Squirting fluid is a dilute form of urine that the bladder rapidly produces and expels through the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. It is mostly water, with lower concentrations of urea, creatinine, and uric acid than typical urine. About 5% of women report experiencing squirting, and the volume can range from tens to hundreds of milliliters of clear fluid released in a gush.
Despite years of debate, ultrasound imaging and biochemical testing have clarified what this fluid is, where it comes from, and how it differs from a separate phenomenon called female ejaculation.
Where the Fluid Comes From
The most direct evidence comes from a study led by gynecologist Samuel Salama in France. Seven women who regularly experienced squirting were asked to empty their bladders completely, which was confirmed by pelvic ultrasound. They then engaged in sexual stimulation. A second ultrasound, taken just before orgasm, showed that their bladders had completely refilled, even though only a short time had passed. After the women squirted, a final scan showed the bladder was empty again.
This sequence confirms that squirting fluid accumulates in the bladder during arousal and is expelled from the urethra at climax. The kidneys appear to rapidly produce this fluid in response to the physiological changes of arousal, though exactly why this happens is not fully understood.
What the Fluid Contains
Biochemical analysis shows squirting fluid contains moderate to high concentrations of urea, creatinine, uric acid, and sodium. These are the same waste products found in urine, which is consistent with the fluid originating in the bladder. However, squirting fluid has a substantially lower density than normal urine and contains virtually no glucose or fructose. In practical terms, it’s more dilute than what you’d produce during a regular trip to the bathroom. It is typically clear and watery rather than yellow.
Squirting vs. Female Ejaculation
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe different things happening in different parts of the body.
Female ejaculation is a small secretion, roughly 1 milliliter, of thick, milky white fluid from the Skene’s glands (also called the paraurethral glands). These pea-sized glands sit on either side of the urethral opening and develop from the same embryonic tissue as the prostate in males. The fluid they produce is rich in prostate-specific antigen (PSA), glucose, and fructose. It plays a role in lubrication during sex and may help protect against urinary tract infections.
Squirting, by contrast, involves a much larger volume of clear fluid, sometimes comparable to a glass of water, released from the urethra in a noticeable gush. Its chemical profile looks like diluted urine, not glandular secretion. In some cases, both fluids are released at the same time, which is one reason the two phenomena have been so often confused.
The Role of Pelvic Floor Muscles
The expulsion of fluid during squirting involves involuntary contractions of the pelvic floor, particularly a muscle called the pubococcygeus (PC muscle). This is the same muscle group that contracts rhythmically during orgasm. These contractions create the pressure that pushes fluid out through the urethra. The sensation can feel similar to the urgency of needing to urinate, which leads some women to suppress it or mistake one for the other.
How Common Squirting Actually Is
Estimates from the International Society for Sexual Medicine put the prevalence of squirting at roughly 5% of women. That figure likely reflects women who experience it regularly and in noticeable volumes. Some women may produce small amounts of fluid during orgasm without being aware of it, so the true number of people who experience some degree of fluid expulsion could be higher. Pornography has made squirting appear far more common than it is, which can create unrealistic expectations in either direction: pressure to experience it, or anxiety about it being abnormal.
Why It Feels Confusing
The fact that squirting fluid originates in the bladder and exits through the urethra understandably raises the question of whether it’s “just peeing.” The answer is more nuanced. The fluid is chemically distinct from a full bladder of normal urine. It is produced rapidly during a specific physiological state and released as part of an involuntary sexual response, not a voluntary decision to urinate. The Skene’s glands may also contribute small amounts of their own secretion to the mix, further differentiating the experience from urination.
For people who experience squirting, understanding the biology can reduce embarrassment or confusion. The fluid is a normal byproduct of sexual arousal in some bodies, not a sign of a medical problem or loss of bladder control.