Squirting is the expulsion of fluid from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. It typically involves a noticeable gush or spray of liquid, distinguishing it from the smaller amount of fluid released during what researchers call female ejaculation. Though the two terms are often used interchangeably, they’re technically different processes, and understanding what’s actually happening in the body can clear up a lot of confusion.
Squirting vs. Female Ejaculation
These two phenomena get lumped together constantly, but they differ in volume, appearance, and origin. Female ejaculation refers to a small release of milky white fluid that doesn’t gush out. It comes primarily from the Skene’s glands, two small structures located on either side of the urethra that are sometimes called the “female prostate” because they produce prostate-specific antigen (PSA), the same marker found in male prostate fluid.
Squirting, by contrast, produces a higher volume of fluid that is mostly diluted urine. A study published in the International Journal of Urology confirmed this by inserting a catheter, emptying the bladder, then injecting blue dye into it before sexual stimulation. When the participants squirted, the fluid came out blue in every case, confirming the bladder as the primary source. That said, the squirted fluid may also contain small amounts of secretions from the Skene’s glands, so it’s not purely urine either.
In practice, many people experience some combination of both at the same time. The distinction matters mostly for understanding the biology, not for judging the experience.
Where the Fluid Comes From
The bladder plays the central role in squirting. During intense arousal, the bladder can fill rapidly even if you’ve recently used the bathroom. Researchers have observed this on ultrasound: a bladder that was empty before stimulation showed significant filling during arousal, then emptied again at the moment of squirting. The fluid passes through the urethra, which is why it exits from the same opening as urine.
The Skene’s glands contribute the ejaculatory component. These glands sit near where the urethra, the internal roots of the clitoris, and the vaginal wall all converge. They are dynamic structures that can actually adapt over time, increasing the number of external openings to accommodate more fluid in people who ejaculate regularly. The fluid they produce contains PSA and has a different composition from urine, appearing thicker and whitish rather than clear.
What Triggers It
Squirting is most commonly associated with stimulation of the front vaginal wall, the area popularly known as the G-spot. This region sits where the internal portions of the clitoris, the Skene’s glands, and the urethra all press close to the vaginal wall. Researchers have debated for decades whether the G-spot is a distinct structure or simply the place where stimulating through the vaginal wall reaches the clitoral roots underneath. A 2014 cadaver study found nerve bundles and blood vessels in the area but noted that the exact location varies from person to person.
What this means in practical terms is that firm, rhythmic pressure on the front wall of the vagina, typically with a “come hither” finger motion or with a curved toy, is the stimulation pattern most often linked to squirting. Some people also squirt from clitoral stimulation alone, or from a combination of both. Relaxation and arousal level matter as much as technique. Tensing up or trying to force it often has the opposite effect, since the release involves a bearing-down sensation that requires letting go rather than clenching.
How Common Is It
Estimates vary wildly depending on how the question is asked. One 2017 study found that almost 70% of women reported experiencing it. Other surveys put the number much lower. A population-based survey of 233 women found 54% reported a spurt of fluid at orgasm, while a large mail survey of over 1,100 women found about 40% identified as ejaculators. On the low end, one study of 300 women found only about 5% had ejaculated.
The huge range reflects differences in definitions, self-awareness, and comfort with reporting. Some people squirt regularly and obviously. Others may release small amounts of fluid during orgasm without realizing it. And some never experience it at all, which is equally normal. There’s no biological requirement for squirting to happen during sex, and its presence or absence says nothing about arousal, pleasure, or orgasm quality.
What the Fluid Looks and Feels Like
Squirting fluid is typically clear or very slightly yellow, watery in consistency, and largely odorless or with only a faint scent. It looks and feels different from urine despite coming from the bladder, likely because it’s more diluted. The volume ranges from a small trickle to a significant gush, depending on the person and the level of arousal.
Female ejaculate, the Skene’s gland component, is thicker, whitish, and produced in much smaller quantities. Many people who squirt produce a mix of both fluids simultaneously, which is why the appearance can vary from one experience to the next. If you’ve noticed the fluid sometimes looks different, that’s a normal reflection of how much of each source is contributing at the time.
Why It Happens During Some Sessions and Not Others
Squirting isn’t a reliable event for most people. Hydration, arousal level, type of stimulation, stress, and even where you are in your menstrual cycle can all influence whether it happens. Being well-hydrated makes it more likely since the bladder fills more readily. Feeling relaxed and unhurried matters too, because the pelvic floor muscles need to release rather than tighten for the fluid to come out.
Some people find that squirting happens more easily with a partner than alone, or vice versa. Others discover it for the first time after years of sexual activity when they encounter a new type of stimulation or simply feel more comfortable letting go. There’s a sensation right before squirting that many describe as feeling like the urge to urinate. That similarity causes some people to clench and stop the process. Understanding that the fluid is mostly coming from the bladder can help reframe that sensation as a sign that squirting is about to happen, not that you need to rush to the bathroom.