Squirting happens when physical stimulation of the front vaginal wall and surrounding structures triggers a release of fluid through the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. Surveys suggest it’s far more common than people think: in a large Swedish study, 58% of women reported having experienced it at least once, and a US-based study put the number at 41%.
Despite its prevalence, there’s still plenty of confusion about what squirting actually is, what fluid is involved, and why some people experience it while others don’t. Here’s what the science currently shows.
The Anatomy Behind It
Two small glands called the Skene’s glands sit on either side of the urethra, each roughly the size of a blueberry. These glands develop from the same embryonic tissue that becomes the prostate in males, which is why they’re sometimes called the “female prostate.” The tissue surrounding these glands swells during sexual arousal, and in some people they release a milk-like fluid during orgasm that contains proteins similar to those found in male prostatic fluid.
But the Skene’s glands are only part of the picture. The larger structure involved is sometimes called the clitourethrovaginal complex: a network of erectile tissue, nerves, and glands that includes the internal portions of the clitoris, the urethra, and the front wall of the vagina. When this area is stimulated, it can trigger both orgasm and fluid release. The old idea of a single “G-spot” as a distinct button-like organ has largely been replaced by the understanding that the entire front vaginal wall is responsive because of this underlying complex of tissue.
Squirting and Ejaculation Are Two Different Things
Researchers now distinguish between two separate phenomena that often get lumped together. Female ejaculation is the release of a small amount of thick, whitish fluid, typically just a few milliliters, that comes from the Skene’s glands. It contains a high concentration of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), the same marker associated with the male prostate.
Squirting is something different. It involves a much larger volume of fluid, roughly 10 milliliters or more, that’s transparent and watery. This fluid is expelled from the bladder through the urethra. Chemical analysis shows it contains urea and creatinine, both waste products normally found in urine, making it similar to very dilute urine. It often also contains PSA from the Skene’s glands, meaning it’s not purely urine either.
Both can happen during the same sexual experience, and many people don’t distinguish between them in the moment. But the mechanisms are entirely different: one is a glandular secretion, the other is a larger expulsion from the bladder triggered by orgasmic contractions.
What Triggers the Response
The most reliable physical trigger is stimulation of the front (anterior) vaginal wall, about two to three inches inside the vagina, where the underlying clitourethrovaginal complex creates a slightly ridged, spongy area. Firm, rhythmic pressure against this wall, using fingers in a “come hither” motion or through angled penetration, puts direct pressure on the Skene’s glands and the surrounding erectile tissue.
Research shows that stronger orgasms are more likely when clitoral stimulation, front vaginal wall stimulation, and oral sex are combined in the same encounter. This tracks with what many people report anecdotally: squirting is more likely during intense, multi-point stimulation rather than a single type of touch. Arousal level matters significantly. The longer and more thoroughly someone is aroused before orgasm, the more the surrounding tissue engorges with blood, and the more the glands have time to fill with fluid.
A sensation of needing to urinate often precedes squirting, which makes sense given the anatomy. The swollen tissue presses against the urethra and bladder, creating that pressure feeling. Many people instinctively clench against this sensation, which can actually prevent the release. Relaxing the pelvic floor muscles, rather than tightening them, is frequently cited as key to allowing squirting to happen.
Why Some People Experience It and Others Don’t
Skene’s glands vary considerably in size from person to person, and some individuals have very small or even undetectable glands. This natural anatomical variation likely explains why some people squirt easily, some only occasionally, and some never do. None of these outcomes is abnormal.
There’s also a psychological component. The Swedish study found that women with non-heterosexual orientations were significantly more likely to have experienced squirting (63% versus 52% of heterosexual women). The researchers didn’t identify a biological reason for this gap, suggesting that differences in sexual practices, communication, comfort with exploration, or simply the types of stimulation more commonly used may play a role.
About 6% of women in the same study weren’t sure whether they’d experienced it, which highlights how subtle ejaculation (the small-volume type) can be. A few milliliters of fluid during an already wet sexual encounter can easily go unnoticed.
What the Fluid Actually Is
The short answer: it depends on the type. The thick, small-volume ejaculate from the Skene’s glands is biochemically distinct from urine. It contains prostatic enzymes and proteins not found in a typical urine sample.
The larger-volume squirting fluid is chemically closer to very dilute urine. It comes from the bladder, passes through the urethra, and contains urea and creatinine. But it also frequently contains PSA from the Skene’s glands, meaning the fluid picks up glandular secretions on its way out. Calling it “just urine” is an oversimplification. Calling it “not urine at all” is also inaccurate. It’s a mix, and the proportions vary from person to person and even from one experience to the next.
In practical terms, the fluid is typically clear or slightly milky, mostly odorless, and much more dilute than regular urine. Emptying the bladder before sexual activity can reduce the volume but won’t necessarily prevent squirting, since the bladder can partially refill during extended arousal.