Squirting is the involuntary release of fluid through the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. It’s more common than many people assume: in a Swedish survey of over 1,500 women aged 18 to 69, 58% reported having experienced it at least once. Despite how often it happens, there’s been a lot of confusion about what the fluid actually is, where it comes from, and what triggers it.
What the Fluid Actually Is
For years, the composition of squirting fluid was debated. A widely cited study settled much of the question by using ultrasound imaging and biochemical testing on participants before, during, and after squirting. Researchers confirmed that each participant’s bladder was completely empty before arousal began. As sexual stimulation continued, the bladder rapidly refilled. After squirting occurred, the bladder was empty again.
Chemical analysis showed that the squirted fluid contained urea, creatinine, and uric acid at concentrations comparable to urine. The fluid is, in large part, dilute urine that the kidneys produce quickly during arousal and that the body releases involuntarily. But there’s an additional component. In five of seven participants, the squirted fluid also contained prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by small glands near the urethra. That protein was absent from the urine samples collected before arousal, meaning the glands contributed something extra to the mix during the sexual response.
The Glands Involved
The glands responsible for that PSA component are called the Skene’s glands, sometimes referred to as the female prostate. These are two tiny ducts located on either side of the urethral opening. During sexual arousal, the surrounding tissue swells with increased blood flow, and the glands secrete fluid. This secretion is a milky, mucus-like substance that contains proteins similar to those found in male semen.
Skene’s glands play a dual role outside of sex as well. They lubricate the urethral opening during urination and produce antimicrobial substances that help prevent urinary tract infections. Their size and activity vary significantly from person to person, which likely explains why some people produce a noticeable amount of fluid during orgasm and others produce very little or none at all.
Squirting vs. Female Ejaculation
Researchers now treat squirting and female ejaculation as two separate events, even though the terms are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation. Squirting refers to the larger-volume, more watery fluid that comes from the bladder and exits through the urethra. Female ejaculation, by contrast, is a much smaller amount of thick, whitish fluid secreted by the Skene’s glands. Both can happen during the same sexual experience, and the two fluids often mix on their way out, which is why the squirted fluid frequently contains PSA from the glands alongside the dilute urine from the bladder.
What Triggers It
Squirting is most commonly associated with stimulation of the front wall of the vagina, the area once called the “G-spot.” Current research suggests this isn’t a distinct anatomical structure but rather a zone where the internal portions of the clitoris, the urethra, and the vaginal wall all sit close together. Stimulating this area applies indirect pressure to the urethra and the Skene’s glands simultaneously, which is why it can produce both the sensation of needing to urinate and the buildup toward fluid release.
Stronger orgasms, and a higher likelihood of squirting, tend to occur when multiple types of stimulation happen at once. Combining clitoral stimulation with pressure on the front vaginal wall, or adding oral stimulation, engages more of the nerve-rich tissue in the area. The physical trigger for squirting itself appears to be an involuntary relaxation of the muscles around the urethra during or just before orgasm, allowing the fluid that has accumulated in the bladder to be expelled.
Not everyone who receives this type of stimulation will squirt. Anatomy varies, arousal responses vary, and the degree to which the bladder fills during sexual activity differs from person to person and even from one encounter to the next. Some people squirt regularly, some rarely, and some never do. None of these outcomes indicate a problem.
How Common It Is
Survey data suggests squirting is a normal part of many people’s sexual experiences. The Swedish study of 1,568 women found that 58% had experienced ejaculation or squirting, while 6% were unsure whether it had happened. Women with non-heterosexual orientations reported slightly higher rates (63%) compared to heterosexual women (52%), a difference that may reflect differences in the types of stimulation typically involved in sexual activity rather than any biological distinction.
The volume of fluid varies widely. Some people release a small amount that’s barely noticeable, while others produce enough to soak through sheets. Both ends of this range are physiologically normal. The amount can change depending on hydration, the intensity of arousal, and how full the bladder was at the start of sexual activity.
Why It Feels Like Needing to Urinate
One of the most common concerns people have is the sensation of needing to pee during sex, particularly with front-wall vaginal stimulation. This makes complete sense given the anatomy: the urethra and bladder sit directly behind the front vaginal wall, so pressure on that wall stimulates the same nerve pathways involved in the urge to urinate. Research confirms that the bladder does actually fill during arousal in people who squirt, so the sensation is not imaginary. Many people instinctively tense up to prevent fluid release, which can also suppress the orgasm building alongside it. Understanding that this sensation is part of the squirting mechanism, not a sign that something is wrong, can make a significant difference in how the experience feels.