Squirting happens when fluid is released from the urethra during sexual arousal or stimulation. It’s a real physiological response, not a myth, and it’s far more common than most people think. Around 40% of adult women in the U.S. report having experienced it at least once in their lifetime.
Where the Fluid Comes From
Two small glands called the Skene’s glands sit on either side of the urethra. These glands develop from the same embryonic cells that become the prostate in males, which is why they’re sometimes called the “female prostate.” During sexual arousal, the Skene’s glands secrete fluid that contains some of the same proteins found in male semen, including PSA (prostate-specific antigen). This is the source of female ejaculate: a small amount of thick, whitish fluid, typically less than a quarter teaspoon.
Squirting, though, involves a larger volume of fluid, anywhere from half an ounce to about three ounces. This fluid also exits through the urethra, but its composition is different. Chemical analysis shows it’s a mix: part of it resembles dilute urine, and part of it contains the same proteins produced by the Skene’s glands. The bladder plays a direct role. Ultrasound studies have shown that the bladder is empty before arousal, fills rapidly during stimulation, and then empties again at the moment of squirting.
Squirting and Ejaculation Aren’t the Same Thing
Researchers distinguish between two separate responses that often happen at the same time. Female ejaculation is the release of that small amount of milky fluid from the Skene’s glands. Squirting is the larger gush of fluid from the urethra. They differ in volume, appearance, and chemical makeup, but they frequently overlap during the same sexual experience, which is why the terms get used interchangeably in everyday conversation.
Neither one requires orgasm. Squirting can happen during arousal without climax, and orgasm can happen without any squirting at all. They’re related but independent responses.
What Triggers It Physically
Squirting is most commonly associated with stimulation of the G-spot, an area of sensitive tissue on the front wall of the vagina, a couple of inches inside. This tissue sits close to the Skene’s glands and the urethra, which helps explain the connection. Clitoral stimulation can also trigger squirting, and for some people it happens with a combination of both.
Many people feel a strong urge to urinate just before squirting, which makes sense given that the bladder fills during arousal. That sensation leads some people to tense up or hold back, which can prevent squirting from happening. Relaxing through that feeling, rather than fighting it, is one of the most commonly reported factors among women who squirt regularly.
Pelvic floor strength also seems to play a role. Some researchers believe that stronger pelvic floor muscles make squirting more likely, possibly because those muscles help generate the pressure needed to expel fluid. This hasn’t been proven definitively, but it comes up consistently in both clinical observations and self-reported surveys.
How Common It Actually Is
For decades, squirting was treated as rare or even fictional in medical literature. Survey data tells a very different story. A U.S. probability sample of women ages 18 to 93 found that 40% had squirted at least once, with a median frequency of three to five times total. A Swedish cross-sectional study found an even higher rate: 58% of participants reported experiencing ejaculation or squirting. Across multiple studies from different countries, prevalence ranges from about 10% to 54%, depending on how the question is asked and which population is surveyed.
Among women who do experience it, the frequency varies enormously. Some squirt nearly every time they have sex. Others have experienced it only once or twice. There’s no “normal” frequency, and whether or not someone squirts has no bearing on sexual health or function.
Why Some People Squirt and Others Don’t
The honest answer is that researchers don’t fully understand why some bodies produce this response and others don’t. Skene’s glands vary significantly in size from person to person, and some people have glands so small they’re nearly undetectable. That anatomical variation likely accounts for at least part of the difference. The type and intensity of stimulation matters too, as does the ability to relax the pelvic floor rather than clench it during high arousal.
There’s no evidence that squirting indicates a “better” orgasm or higher arousal. It’s simply one possible physical response among many. Some people find it pleasurable, some find it neutral, and some find it inconvenient. All of those reactions are normal.