Squirting is the release of fluid from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. The fluid is mostly dilute urine that the bladder rapidly produces during stimulation, though it can also contain small amounts of secretions from glands near the urethra. It’s a normal physiological response, not a sign of any medical problem, and estimates suggest roughly 5% of women experience it regularly.
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 researchers now treat them as two distinct events that can happen separately or at the same time.
Squirting involves a large volume of clear, watery fluid, anywhere from tens to hundreds of milliliters, released in gushes. Chemical analysis shows this fluid contains urea, creatinine, and uric acid, the same waste products found in urine. That’s because the fluid is produced by the kidneys and stored in the bladder.
Female ejaculation, by contrast, produces roughly 1 milliliter of thick, milky white fluid. This small amount comes from the Skene’s glands (sometimes called the female prostate) and has a completely different chemical profile: high levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), fructose, and glucose, making it more similar in composition to male seminal fluid than to urine.
In practice, both can happen at once. Researchers have found that squirting fluid sometimes contains traces of PSA and glucose, suggesting the Skene’s glands release their secretion into the larger rush of fluid from the bladder.
Where the Fluid Actually Comes From
A key ultrasound study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine tracked what happens inside the body during squirting. Seven women emptied their bladders completely, confirmed by ultrasound. Then, during sexual stimulation, a second scan showed their bladders had noticeably refilled. After squirting, a third scan confirmed the bladder was empty again. The bladder fills rapidly during arousal and then empties at the moment of release.
This is why the fluid is mostly clear and odorless or very mildly scented, even though it originates in the bladder. It’s highly diluted compared to regular urine because it accumulates quickly rather than concentrating over hours.
The Role of Skene’s Glands
The Skene’s glands sit on either side of the urethra, each about the size of a small blueberry, though their size varies from person to person. They develop from the same embryonic tissue that becomes the prostate in males, which is why they’re sometimes called the female prostate. Their openings are so small they’re nearly impossible to see with the naked eye.
During sexual arousal, increased blood flow to the area causes these glands to swell. They secrete fluid that helps lubricate the urethral opening and may play a role in protecting against urinary tract infections. In some women, the glands produce a noticeable milky discharge during orgasm. This is the true “female ejaculate” in the clinical sense, and its similarity to components of male semen is one of the more surprising findings in this area of research.
Because Skene’s gland size varies significantly between individuals, some women produce more of this ejaculate than others. Women who don’t squirt or ejaculate aren’t missing anything physiologically. The variation is simply anatomical.
How Common It Is
Survey results on prevalence vary wildly depending on how the question is asked and what counts. Studies report anywhere from 5% to 54% of women saying they’ve experienced some form of fluid release during sex. The wide range reflects differences in definitions: some surveys lump squirting and ejaculation together, while others count any increase in wetness.
When researchers focus specifically on the large-volume gushing that defines squirting, the estimate drops to around 5%. Many women may experience small amounts of female ejaculate without ever noticing it, since the volume can be as little as a milliliter mixed with other vaginal fluids.
What It Feels Like
Women who experience squirting commonly describe a sensation of pressure or fullness building during stimulation of the front vaginal wall, the area sometimes associated with the “G-spot.” This pressure can feel similar to the urge to urinate, which leads many women to tense up or stop stimulation. In most reports, the release itself occurs during or just before orgasm, though it can also happen at high arousal without a full orgasm.
The physical sensation is typically described as a sudden release of that built-up pressure. Some women find it intensely pleasurable, while others describe it as neutral, more of a physical reflex than an added layer of sensation. There’s no evidence that squirting correlates with “better” orgasms or greater sexual satisfaction.
Health Implications
There is no evidence that squirting has specific health benefits or risks. It’s not a sign of stronger pelvic floor muscles, better sexual function, or any underlying condition. It’s also not something that needs to be “achieved” for a healthy sex life. The fluid itself is sterile in the same way dilute urine is, and it poses no hygiene concerns beyond the practical ones of managing wetness during sex.
Some women feel anxiety about squirting because the sensation mimics needing to urinate, or because they worry about the fluid itself. Understanding that the response is involuntary and physiologically normal can help reduce that concern. Emptying your bladder before sex can also minimize the volume of fluid involved, since the bladder will have less of a head start on refilling during arousal.