Squirting occurs when fluid is expelled from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. Around 40% of adult women in the U.S. report having experienced it at least once in their lifetime. Despite years of confusion and debate, researchers now have a clearer picture of what’s happening in the body: squirting involves the bladder, but it’s not simply urinating. The process is a distinct physiological response to sexual stimulation, and it overlaps with a second, separate phenomenon called female ejaculation.
Squirting and Female Ejaculation Are Different Things
One of the biggest sources of confusion is that “squirting” and “female ejaculation” are often used interchangeably, but they are two distinct events that can happen separately or at the same time.
Squirting is the release of roughly 10 milliliters or more of thin, transparent fluid through the urethra. This fluid comes from the bladder and has a chemical profile similar to dilute urine, containing urea, creatinine, and uric acid. Female ejaculation, by contrast, is the secretion of just a few milliliters of thick, milky fluid from small glands near the urethral opening. These produce proteins similar to those found in male semen. When people talk about “squirting,” they’re usually referring to the larger-volume release, but in many cases both fluids mix together during the experience.
Where the Fluid Comes From
A key study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine used ultrasound imaging and biochemical analysis to track exactly what happens. Researchers scanned participants’ bladders before arousal, during stimulation, and after squirting. The bladders were empty at the start, filled noticeably during arousal, and emptied again at the moment of squirting. The fluid that came out matched the chemical makeup of what was already in the bladder: comparable levels of urea, creatinine, and uric acid.
Here’s where it gets interesting. In five out of seven participants, the squirting fluid also contained a protein called PSA (prostate-specific antigen), which was not present in their urine samples collected before arousal. PSA is produced by the Skene’s glands, two small structures located on either side of the urethra. These glands develop from the same embryonic tissue that becomes the prostate in males, which is why they’re sometimes called the “female prostate.” During arousal, they swell with blood flow and can secrete fluid that mixes into the squirting fluid as it passes through the urethra. So while the bulk of the liquid originates in the bladder, it picks up contributions from these glands on the way out.
What Triggers the Response
Squirting is most commonly associated with stimulation of the front wall of the vagina, the area often referred to as the G-spot. This isn’t a single anatomical button but rather a sensitive zone where several structures overlap: the internal roots of the clitoris, the urethra, the Skene’s glands, and surrounding nerve tissue. Researchers call this the clitourethrovaginal complex.
During penetration or digital stimulation, pressure against this front vaginal wall compresses the clitoral roots and surrounding nerves against the pubic bone. Imaging studies show the clitoral tissue descends 2.5 to 5 millimeters during arousal and penetration, tightening the relationship between these structures. This concentrated pressure activates nerve pathways, including the vagus nerve, which connects pelvic organs directly to the brainstem, bypassing the spinal cord entirely. The parasympathetic nervous system (the body’s “rest and relax” division) appears to be dominant during this response, which helps explain why relaxation and comfort play such a large role in whether squirting happens.
In clinical studies, digital stimulation with one or two fingers on the front vaginal wall is the most common method used to trigger the response. In some cases, vibration was needed when it was otherwise difficult to induce.
Why Some People Squirt and Others Don’t
Lifetime squirting rates in studies range from about 20% to 54%, depending on the population surveyed. A large U.S. probability sample found that 40% of women aged 18 to 93 had squirted at some point, with a typical lifetime frequency of three to five times. Only about 20% of those who squirted reported it happening every time they had an orgasm, and notably, squirting and orgasm don’t always occur together.
Several factors likely influence whether someone experiences it. Skene’s glands vary considerably in size from person to person, and some people may have more glandular tissue or more responsive nerve pathways in the front vaginal wall. The degree of relaxation, the type and angle of stimulation, pelvic floor muscle tone, and hydration levels all play a role. There’s nothing abnormal about squirting frequently or never experiencing it at all.
How It Feels
About 60% of women who have squirted describe it as very or somewhat pleasurable. For some, it accompanies an especially intense orgasm. For others, it happens without orgasm or even feels like a sudden involuntary release that’s more surprising than pleasurable. The sensation is often described as a building pressure behind the pubic bone followed by a release. Because the fluid originates from the bladder, the feeling can initially be mistaken for needing to urinate, which leads some people to tense up and suppress the response.
The volume varies widely. Some people release a small amount barely noticeable on sheets, while others expel enough to soak through bedding. This range is normal and can differ from one experience to the next in the same person.