For many people, squirting — sometimes called female ejaculation or gushing — is one of the most talked-about but least understood aspects of female sexual response. It shows up in conversations, social posts, and memes, but there’s still confusion around what it actually is, how common it is, and whether it’s “normal.” Let’s unpack what researchers and clinicians say, what studies have found, and how this phenomenon fits into broader sexual health.
What People Mean by “Squirting”
In everyday language, squirting refers to the expulsion of fluid women may experience during sexual arousal or orgasm. It’s often described as a sudden gush or stream that’s more than standard vaginal lubrication. Researchers in sexual medicine acknowledge that people use the word in different ways, and this contributes to debates in scientific and sex-education communities.
It’s also important to distinguish two related but distinct physiological phenomena:
- Female Ejaculation — a small amount of milky or whitish fluid believed to come from the Skene’s glands, sometimes called the “female prostate.” This fluid may contain proteins like prostate-specific antigen (PSA), similar to male ejaculate.
- Squirting (Gushing) — a larger volume of clear fluid expelled through the urethra during arousal or orgasm, which research suggests often originates from the bladder, though a small amount of prostate-like secretion may mix in.
Both phenomena can occur together, but they are not necessarily the same thing.
What Research Has Found
Occurrence and Experience
A large Swedish study surveying over 1,500 women found that about 58% reported experiencing ejaculation or squirting at least once. For many, it happened occasionally rather than every time, and experiences varied widely.
Among women who had experienced squirting, most described their feelings about it as positive, especially when it was associated with orgasm. About 61% reported that orgasm occurred close to or at the same time as the fluid expulsion. Still, some women initially felt shock, embarrassment, or uncertainty, with about a quarter believing they had urinated.
This shows that the experience is common but not universal, and that reactions can be diverse.
What’s in the Fluid?
The nature of the expelled fluid has been the subject of biochemical studies. Some research using ultrasound and fluid analysis indicates that squirting fluid largely resembles diluted urine, although in many people small amounts of protein markers like PSA — associated with the Skene’s glands — may also appear.
Because of this, many scientists talk about squirting as being urinary in origin, with a possible marginal contribution from paraurethral (Skene’s) glands in some individuals.
Why the Debate and Confusion?
Part of the confusion comes from terminology and how people label their bodies’ responses. In popular culture — including social posts and influencer content — terms like “squirting,” “female ejaculation,” and “orgasm fluids” are often used interchangeably. But clinicians and researchers emphasize that the location, source, and composition of the fluid can be different.
Another reason for debate is that scientific research itself is limited. Few large-scale clinical studies exist, and many depend on self-reported surveys or small sample sizes. That makes it harder to reach definitive conclusions about mechanism and prevalence.
A Positive and Evidence-Based Perspective
Here’s what health educators and sex researchers generally agree on:
- It’s a natural variation of sexual response, not a disease or “abnormality.” Experiences vary widely between individuals.
- Not all women will squirt, and that’s normal. And for those who do, it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong or that it must happen every time.
- Reactions — both physical and emotional — are shaped by comfort, partner communication, and understanding of one’s own body.
- Consent and mutual understanding during all sexual activities, including exploration of bodily responses like squirting, are essential to a healthy, affirming experience.
If you’re curious about squirting:
- Recognize that it’s one of many normal responses some people have during sexual arousal or orgasm.
- Don’t judge your own or others’ bodies based on myths — science shows variability is expected.
- Emotions around the experience — from excitement to nervousness — are real and worth discussing with partners.
Squirting isn’t a requirement for pleasure, nor is it a flaw — it’s simply a part of human sexual diversity. Researchers continue to learn more about how and why it occurs, but current evidence suggests that it’s a natural response for many, rooted in anatomy and physiology rather than fantasy or stigma.
