When a woman squirts during sex, her body rapidly expels fluid through the urethra, typically during intense arousal or orgasm. The experience involves a sudden release that can range from a small gush to a larger volume of liquid, and it’s driven by a combination of muscular contractions, engorgement of tissue around the urethra, and fluid that accumulates in the bladder during arousal. It’s more common than many people assume: surveys find that 35 to 50 percent of women report experiencing it at some point.
Where the Fluid Comes From
The fluid released during squirting comes from the bladder. This has been confirmed through imaging studies where researchers emptied a woman’s bladder with a catheter, injected a blue dye solution, then observed that the fluid expelled during squirting was blue. The bladder fills rapidly during sexual arousal, even if a woman has urinated right beforehand, and empties partially or fully at the moment of release.
That said, squirting fluid isn’t exactly the same as regular urine. It’s significantly more diluted, and in many women it contains an enzyme called prostatic-specific antigen (PSA) that isn’t typically present in normal urine samples. PSA is produced by the Skene’s glands, two tiny ducts located on either side of the urethra. These glands develop from the same embryonic tissue as the prostate in males, which is why they’re sometimes called the “female prostate.” During arousal, the tissue surrounding these glands swells with increased blood flow, and they secrete fluid that mixes with what’s already in the bladder.
So the short answer is that squirting fluid is a blend: mostly diluted liquid from the bladder, with contributions from the Skene’s glands that give it a distinct chemical profile.
Squirting vs. Female Ejaculation
These two terms get used interchangeably, but they describe different things. Female ejaculation refers to a small amount of thick, milky, white or gray fluid released at orgasm. This fluid comes primarily from the Skene’s glands and contains proteins similar to those found in male semen. The volume is typically just a few milliliters.
Squirting involves a larger quantity of transparent or slightly tinted fluid that comes from the bladder. It can happen during orgasm, but it can also occur during arousal without orgasm. Both can happen at the same time, which adds to the confusion. The International Society for Sexual Medicine treats them as separate events, though in practice the line between them is blurry because the Skene’s gland secretions often mix with the bladder fluid on the way out.
What It Feels Like
The sensation varies. Some women describe it as indistinguishable from a regular orgasm, just with a noticeable release of fluid. Others report a building warmth and tremor between their thighs that feels distinct from a typical climax. Many women describe a sensation similar to needing to urinate right before it happens, which makes sense given that the fluid accumulates in the bladder. That “need to pee” feeling during arousal is often the body building toward squirting rather than an actual urge to urinate.
For most people who experience it, the response is positive. A 2013 survey found that about 79 percent of women and 90 percent of their partners said female ejaculation improved their sex lives. The intensity of the experience tends to be linked to sustained stimulation of the front vaginal wall, the area sometimes called the G-spot, which sits directly against the Skene’s glands and the surrounding spongy tissue.
Why Some Women Squirt and Others Don’t
The Skene’s glands vary significantly in size from person to person. Some women have well-developed glands with larger ducts, while in others they’re barely detectable. This anatomical variation likely plays a role in who produces noticeable fluid during sex and who doesn’t. Surveys using different definitions and methods report prevalence rates anywhere from 10 to 69 percent, with the most consistent finding being that about a third to half of women have experienced some form of fluid release during orgasm.
One Czech survey of 200 women found that only 6 percent reported full ejaculation, another 13 percent had partial experiences, and about 60 percent noticed some fluid release without an actual gush. This suggests a spectrum rather than a binary yes-or-no phenomenon. Factors like arousal level, type of stimulation, pelvic floor muscle strength, and how relaxed a person feels all influence whether squirting occurs.
Is It the Same as Urinary Incontinence?
No. Coital incontinence, which is involuntary urine leakage during sex, is a separate condition. The key difference is timing and context. Coital incontinence can happen during penetration, thrusting, or orgasm, and it’s associated with pelvic floor weakness or bladder conditions. It often causes distress and happens unpredictably.
Squirting, by contrast, is tied to high arousal and tends to follow a recognizable buildup of sensation. The fluid composition also differs. While squirting fluid originates in the bladder and contains urea (a compound found in urine), it’s chemically altered, more diluted, and frequently contains the PSA from the Skene’s glands that regular urine does not. Women who experience both conditions can usually tell the difference based on when it happens and how it feels, though the overlap in fluid origin means the distinction isn’t always clean-cut from a lab perspective.
Practical Considerations
The volume of fluid varies widely. Some women release a teaspoon or two, while others produce enough to soak through sheets. If squirting is part of your sexual experience, a waterproof mattress protector or a folded towel underneath you handles the practical side easily. Dark-colored towels or purpose-made absorbent blankets are popular solutions.
If you’ve never squirted and want to explore it, sustained pressure on the front vaginal wall (the side closest to your belly button) with fingers or a curved toy is the most commonly cited technique. Relaxing your pelvic floor muscles rather than clenching them, and leaning into the “need to pee” sensation rather than fighting it, makes it more likely. But it’s not something every body does, and the absence of squirting says nothing about arousal, pleasure, or orgasm quality.
If you notice fluid leakage during sex that feels involuntary, happens without arousal, or is accompanied by urgency or discomfort outside of sexual activity, that pattern points more toward a pelvic floor issue than squirting. A pelvic floor physical therapist can help sort out the difference and address any concerns.