Estimates vary widely, but survey data generally suggests that somewhere between 10% and 54% of women report having experienced squirting or female ejaculation at least once. The huge range reflects real problems with how the research has been done: most studies use small samples, rely on self-reporting, and don’t always distinguish between squirting and a related but separate phenomenon called female ejaculation. What’s clear is that it’s neither rare nor universal, and the experience differs significantly from person to person.
Why the Numbers Vary So Much
The wide spread in prevalence figures comes down to definitions. Researchers now recognize that “squirting” and “female ejaculation” are two distinct events that often get lumped together in surveys. Squirting involves a larger volume of clear, watery fluid released from the bladder. Female ejaculation produces a much smaller amount of thicker, whitish fluid from the Skene’s glands, which are small structures near the urethral opening. When a survey simply asks “have you ever ejaculated during sex?” without specifying which type, the answers are hard to interpret.
Sample sizes in this area of research are also remarkably small. One widely cited biochemical study involved just seven participants. Another foundational study that helped define the two types of fluid expulsion was based on a single subject. Cultural stigma and embarrassment almost certainly affect who volunteers for these studies and how honestly participants respond to surveys, which means the true prevalence could be higher or lower than what’s reported.
Squirting vs. Female Ejaculation
The distinction matters because the two involve different anatomy, different fluids, and different volumes. Squirting produces roughly 120 milliliters (about half a cup) of thin, nearly colorless fluid that originates in the bladder. Biochemical analysis shows it contains lower concentrations of urea, uric acid, and creatinine compared to regular urine, making it a diluted, modified version of urine rather than pure urine.
Female ejaculation, by contrast, produces a small amount of milky fluid from the Skene’s glands. These glands develop from the same embryonic tissue as the male prostate, which is why they’re sometimes called the “female prostate.” The fluid they produce contains proteins similar to those found in male semen. Some researchers believe fructose content may be a key marker that distinguishes this ejaculate from urine, though not all studies have tested for it.
Both events can happen during the same sexual experience. In one case study, a participant first expelled a large volume of clear squirting fluid, then immediately afterward released a smaller amount of the thicker, whitish ejaculate. Many women may experience one without the other, which further complicates survey data.
What Happens in the Body
Ultrasound imaging studies have helped clarify the mechanics of squirting. Researchers have observed that even when a woman empties her bladder before sexual activity, the bladder rapidly refills during arousal. After squirting occurs, the bladder appears empty again on imaging. This confirms the bladder as the primary source of squirting fluid, though the fluid’s composition is chemically altered from normal urine.
The Skene’s glands, responsible for the ejaculation component, swell with increased blood flow during arousal. They secrete fluid that helps with lubrication and, in some women, release a more noticeable amount during orgasm. The size and development of these glands varies between individuals, which may partly explain why some women ejaculate and others don’t.
Stimulation of the front vaginal wall, in the area commonly referred to as the G-spot, is frequently associated with both squirting and ejaculation. This area sits close to both the Skene’s glands and the bladder, which likely explains why pressure there can trigger fluid release from either or both sources.
How It Differs From Incontinence
One reason some women feel anxious about squirting is concern that they’re simply losing bladder control during sex. Coital incontinence is a recognized medical condition, and it does involve involuntary urine leakage during intercourse. But it has different causes and characteristics.
Coital incontinence typically results from pelvic floor disorders such as stress urinary incontinence or overactive bladder muscle contractions. It can happen at any point during sex, not specifically at orgasm, and the fluid is chemically identical to normal urine. It’s generally experienced as unwanted and distressing, and it responds to pelvic floor treatment.
Squirting, by contrast, tends to occur at or near orgasm, involves fluid that is biochemically diluted compared to urine, and is typically experienced as pleasurable or neutral. The two can look similar from the outside, but diagnostic tools like urodynamic testing can distinguish between them when there’s clinical uncertainty.
Why Individual Variation Is So Large
Several factors likely contribute to why some women squirt regularly, others rarely, and some never do. Anatomical variation plays a role: the Skene’s glands range considerably in size from person to person, and some women have very small or even absent glands. The proximity of these glands and the bladder to the vaginal wall also differs, affecting how much internal stimulation reaches these structures.
Pelvic floor muscle strength and coordination matter too. Many women who squirt describe bearing down or relaxing specific muscles at the point of orgasm, suggesting a learned muscular component. Psychological factors, particularly the willingness to relax and “let go” during arousal, come up frequently in qualitative research. Women who worry about the sensation of needing to urinate during sex may involuntarily clench muscles that prevent fluid release.
None of this means squirting is something every woman should expect or aim for. It’s a normal physiological variation, not a benchmark of sexual function or satisfaction.