Squirting happens when fluid is involuntarily expelled from the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. Estimates of how many women experience it vary widely, from about 5% to over 50% depending on the survey, which tells you both that it’s common and that researchers are still working out how to study it consistently. The reason some women squirt and others don’t comes down to a combination of anatomy, arousal, and the type of stimulation involved.
Where the Fluid Comes From
The key anatomical players are 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 sexual arousal, the Skene’s glands swell with increased blood flow to the area, produce lubrication, and can release fluid during orgasm in a process that mirrors male ejaculation.
The fluid they produce is a milk-like secretion that contains proteins similar to those found in male semen, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and elevated glucose levels. Compared to urine, this fluid has notably lower creatinine, a waste product filtered by the kidneys. So while it exits through the urethra, the same opening urine passes through, its chemical makeup is distinct.
Ejaculation and Squirting Are Two Different Things
This is where things get more nuanced than most people realize. The International Continence Society distinguishes between two separate phenomena that often get lumped together. Female ejaculation is a small quantity of thick, whitish fluid produced by the Skene’s glands. Squirting involves a much larger volume of dilute fluid that originates primarily from the bladder. Both can happen at the same time during the same sexual experience, and they are considered two different physiological components of female sexuality.
The volume difference is significant. Female ejaculation typically produces a fraction of a milliliter, while squirting can exceed 150 mL, roughly two-thirds of a cup. The larger-volume fluid associated with squirting is chemically different from regular urine. It’s more diluted and contains altered concentrations of various compounds, suggesting the bladder rapidly fills with a modified fluid during arousal rather than simply releasing stored urine.
Why Some Women Experience It and Others Don’t
The most likely explanation is anatomical variation. Skene’s glands vary considerably in size from person to person. Some women have well-developed glands with larger ducts, while in others these structures are much smaller or, in rare cases, essentially absent. Women with more prominent Skene’s glands appear more likely to produce noticeable fluid during arousal and orgasm. Since these glands are the primary source of the ejaculatory component, their size and activity level play a direct role.
The type and location of stimulation also matters. The area along the front vaginal wall, sometimes called the G-spot, sits directly over the Skene’s glands and the surrounding spongy tissue that engorges during arousal. Pressure on this area stimulates the glands more directly, which is why internal stimulation of the front wall is more commonly associated with squirting than other types of sexual activity.
Pelvic floor muscle strength is another factor. The muscles that contract during orgasm are the same ones involved in expelling fluid, so women with stronger or more responsive pelvic floor muscles may be more likely to experience the involuntary release. Level of arousal plays a role too. Higher arousal leads to more engorgement of the tissue surrounding the urethra, more glandular activity, and more fluid production.
It’s Not Urinary Incontinence
One reason this topic generates so much confusion is that fluid loss during sex can also be a symptom of stress urinary incontinence, which is involuntary urine leakage triggered by physical pressure or movement. The two experiences are physiologically different, but because both involve fluid exiting the urethra during intercourse, they can look similar from the outside.
The fluid itself offers clues. Squirting and ejaculation are associated with sexual arousal and typically happen at or near orgasm. The fluid from ejaculation is thicker and whitish. The fluid from squirting is clear and more watery. Stress incontinence, by contrast, tends to happen during penetration rather than at orgasm, and the fluid is chemically indistinguishable from urine. If you’re unsure which you’re experiencing, the timing, sensation, and context can help clarify things.
How Common It Actually Is
Survey results range dramatically depending on how the question is asked. In one population-based survey, 54% of 233 women reported a spurt of fluid at orgasm. A large mail survey found that about 40% of 1,172 respondents identified as experiencing ejaculation. On the other end, one clinical study put the number at just under 5% of 300 women. The wide range reflects differences in definitions, awareness, and willingness to report. Many women may experience small amounts of fluid release without noticing it, while others produce enough volume to be unmistakable.
What the research consistently shows is that squirting is a normal physiological response, not a disorder or anomaly. It varies in frequency, volume, and intensity from person to person and even from one sexual experience to the next. The combination of gland size, arousal level, type of stimulation, and pelvic floor activity all influence whether it happens on any given occasion.