The short answer
Squirting fluid comes from the bladder, so it shares some ingredients with urine. But it's heavily diluted, usually clear and nearly odourless, and in most women it also contains secretions from the Skene's glands that urine doesn't normally have. So: not just pee, and not entirely different either.
What the research shows
In a 2015 study, women were scanned with ultrasound before arousal: their bladders were empty. During arousal the bladders filled up, and after squirting they were empty again. The fluid contained urea and creatinine (found in urine) but at much lower concentrations, and most samples also contained PSA, a marker from the Skene's glands.
A 2022 study went further: researchers coloured the bladder contents with a harmless blue dye. The fluid released at orgasm came out blue, confirming the source, while its composition still differed from ordinary urine.
Squirting vs female ejaculation
Researchers now separate two things. Squirting is a larger amount of thin, watery fluid from the bladder. Female ejaculation is a small amount of thicker, milky fluid from the Skene's glands. Some people experience one, some both, some neither.
Why it doesn't matter (much)
- The fluid is mostly water and harmless on skin and sheets.
- It washes out easily; a towel solves the practical side.
- It's a reflex tied to arousal, not incontinence.
Sources: Salama et al., Journal of Sexual Medicine (2015); Inoue et al. (2022); Pastor & Chmel, Clinical Anatomy (2022); Hensel et al. (2024); Påfs et al., Sexual Medicine (2024).
Frequently asked questions
Is squirt pee?
It comes from the bladder but is diluted and mixed with gland secretions, so it isn't the same as ordinary urine.
Does squirting smell?
Usually barely or not at all. It's mostly water.
Will peeing before sex stop squirting?
No. The fluid builds up during arousal, so you can still squirt with an empty bladder.
Is squirting fluid clean?
From a healthy bladder it's harmless on skin. As with any sexual fluid, normal STI precautions apply.
