Some women squirt during sexual arousal or orgasm because of the way their individual anatomy responds to stimulation, particularly the glands and tissues surrounding the urethra. Estimates of how many women experience it vary widely, from about 5% to as high as 54% depending on the survey, which reflects both differences in definition and differences in biology. The short answer is that squirting involves a combination of glandular secretion, bladder involvement, and the right kind of stimulation, but not every woman’s body produces this response.
Two Types of Fluid, Two Different Sources
Scientists have identified that what people call “squirting” actually involves two distinct processes that can happen separately or at the same time. The first is true female ejaculation: a small amount of thick, milky white fluid released from the Skene’s glands, two tiny ducts located on either side of the urethral opening. This fluid contains proteins similar to those found in male semen, including an enzyme called PSA (prostatic-specific antigen), which is why researchers sometimes call the Skene’s glands the “female prostate.”
The second process is the more dramatic gush of fluid that most people picture when they hear the word “squirting.” This larger volume of fluid comes primarily from the bladder. A 2014 ultrasound study by French gynecologist Samuel Salama examined seven women who could squirt and found that their bladders were full just before the moment of squirting and empty directly afterward. Chemical analysis confirmed this fluid is similar to dilute urine but also contains small amounts of PSA from the Skene’s glands, meaning both sources contribute to it simultaneously.
Why Anatomy Varies Between Women
The Skene’s glands are not the same size or equally developed in every woman. The tissue surrounding them swells during sexual arousal, and glands that are larger or more responsive may produce more noticeable fluid. Some women have Skene’s glands that function more actively during orgasm, producing enough secretion to be felt or seen, while others produce only trace amounts. This natural variation in gland size and activity is one of the main reasons squirting happens for some women and not others.
The position of these glands also matters. Because they sit right next to the urethra, stimulation of the tissue along the front vaginal wall (the area commonly called the G-spot) can put pressure on both the Skene’s glands and the urethra at the same time. Women whose anatomy places these structures in closer proximity to that vaginal wall may be more responsive to this kind of stimulation.
The Role of G-Spot Stimulation
Most women who squirt report that it happens during stimulation of the front wall of the vagina, about one to two inches inside the opening. This area, known as the G-spot, is not a distinct anatomical structure but rather a zone where the vaginal wall, the urethra, the Skene’s glands, and surrounding nerve-rich tissue all overlap. When pressure is applied there, the tissue swells noticeably.
Research by Beverly Whipple, one of the scientists who popularized the term G-spot, showed that gentle pressure on this area can raise pain thresholds by 40%, suggesting it activates a strong neurological response. Many women report that stimulating this spot initially produces a sensation similar to needing to urinate, which then shifts to pleasure with continued contact. That initial “need to pee” feeling is likely caused by pressure on the urethra and bladder base, and it may be why some women instinctively tense up or stop stimulation before squirting occurs.
What the Fluid Actually Contains
The composition depends on which type of emission is happening. The small-volume ejaculate from the Skene’s glands is a milky, mucus-like substance containing PSA and other proteins. The larger-volume squirting fluid is chemically similar to very dilute urine (it contains urea and creatinine) but also carries PSA that wasn’t present in urine samples taken before arousal. This means the Skene’s glands add their secretions into the fluid as it passes through the urethra.
In practical terms, the fluid is typically clear or slightly cloudy, mostly odorless, and far more dilute than regular urine. The presence of both bladder fluid and glandular secretion in the same emission is what made this topic so confusing for researchers for decades.
Prevalence and Why Reports Vary So Much
Survey data on squirting ranges enormously. One population-based survey of 233 women found that 54% reported a spurt of fluid at orgasm. A large mail survey of 1,172 women put the number at about 40%. Meanwhile, a clinical study by Masters and colleagues found that only 4.7% of 300 women ejaculated. These numbers are all over the map because surveys define squirting differently, women may not notice small amounts of fluid during sex, and some women who do experience it may not report it due to embarrassment or uncertainty about what happened.
The wide range also reflects that squirting exists on a spectrum. Some women produce a barely noticeable amount of moisture. Others release enough fluid to soak through bedding. Many women who squirt don’t do it every time; it depends on the type of stimulation, their level of arousal, hydration, and whether they feel relaxed enough to let it happen rather than clenching against the sensation.
The Psychological Side
Relaxation plays a significant role. Because the initial sensation of G-spot stimulation often mimics the urge to urinate, many women unconsciously hold back by tightening their pelvic floor muscles. Women who squirt frequently often describe learning to relax into that sensation rather than resisting it. This doesn’t mean squirting is purely a matter of “letting go,” since anatomy still determines whether the response is possible, but psychological comfort and trust with a partner can influence whether it happens.
Survey data from a large international study found that female ejaculation generally has a positive impact on sexual satisfaction for both women and their partners. Women who experience it tend to report it as pleasurable, though some initially feel confused or self-conscious about the fluid, especially if they worry it might be urine. Understanding that the fluid is a normal physiological response, involving glandular secretion mixed with dilute bladder fluid, tends to reduce that anxiety.