Squirting is the release of fluid from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. It’s a normal physiological response that an estimated 10 to 40 percent of women experience at some point, either regularly or occasionally. Despite how much attention it gets in popular culture, the science behind it is straightforward, and it’s distinct from other types of fluid released during sex.
Squirting and Female Ejaculation Are Different Things
Most people use “squirting” and “female ejaculation” interchangeably, but they’re actually two separate phenomena that can happen independently or at the same time.
Female ejaculation is the release of about 1 milliliter of thick, whitish fluid from the Skene’s glands, two small ducts 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.” The fluid they produce contains prostate-specific antigen (PSA), fructose, and glucose, giving it a composition remarkably similar to seminal fluid in men. It’s a small amount, often barely noticeable.
Squirting, by contrast, involves a much larger volume of fluid, anywhere from tens to hundreds of milliliters. It’s typically clear and watery rather than thick and white. Research using pelvic ultrasounds has confirmed that this fluid comes from the bladder. Chemical analysis shows it contains urea, creatinine, and uric acid, compounds produced by the kidneys and collected in the bladder. However, in four out of five cases studied, the squirted fluid also contained PSA from the Skene’s glands, meaning it’s not purely urine either. It’s a diluted, chemically altered fluid that passes through the bladder during high arousal.
What Happens in the Body
During sexual arousal, blood flow increases to the tissues surrounding the Skene’s glands, causing them to swell. These glands begin secreting fluid that helps lubricate the area. At the same time, the bladder appears to rapidly fill with a dilute fluid. Researchers have observed this on ultrasound: women whose bladders were confirmed empty before arousal showed significant bladder filling by the time they reached orgasm. Upon orgasm or peak arousal, the pelvic muscles contract and expel this fluid through the urethra.
The exact mechanism that triggers the bladder to fill so quickly during arousal isn’t fully understood, but the process is clearly linked to sexual stimulation rather than a need to urinate. The fluid’s chemical profile differs from normal urine, even though it shares some of the same components.
Why It Doesn’t Happen for Everyone
The size of the Skene’s glands varies significantly from person to person. Some women have well-developed glands, while in others they’re very small or difficult to detect. This anatomical variation likely explains why some women ejaculate or squirt easily and others never do. Neither experience is more “normal” than the other. The type of stimulation, level of arousal, pelvic muscle strength, and individual anatomy all play a role.
There’s no reliable way to “learn” to squirt if your body doesn’t naturally do it, despite what many online guides suggest. For women who do experience it, it most commonly occurs with direct stimulation of the front vaginal wall, the area closest to the Skene’s glands and the internal tissue of the clitoris.
Squirting vs. Urinary Incontinence
One concern many women have is whether squirting is actually just urinary incontinence. The International Continence Society specifically distinguishes the two. Coital urinary incontinence is an involuntary loss of urine during sex that a person typically finds distressing and can’t control. It may happen during penetration, not just orgasm, and is often linked to pelvic floor conditions.
Squirting, on the other hand, is tied to high arousal and orgasm. It’s considered a physiological part of sexual response. The key differences are timing (squirting occurs at peak arousal or orgasm, not randomly during sex), the fluid composition (which contains PSA from the Skene’s glands in most cases), and whether the person has other urinary symptoms outside of sex.
That said, the fluid does pass through the bladder, so the line between the two can feel blurry. If fluid release during sex is bothering you or happens outside of orgasm, a pelvic floor specialist can help sort out whether it’s a normal arousal response or something worth investigating further.
What Squirting Feels Like
Women who squirt often describe a building sensation of pressure, similar to the feeling of needing to urinate, right before it happens. This makes sense given that the fluid is expelled from the urethra. Many women instinctively clench their muscles to hold back, which can actually prevent it from occurring. Those who relax through that pressure sensation are more likely to experience the release.
Squirting doesn’t necessarily mean the orgasm is stronger or better. Some women squirt without orgasming at all, while others orgasm intensely without any fluid release. The two experiences are related but independent. The volume of fluid also varies widely, from a small gush to soaking through sheets, and can differ from one encounter to the next in the same person.