What is Squirting?

What is squirting? Can anyone learn how to squirt, or is it something that some people can just do and some can’t? Is squirting pee?
These are just some of the questions that come up about squirting, usually in conversations over wine about sex and female ejaculation.

Maybe they’re questions you’ve wondered too, or maybe you’ve never heard of squirting. You might wonder if you have ever squirted before without knowing it, or maybe you’re an expert at squirting for whom it’s a regular thing.

Whatever your understanding or experience of squirting, we’re here to answer your questions about this curious phenomenon as best we can.

Let’s dive in.

In this article 📝

What is squirting?

Squirting is when a person with a vulva squirts liquid from their urethra. The urethra is the tube that you urinate out of. It’s different from the vagina, but squirting usually happens when someone is turned on or when they orgasm, which is why it’s usually associated with sex.

The liquid, which looks like water, has no color or smell, and it can range from really small amounts to a big, gushing stream. Some heavy squirters even know to put a towel down in advance.

How common is squirting?

The reality is that we don’t actually know, because scientists haven’t done enough research.
Some studies estimate that between 10-54% of women squirt, but it’s possible that this number might be higher. People might also not be aware of their squirting abilities because sometimes the fluid can flow backwards into your bladder rather than out.

In everyday talk about the topic, “squirting” tends to be used for squirting itself, female ejaculation, and even accidentally peeing during sex (the medical term for this is sexual or coital incontinence).

Squirting is also sometimes used because it’s a more inclusive term than female ejaculation, which excludes trans and non-binary people who have vaginas but aren’t female.

Is squirting the same as female ejaculation?

This is an interesting one, and you’ll probably find different answers if you research it.

While the terms “squirting” and “female ejaculation” often get used interchangeably, experts are leaning towards the belief that they’re probably two different things.

The fluid released when you squirt is believed to come from the bladder (we’ll look into whether it’s actually pee in a second) and is clear and watery.

The fluid released in female ejaculation, on the other hand, is believed to come from the Skene’s gland, sometimes called the “female prostate”. It’s whitish and there tends to be less of it than squirting fluid.

(This doesn’t mean that the Skene’s gland isn’t involved in squirting though – scientists think it probably plays a part.)

So, is squirting pee?

No. Yes. Maybe a little bit.

The truth is that scientists just don’t know yet.

This is part of a larger problem, of course. Science and society don’t look into female sex and female sexual pleasure the same way they do men. This is pretty surprising when it comes to squirting, since research shows that it has been known about for over 2,000 years. The ancient Indians, Chinese, and Greeks all mention squirting in their writings.

What we do know about squirt is that it’s made up of water, small amounts of urea and creatinine (which are found in urine) and minerals like sodium and potassium. And as we said, it’s believed to come from the bladder.

But, it’s not as straightforward as saying that it is pee, because it can also contain something called prostate-specific antigens, or PSAs. These are enzymes most commonly found in men’s prostate glands and in semen, but not in urine. PSAs are found in women too – in the Skene’s gland. The Skene’s gland definitely appears to be part of the squirting process, too.

The bottom line is: there are elements of both the peeing process and female ejaculation in squirting, and no one knows what it is for sure.

Looking for tips on how to squirt?

The most important thing about squirting

There are many misconceptions about how, when, and how much women and people with a vulva squirt. The porn industry has fuelled a lot of these and, in some cases, has made women feel pressured to perform a certain way. (The squirting scenes in porn are also often faked to look excessive, which doesn’t help.)

For us, one issue is crystal clear: You should never feel obliged to do anything that you can’t or don’t want to do between the sheets – ever. You’re not less of a lover if you don’t squirt or don’t squirt much. On the other hand, if you do squirt, it’s totally normal and nothing to be ashamed of.

If squirting is something you’re curious about, though, and you would like to explore it in your sex life in a comfortable and unpressured way, here are a few pointers to get you going.

G marks the spot

According to squirters, the place to start is the G-spot. The G-spot is about two to three inches inside your vagina – towards your belly button rather than your back. For most women, the G-spot is more of a zone than a specific spot and applying a bit of pressure, often with a finger in a kind of “come hither” movement, can feel really good.

Some women find playing with the G-spot quite uncomfortable, so if this isn’t your thing, that’s OK, too. Sex should be pleasurable, not sore – not even for the sake of experimentation.

Don’t start cold

If you’re trying to squirt, you should already be pretty aroused by the time you try to stimulate your G-spot. And you might want to pee beforehand. Squirting can make you feel like you need to pee, so going to the toilet ahead of time will give you some peace of mind that you’re leaning into a squirt and not a pee.

Be patient

Your partner’s fingers, sex toys, loads of lube, and strengthening the muscles in your vagina with kegel exercises](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000141.htm) can all help you to squirt. Play around, give yourself time and see what works for you.

Be open to it

Feeling relaxed and playful is often the key to crossing new sexual thresholds. People who squirt say that sometimes they need to push through a bit of psychological resistance to do it, but when they do, it feels amazing. Allow yourself to relax.

Squirting: a few final thoughts

For sex experts, as well as squirters and non-squirters alike, squirting is still a mystery. Ultimately though, squirting and not squirting are both totally normal, and not squirting is definitely not an indication or sign that you’re not having great sex.

Not everyone necessarily can squirt, but some people can, and if you’re wondering if it can continue into menopause and beyond, it’s a tricky subject.

The bottom line? All that matters is what feels right for you.

Looking for more on different ways to explore vaginal or sexual pleasure? We’ve got you covered.

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