Squirting Is Urine

Squirting Is Urine

25 Prime Day Beauty Deals You Can Shop *Right Now*
Your Horoscope for the Week of July 10
Abortion Pills: Everything to Know Post-‘Roe’
Need a New Podcast? Here's Where to Start
Live Your Best Life with These 24 Types of Jeans

This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Carina Hsieh
Sex & Relationships Editor
Carina Hsieh lives in NYC with her French Bulldog Bao Bao — follow her on Instagram and Twitter • Candace Bushnell once called her the Samantha Jones of Tinder • She enjoys hanging out in the candle aisle of TJ Maxx and getting lost in Amazon spirals.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Harry Jowsey Takes the Sexy Cosmo Quiz
From the Cosmo Archives: In Convo with Julia Child
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
The Sexy Cosmo Quiz: Frankie Grande Edition
20 Tips and Tricks on How to Get Wet During Sex
Listening to a Stranger's Voice Gave Me a Huge O
Read a NSFW Scarlett St. Clair Excerpt!
Some Things to Consider Before Texting Your Ex...
Let’s Decode All Your Sexiest Dreams, Shall We?
46 Body-Language Signs That Someone’s Into You
15 Reasons Your Vagina Might Be Burning After Sex

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Promise.

You’re at brunch with your BFF (the one who overshares and you love her for it) when she mentions how her latest hookup made her orgasm so many GD times, she had to strip her sheets at 3 a.m. because they were soaking wet.
“Uh, you mean you peed your bed?” you ask.
“No,” she explains, “ squirting , as in gushing fluid during orgasm, is totally different from pee.”
And then you’re both whipping out your phones to prove each other wrong. But after scrolling through hundreds of articles, neither of you can find a definitive answer for whether squirting is urine or something else entirely.
Despite millennia of evidence that squirting is a very real thing that happens to some women and people with vaginas during sex (see the receipts below), so much about it still remains a big fat question mark. Experts have yet to come to a consensus on how, when, or why squirting happens—and, most importantly, whether or not it’s actual pee that comes out.
For starters, let’s take a 2013 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine that estimates between 10 and 54 percent of women ejaculate fluid during sex . Okay, so either half of all people with vaginas do it…or almost none. Yeah, not helpful. There are a handful of other small, conflicting studies about the phenomenon, but doctors say way more specific research is needed, which makes it tricky to scream, “It’s pee!” or “STFU, it’s not pee!” at brunch with any kind of conviction.
The thing is, though, the world really, really wants to understand it. Perhaps thanks to porn—in which vagina-havers are often seen shooting out streams of fluid during foreplay and intercourse—curiosity over this sexual feat has reached an all-time high. ( Searches for “squirting” on Pornhub more than doubled between 2011 and 2017, and women are 44 percent more likely to look for this stuff than men.) Basically, it’s the Loch Ness monster of our sexuality: The less evidence there is about it, the more we want to know.
Oz Harmanli, MD , chief of urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery at Yale Medicine, has reviewed much of the research on squirting. His personal conclusion? The liquid is urine that can be mixed with some sort of female ejaculate. But (eek) mostly urine.
Let him explain: Squirts often contain something called prostate-specific antigen , a protein found in semen, which suggests that women do have the ability to cum sort of like guys do. Some experts say that protein comes from the Skene’s glands , aka the female prostate, located on either side of the urethra. But, he adds, “there is no gland or reservoir in the female body, other than the bladder, that can produce the amount of fluid that is released with squirting.”
It’s the Loch Ness monster of our sexuality: The less evidence there is about it, the more we want to know.
So in the argument with your bestie, yeah, you probably have the edge. (Thank you, Dr. Harmanli.) Squirt is most likely urine and secretions from the Skene’s glands . But contrary to popular belief, squirting doesn’t only signal a great time (and it doesn’t define good sex—you can still have a killer orgasm without squirting). It may also point to urinary incontinence or, more specifically, coital incontinence , aka the inability to control your bladder during penetration or orgasm.
While standard pee leaks are typically a thing older women might deal with, coital incontinence may affect 20 to 30 percent of women of all ages, says ob-gyn Heather Bartos, MD . And it can be tied to the status of your pelvic-floor muscles, adds ob-gyn Morgan West, DO . When those muscles are strong, you have max control—your bladder and urethra are on full lockdown mode, so nothing is coming out if and when you don’t want it to. But when they’re weak or, you know, relaxed at the tail end of an intense tantric sexathon, the muscles may not be able to withstand the power of your orgasm, setting up the perfect (rain)storm of squirt.
Nope. Unless you or your partner are totally squeamish, squirting—and what exactly this love juice contains—is really NBD. Yes, you may need to clean up afterward, but don’t let that kill your vibe. Most people find even just the idea of squirting incredibly hot. And honestly, if someone is making you nut so hard that you’re legit losing all control over your own body and its functions…who cares about a little mess? You’ve now got one hell of a brunch story.
Elaine Ayers, PhD, an assistant professor of museum studies at NYU, on the historical confusion around women’s orgasmic secretions.
5th century BCE: The ancient Greek Hippocratic treatise On Generation inaccurately claims that women’s “semen” is necessary for conception.
4th century CE: A Taoist text mentions a female genital fluid that comes out during orgasm, totally separate from natural vaginal lubrication.
1672: Dutch physician Reinier de Graaf is the first to describe the “female prostate.” He says its function is to “generate a pituito-serous juice that makes women more libidinous.” Right….
1905: Sigmund Freud links an “abnormal secretion of the mucous membrane of the vagina” to “hysteria”—an old term for female mental illness. It’s bullshit!

U.S. doctors online now Ask doctors free
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Doctors typically provide answers within 24 hours.
Educational text answers on HealthTap are not intended for individual diagnosis, treatment or prescription. For these, please consult a doctor (virtually or in person). For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service.
Ask your question Ask question Free
Talk to a doctor now Talk to a doctor $
Doctors typically provide answers within 24 hours.
Educational text answers on HealthTap are not intended for individual diagnosis, treatment or prescription. For these, please consult a doctor (virtually or in person). For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service.
Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in less than one minute for common issues such as: colds and coughs, stomach symptoms, bladder infections, rashes, and more.
Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other abusable medications.
Ask your question Ask question Free
Talk to a doctor now Talk to a doctor $
Get answers from Gynecologists and top U.S. doctors
Educational text answers on HealthTap are not intended for individual diagnosis, treatment or prescription. For these, please consult a doctor (virtually or in person). For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service.
Our doctors evaluate, diagnose, prescribe, order lab tests, and recommend follow-up care
Affordable with or without insurance
Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in a minute. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other commonly abused medications.
Choose and keep your personal doctor.
Free follow-up text messaging. No limits.
Appointments scheduled in days or hours. Not weeks.
Urgent Care visits within minutes. 24/7.
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
$39 video appointments with $15/month membership *
* Billed $45 every 3 months. Cancel anytime.
HealthTap uses cookies to enhance your site experience and for analytics and advertising purposes. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies. To learn more, please visit our Cookie Policy .
This is your last free view this month.
Get unlimited doctor answers for FREE.
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.

Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Ⓒ 2022 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved

Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more .

Medically reviewed by
Lauren Schlanger, MD

Learn about our
Medical Expert Board

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Answers to Your Questions About the Clitoris

The Skene's Glands Role in Urinary and Sexual Health

The Most Interesting Facts About Ejaculation

How to Soothe the Symptoms of Vaginal Dryness From Menopause

Urology and Sexual Anatomy Functions in Women

How the Male Reproductive System Works

Is It Normal to Not Have a Vaginal Orgasm?

Oral sex describes a number of sexual activities people enjoy

How You Can Delay Early Ejaculation During Sex

Most people with MS have sexual side effects that can be treated.

What Can You Expect From Your Sex Life as You Age?

Are Blue Balls Serious? 4 Ways to Get Relief

Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Ⓒ 2022 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved

Verywell Health is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

Heather M. Jones is a freelance writer with a focus on health, parenting, disability, and feminism.
Lauren Schlanger, MD, is a board-certified primary care physician. She is an assistant professor at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

The term "squirting" is often used to describe the fluid that comes from the vulva during orgasm. But it's actually much more nuanced.

"Squirting" and "female ejaculation" are often used interchangeably. Controversy exists over whether they're two distinct functions. Experts lean toward the belief that they are. 1

This article looks at how squirting and female ejaculation are different, how squirting happens, what it feels like, and how to do it.

The debate is ongoing over whether squirting can be called ejaculation. Still, studies and experts have recognized some key differences between them. 2 3

Fluid believed to come from the bladder and excreted by the urethra
Can involve the release of a larger volume of fluid (up to 10 tablespoons)
Contains urea, creatinine, and uric acid, similar to diluted urine, sometimes with a small amount of prostatic-specific antigen (PSA)
Fluid believed to come from the Skene’s gland, often referred to as the "female prostate," near the urethra
Tends to be a smaller volume of fluid (up to a tablespoon)
Contains high levels of prostatic acid phosphatase, prostatic specific antigen, glucose, and fructose, but low levels of urea and creatinine (often similar to male ejaculate without the sperm)

Whether everyone with a vagina can squirt and/or ejaculate is up for debate. It's estimated that between 10% and 50% of those with female genitalia do ejaculate.

Some experts believe everyone with female anatomy has the ability to squirt. Others believe it depends on your body. That means some people may not ever be able to do it. 4

Exactly what triggers female ejaculation is still unknown. It's believed to involve clitoral and G-spot stimulation. 5

From the outside, the clitoris looks like a small "nub" covered by a hood of skin. It's at the top of the vulva, above the urethra.

Inside, the clitoris has two "legs." They run down each side of the vulva. That gives it a horseshoe-like shape. Its only known purpose is to provide pleasure.

The G-spot is harder to define. Experts aren't sure if it's an anatomical "part" or simply a sensitive area inside the vagina.

To find the G-spot, you or your partner can insert a finger a few inches into the vagina. Keep the palm up and make a "come here" gesture with the finger. You can also use a sex toy that's meant to stimulate that area.

This is pleasurable for some people. For others, it doesn't feel like anything special.

One study suggests that the G-spot may be the root of the clitoris, felt through the wall of the vagina. 5

Ejaculation is associated with orgasm. That's especially true when it's caused by stimulation of the clitoris and G-spot. But some people ejaculate from stimulation even without orgasm. 2

In short, theories abound. So far, though, no one is sure what causes female ejaculation. Studies are conflicting and inconclusive.

What is known is that it's normal if you ejaculate and it's normal if you don't. Neither is considered better or worse. Not ejaculating doesn't mean the sex was unsatisfactory, either.

It's unknown whether squirting and female ejaculation are the same thing. Studies are inconclusive. Ejaculation may involve stimulation of the clitoris and G-spot. It can happen with or without orgasm. Whether you do or don't ejaculate, you're considered normal.

Squirting and ejaculation feel different from person to person. For some, it feels like an orgasm. Others feel an orgasm from deeper in the body than a clitoral orgasm. It may cause a "bearing down" sensation. 2

You may feel an urge to pee before you ejaculate. That may make you hold back for fear of urinating.

Some describe ejaculation as feeling like urinating. Others don't feel anything when it happens. Most "squirters" find it pleasurable, no matter the exact details.

The fluid from squirting/ejaculating can spread sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Safer sex precautions and practices should be followed.

Squirting and/or ejaculating doesn't mean better sex. You may not be able to do it. But if you'd like to, some tips may help.

First, lay down a towel. Squirting can be messy.

Starting by going solo with masturbation is often a good option. It allows you to explore without feeling pressured or inhibited.

Get "in the mood" in whatever way works for you. That might include lighting candles, dimming the lights, putting on music, and creating a soothing space. It could also involve erotic material. Do whatever gets you in the mindset for sex.

Whether alone or with a partner , foreplay is key. Allow arousal to build over time. Don't try for the big event until you're highly aroused.

Use a finger or G-spot stimulator to find your G-spot. Some sex toys stimulate both the G-spot and clitoris.

During penetrative vaginal sex with a partner, try to find a position that puts pressure on the G-spot. "Doggy style" (entry from behind) often works for this.

Stimulating the clitoris and G-spot at the same time. For partnered sex, have your partner stroke your G-spot with a finger while stimulating your clitoris with their mouth .

The vulva isn't the only part of the body that can elicit a sexual response. Explore other parts of your body, literally from head to toe. See what you enjoy having touched (or kissed or licked).

Don’t get worried if you feel like you have to pee. Ejaculation is different than peeing, but they can feel the same.

Give into the sensation and let it happen. Don't hold back. It may help to pee before sex so you know the urge is to ejaculate, not urinate.

Don't try to force it. Let it happen organically. If it doesn't happen the first time, keep trying. Try different tactics. Take note of what works and what doesn't.

Squirting usually feels pleasant. It may also be similar to the feeling of urinating. Or it might feel like "bearing down." You can try to squirt by relaxing, exploring your body, and not holding back. Don't be discouraged if it doesn't happen right away.

Experts are still working to understand female ejaculation and squirting. So far, it's unclear whether they're the same thing and whether everyone can do both. They can happen with or without orgasm.

You can try to squirt by relaxing, stimulating the G-spot and clitoris, and going with the feeling. It may or may not work. You're considered normal regardless of whether you squirt/ejaculate.

While it can be fun to try, don't feel bad if you can't squirt or ejaculate. It's believed most people with vaginas don't ejaculate. Your ability to squirt has no effect on your ability to have a fulfilling and satisfying sex life.

Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.
There was an error. Please try again.
Pastor Z. Female ejaculation orgasm vs. coital incontinence: a systematic review . J Sex Med . 2013;10(7):1682-1691. doi:10.1111/jsm.12166
Whipple B. Ejaculation, female . In: The International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality . American Cancer Society; 2014:1-4. doi:10.1002/9781118896877.wbiehs125
Salama S, Boitrelle F, Gauquel
Remy Lacroix Age
Japanese Gilf
Erotic Corporal Punishment

Squirting Is Urine

Report Page