How Common It Is
Surveys produce wildly different numbers depending on how the question is asked. One population-based study found 54% of 233 women reported a spurt of fluid at orgasm. A large mail survey found about 40% of 1,172 respondents identified as having experienced it. Other research puts the number far lower, with one study concluding only about 5% of 300 women ejaculated. The wide range reflects differences in definitions (squirting vs. ejaculation vs. incidental fluid release), how comfortable participants are reporting it, and whether the survey captures a one-time event or a regular experience.
What’s clear is that it’s a normal physiological response. It’s not a sign of urinary incontinence, though the two can occasionally overlap. Many women who squirt initially worry something is wrong, when in reality the experience falls well within the range of typical sexual function.
Why It Can Feel Confusing
Because the fluid comes partly from the bladder and exits through the urethra, squirting can feel like the urge to urinate. This sensation causes some women to tense up or stop stimulation right before it happens. The fluid itself, however, is chemically distinct from a full bladder release. It’s more dilute, often contains glandular secretions, and is produced under completely different circumstances than normal urination.
There’s also the influence of pornography, which has dramatically exaggerated what squirting looks like. In real life, the volume and force vary enormously. For some women it’s a small gush, for others a barely noticeable trickle. The theatrical version rarely reflects the actual experience, which can create unrealistic expectations for both women and their partners.