If you were born with a vagina, traditional porn might feel as fantastical as science fiction. A shirtless plumber with a six-pack knocks on the door, and within minutes, the helpless homeowner is having the best orgasm of her life.

It’s true that much of what you see in porn isn’t real. But one uniquely female phenomenon is difficult to fake: squirting. Although it might seem like fiction, it’s a real bodily function. 

So how do you squirt, and what is the liquid that actually comes out? 

The science of squirting

When it comes to sex, it might seem like men and women couldn’t be more different. But here’s a fun fact: Every human has female genitalia until about two months into a pregnancy, when the testes develop in males. The male and female reproductive systems have more in common than you think — and these similarities may be central to understanding why women squirt, what it’s made of, and how squirting differs from female ejaculation.

The Skene’s glands

You probably know a little about the male prostate, especially if you’ve experimented with pegging. But for men, the prostate gland isn’t just a source of pleasure — it’s the source of much of the fluid released during male ejaculation.

What you may not realize is that women have their own version of a prostate called the Skene’s glands, two small ducts surrounding the urethra that help lubricate the vagina during sex. Just as the male prostate gland secretes fluids during orgasm, some women emit a dense, milky liquid when they orgasm.

Secreting a small amount of fluid from the Skene’s glands is called ejaculating. Female ejaculate isn’t quite the same as squirting, but they are related.

The urethra  

Both the male and female anatomies include a urethra, the tube that empties urine from the bladder. In males, the urethra also carries semen, passing through the prostate to pick up that ejaculatory fluid we mentioned before.

Women’s urethras are shorter than men’s, and they don’t have any semen to transport. But here’s another fun fact: Erectile tissue isn’t unique to penises. It’s part of the female anatomy, too, and when engorged, these tissues help expel liquid from the urethra in both men and women. When a woman experiences sexual arousal, blood fills the clitoral bulbs surrounding the vaginal opening, causing erection — so the term “lady boner” is more accurate than it might seem.

How it all comes together to make you squirt

What you’ve learned so far is that men and women have a lot of the same hardware. Both sexes get erections, and even ejaculation isn’t unique to males.

But if squirting isn’t the same as ejaculation, what is it? When you squirt, is it pee? 

Well, sort of. Squirting produces a lot more fluid than ejaculating — more than half a cup, in some cases. And it comes from the urethra, not the vagina. It’s no surprise that many people have concluded that a woman who squirts during intercourse hasn’t ejaculated. In their minds, it’s just a cover-up for urinary incontinence.

In 2015, researchers used ultrasound technology to measure the contents of subjects’ bladders before, during, and after simulated sexual activity. They did indeed find that the bladders filled before squirting and emptied afterward. But biochemical analysis showed that the fluids secreted during squirting contained more than just the urea, creatinine, and uric acid present in the pre-squirting urine sample. The fluids now included a protein that wasn’t present before: prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by — you guessed it! — the prostate.

In males, PSA’s primary function is keeping semen liquid to give sperm something to swim in. This prostatic protein obviously doesn’t serve the same purpose for women, but its presence in the secreted fluids of female subjects suggests that there really is more to squirting than just pee.

What does squirting feel like?

Enough with the science talk. What does it feel like to squirt? We can’t answer this question definitively — like orgasms, squirting feels different for everyone.

What we can confidently say is the expulsion that happens when you squirt is intense. It might feel like an incredibly powerful orgasm. It might feel like the wonderful release you feel when you finally find a bathroom after holding in your urine for too long. For most people, it feels really, really good. But the only way to know what it will feel like for you is to give it a try.

And there’s one more cool thing about squirting. We’ve focused a lot on women and female bodies, but gender and sexuality aren’t the determining factors. Anyone with a vulva can do it, including trans and non-binary people. For those identifying as men who don’t know what it feels like to ejaculate, the urethral gush that happens when you squirt can be an empowering, gender-affirming experience.  

The step-by-step squirting guide

Ready to experience the orgasmic ecstasy of squirting for yourself? Follow these steps.

How to make yourself squirt

1. Relax: Like with most sexual activities, comfort and relaxation are key. Try tantric meditation if you’re having trouble getting out of your head.

2. Lubricate: Lubrication is central to sexual pleasure. If natural arousal doesn’t get you wet enough, try a high-quality lube. 

3. Stimulate the G-spot: Using your fingers or a G-spot vibrator, apply pressure to the front wall of the vagina. You’re looking for a spongy area two to three inches inside.

4. Add in some clitoral stimulation: Many find that stimulating the clitoris along with the G-spot increases the odds of squirting.

5. Let the pressure build: Suddenly feel the urge to pee? You might be getting close. Don’t give up unless the sensation becomes too uncomfortable.

6. Release: Keep the stimulation going until the pressure becomes too great for your body to take. If you feel a gushing sensation, enjoy the ecstasy and celebrate — you just squirted!

How to make your partner squirt

1. Communicate: Don’t assume everyone has a desire to squirt. Communicate, get consent, and check in often to ensure they’re comfortable from start to finish.

2. Warm up: Engage in some foreplay to help your partner get aroused. Oral sex will get things lubricated, and massaging the vulva will encourage blood flow to the vaginal area.

3. Stimulate the G-spot: Using your fingers or a G-spot vibrator, apply pressure to the front wall of the vagina. You’re looking for a spongy area two to three inches inside.

4. Add in some clitoral stimulation: Many find that stimulating the clitoris along with the G-spot increases the odds of squirting.

5. Watch for cues: Stay in tune with what your partner is feeling. If they start to squirm but tell you not to stop, you’re probably getting close. 

6. Release: If your partner says they need to pee, encourage them to relax and let go. 

Set the mood with Quinn

Aural stimulation can be the perfect add-on to sex and solo play. That’s why we made Quinn, the audio erotica app created by women for the world. If you’re interested in BDSM, couples playlists, or an audio guide to pleasing women, the wide range of erotic content on Quinn is a great place to start.

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