Squirting happens when fluid is expelled from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. It’s driven by a combination of muscular contractions, engorgement of specific glands near the urethra, and stimulation patterns that build pressure in the surrounding tissue. Estimates of how many women experience it vary widely, from about 5% to over 50% depending on the study, which reflects both biological variation and differences in how the question gets asked.
The Glands Behind the Fluid
The key anatomical players are the Skene’s glands, two small structures located on either side of the urethral opening. These glands develop from the same embryonic cells that become the prostate in males, which is why they’re sometimes called the “female prostate.” During sexual arousal, blood flow to the area increases and the tissue surrounding the Skene’s glands swells. This engorgement is part of what creates the sensation of building pressure that many people describe before squirting occurs.
The Skene’s glands secrete a milk-like fluid that contains proteins similar to those found in male semen, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA). This is notable because PSA is not a component of urine. In one study of five women who squirted during arousal, four of the five had PSA present in the expelled fluid, confirming the Skene’s glands as a source. Outside of sexual activity, these glands also produce small amounts of fluid that lubricate the urethral opening and help protect against urinary tract infections.
What the Fluid Actually Contains
This is where things get more complicated, and where much of the debate sits. The fluid that comes out during squirting is not identical to the thicker secretion from the Skene’s glands alone. In many cases, the volume of fluid is far more than those tiny glands could produce on their own. Researchers have found that the expelled fluid shares some characteristics with very dilute urine, suggesting the bladder plays a role in the process, while also containing secretions from the Skene’s glands that are distinct from urine.
The most likely explanation is that squirting involves fluid from more than one source. The Skene’s glands contribute their PSA-containing secretion, and the bladder rapidly fills with a diluted fluid during arousal that is then expelled. This is why scientists generally distinguish between two related but different phenomena: female ejaculation (a smaller volume of thick, whitish fluid from the Skene’s glands) and squirting (a larger gush of more watery fluid). In practice, most people experience some combination of both.
Why Some People Squirt and Others Don’t
Anatomy is a major factor. The size and development of the Skene’s glands varies significantly from person to person. Some women have well-developed glands with prominent ducts, while in others these structures are much smaller or even difficult to locate. This natural variation likely explains a large part of why squirting comes easily for some people and never happens for others, regardless of technique or arousal level.
The type of stimulation matters too. Internal pressure on the front vaginal wall, in the area commonly referred to as the G-spot, applies indirect stimulation to the Skene’s glands and the surrounding erectile tissue. This is why that particular kind of stimulation is more commonly associated with squirting than clitoral stimulation alone. Pelvic floor muscle engagement also plays a role. Rather than clenching during orgasm, a bearing-down or releasing motion can allow the fluid to be expelled rather than held back. Many people who squirt describe learning to relax into the sensation of pressure rather than tensing against it.
Survey data reflects just how variable the experience is. In one population-based study, 54% of 233 women reported a spurt of fluid at orgasm. Another study of 300 women put the number at just 4.7%. A large mail survey of over 1,100 women found that about 40% identified as having experienced ejaculation. When women in one international survey were asked how common they thought squirting was, the most frequent guess was 10%, suggesting many people underestimate how often it occurs.
The Role of Arousal and the Nervous System
Squirting is ultimately a reflex mediated by the autonomic nervous system, the same branch of the nervous system that controls other involuntary responses like flushing, heart rate changes, and the contractions of orgasm. High levels of arousal prime this system. The engorgement of tissue, the filling of glandular ducts, and the rhythmic contractions of pelvic floor muscles during orgasm can all converge to push fluid out through the urethra.
Research on the evolutionary origins of the female orgasm offers some context for why this reflex exists at all. Yale researchers have proposed that orgasm is an evolutionary holdover from a time when the hormonal surge accompanying climax was necessary to trigger ovulation. In animals like rabbits, cats, and ferrets, the clitoris sits within the reproductive tract and stimulation during mating releases the hormones needed to release an egg. In humans, ovulation became spontaneous and the clitoris migrated to its current external position, but the neurochemical reflex of orgasm persisted. The muscular and glandular responses associated with squirting may be part of this inherited package of reflexes that no longer serve a direct reproductive function but remain wired into the body’s arousal response.
Emotional and Psychological Factors
Beyond anatomy and stimulation, psychological state significantly influences whether squirting happens. The sensation that precedes it, a feeling of fullness or pressure near the urethra, can trigger an instinct to hold back because it feels similar to needing to urinate. Anxiety about making a mess or uncertainty about what’s happening can cause someone to involuntarily tighten their pelvic floor, which prevents the fluid from being released. People who squirt regularly often describe a moment of conscious letting go, a willingness to release into the sensation rather than fight it.
In the international survey published in BJU International, women who experienced ejaculation overwhelmingly reported it as a positive part of their sexual experience, both for themselves and their partners. This suggests a feedback loop: comfort with the experience makes it more likely to happen, and positive experiences reduce the inhibition that might otherwise prevent it.