Squirting is the expulsion of fluid through the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. About 40% of adult women in the U.S. report having experienced it at least once in their lifetime, with a median frequency of three to five times. Despite how common it is, the mechanics behind it have only recently become clearer through ultrasound and biochemical studies.
Squirting and Ejaculation Are Two Different Things
Researchers now distinguish between two separate events that often get lumped together. Squirting is the release of roughly 10 milliliters or more of thin, transparent fluid through the urethra. Female ejaculation, by contrast, produces just a few milliliters of thick, milky fluid. They can happen at the same time, but they come from different sources and involve different mechanisms.
The larger volume of squirting fluid originates primarily from the bladder. Biochemical analysis shows it is similar in composition to dilute urine, though it can also contain prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by small glands near the urethra. Female ejaculation fluid, on the other hand, comes almost entirely from those glands and contains a high concentration of PSA with very little urine content.
The Anatomy Involved
Two structures play central roles: the bladder and the Skene’s glands. The Skene’s glands are about the size of a small blueberry and sit on either side of the urethral opening. Their tiny ducts are nearly impossible to see with the naked eye. These glands secrete fluid during sexual arousal that helps lubricate the urethral area, and they produce a mucus-like substance during orgasm in some people. The proteins in this secretion are similar to those found in semen, which is why the Skene’s glands are sometimes called the “female prostate.”
During arousal, the bladder can fill rapidly with fluid. Ultrasound studies have shown that the bladder noticeably fills during stimulation and then empties at the moment of squirting. This rapid filling and release cycle is distinct from normal urination, even though the fluid exits through the same opening. The Skene’s glands may contribute their own secretion to the mix, which explains why squirting fluid from some women tests positive for PSA while fluid from others does not.
What Triggers It Physically
Squirting is most commonly linked to stimulation of the anterior vaginal wall, the area often referred to as the G-spot. This region sits on the front wall of the vagina, closest to the belly button, and overlies both the internal structure of the clitoris and the Skene’s glands. Firm, rhythmic pressure on this area during arousal is the stimulation most frequently associated with squirting.
About 75% of women who squirt report using specific techniques to build up to it rather than having it happen spontaneously. The pelvic floor muscles, the same ones engaged during Kegel exercises, play a significant role. Bearing down or pushing with those muscles at the point of buildup can facilitate the release. Conversely, if something is physically blocking the urethra during the moment of release (a finger, toy, or penis pressed against the urethral area), the fluid has nowhere to go, which can prevent squirting even when the physiological response is happening internally.
Curved or angled toys designed for G-spot pressure are popular tools because they provide consistent, targeted stimulation to the right area. Some women find that firmer materials like glass or metal deliver the intensity needed more effectively than softer options.
What It Feels Like
About 60% of women who have squirted describe it as very or somewhat pleasurable. Only 20% report that squirting always coincides with orgasm, meaning the two experiences are related but not identical. Many women describe a sensation of building pressure, similar to the feeling of needing to urinate, right before it happens. That similarity is one reason two-thirds of women say they discovered squirting unintentionally.
The pressure sensation makes sense given what’s happening anatomically: the bladder is filling and the pelvic floor muscles are contracting. For many people, the instinct is to clench those muscles and hold back. Relaxing into the sensation and allowing the release, rather than fighting it, is a consistent theme in how women describe learning to squirt.
Why the Urine Question Matters Less Than You Think
The composition of squirting fluid has been one of the most debated topics in sexual health research. The current scientific consensus is straightforward: the primary component is fluid from the bladder that resembles very dilute urine, sometimes mixed with secretions from the Skene’s glands. In one study, four out of the participants tested had PSA-positive squirting fluid, indicating Skene’s gland contribution, while others did not.
This is distinct from urinary incontinence during sex, which is a recognized medical condition caused by bladder control disorders. Coital incontinence involves involuntary leaking tied to specific urological diagnoses and typically requires treatment. Squirting, by contrast, is a physiological sexual response that occurs in a large percentage of women and is not considered a sign of dysfunction.
The Skene’s glands also appear to have a protective function. Their secretions contain antimicrobial properties that may help guard the urethra against bacterial infections. So the fluid released during sexual activity, whether from the glands alone or mixed with bladder contents, is part of a normal biological process rather than a malfunction of the urinary system.