Squirting is an involuntary release of fluid from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. It happens when stimulation triggers a rapid filling of the bladder, which then empties during the height of arousal. Not every woman experiences it, and estimates put the prevalence at around 5% of women who report it as a recurring event.
What Actually Happens in the Body
The mechanics of squirting center on the bladder. In a 2015 study that used ultrasound imaging, researchers monitored seven women who regularly experienced squirting. Each woman emptied her bladder before the session, and ultrasound confirmed it was completely empty. As sexual stimulation continued, a second ultrasound showed the bladder had noticeably refilled. After squirting occurred, a third scan showed the bladder was empty again.
This means the kidneys rapidly produce fluid during arousal, the bladder fills unusually quickly, and the fluid is then expelled through the urethra. The volume can be significant, sometimes soaking through sheets, which is one reason squirting gets so much attention compared to other aspects of sexual response.
What the Fluid Contains
Biochemical analysis shows that squirting fluid is primarily very dilute urine. It contains urea and creatinine, both compounds found in urine, though at lower concentrations than a typical urine sample. The fluid is transparent and watery, not thick or white.
However, there’s a second component. Small glands called the Skene’s glands sit 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.” During arousal, they swell with increased blood flow and can release a small amount of milky, protein-rich fluid. Chemical analysis of this secretion shows it contains proteins similar to those found in male semen. In many squirting samples, trace amounts of this prostatic secretion mix into the larger volume of dilute urine.
Squirting vs. Female Ejaculation
These two terms get used interchangeably, but they describe different things. Female ejaculation refers to the small quantity of thick, white or grayish fluid produced by the Skene’s glands during orgasm. It’s a modest amount, often barely noticeable. Squirting refers to the larger, more dramatic release of clear fluid from the bladder. The International Society for Sexual Medicine notes that squirting isn’t limited to orgasm either. Some women experience it from arousal alone, without climaxing.
Both can happen at the same time, which adds to the confusion. When a woman squirts, the fluid often contains a small contribution from the Skene’s glands mixed into the larger bladder-origin fluid.
What Triggers It
Squirting is most commonly associated with stimulation of the front wall of the vagina, the area often referred to as the G-spot. This region sits close to the urethra and the Skene’s glands, so direct pressure there stimulates multiple structures at once. Clitoral stimulation can also trigger it, and some women experience squirting from a combination of both.
The fact that squirting involves involuntary bladder emptying helps explain why the sensation can initially feel similar to needing to urinate. Many women describe a building pressure followed by a release. Positions or angles that put more pressure on the front vaginal wall tend to make squirting more likely for those who experience it.
Why Some Women Squirt and Others Don’t
The size of the Skene’s glands varies considerably from person to person. Some women have prominent glands with larger ducts, while others have very small glands or, in rare cases, appear to lack them entirely. This anatomical variation likely plays a role in who produces noticeable fluid during arousal and who doesn’t. Differences in pelvic floor muscle strength, nerve sensitivity, and even hydration levels may also contribute.
There’s no evidence that squirting indicates a “better” orgasm or higher arousal. It’s a physiological response that some bodies produce and others don’t. Women who squirt aren’t more sexually responsive, and women who don’t aren’t missing out on a physical sensation. The fluid release itself is separate from the pleasure of orgasm, even though they often happen at the same time.
Why It’s Misunderstood
Much of the confusion around squirting comes from its portrayal in pornography, where it’s presented as a universal marker of intense pleasure. In reality, it’s relatively uncommon as a regular occurrence, and the fluid is mostly dilute urine rather than a unique sexual secretion. That doesn’t make it abnormal or something to worry about. It’s a well-documented physiological event that falls within the normal range of sexual response. Some women find it pleasurable, some find it neutral, and some find it inconvenient. All of those reactions are common.