Anatomy of an Urge: The Science of Why Orgasms Can Make You Feel Like Peeing
A common yet confusing sensation for many is the urge to urinate during orgasm. This is not due to a full bladder, but a result of physiology. Intense pelvic floor muscle contractions and stimulation of the Skene's glands near the urethra combine to mimic this feeling.

It’s a sensation as common as it is confusing: that sudden, sometimes overwhelming, urge to urinate in the moments leading up to or during an orgasm. For many, this feeling is a source of anxiety, sparking a fear of embarrassment that can pull them out of an intimate moment. It’s a question whispered to partners and typed anonymously into search bars, as evidenced by countless online forums where people seek reassurance. The good news? The experience is perfectly normal, and its roots lie not in a full bladder, but in a fascinating intersection of anatomy, muscle mechanics, and a little-known gland.
A Crowded Neighborhood: Pelvic Anatomy
To understand the sensation, one must first appreciate the close quarters of the female pelvic region. The urethra (the tube through which urine exits the body), the bladder, the vagina, and the internal structures of the clitoris are all immediate neighbors. During sexual arousal, this entire area becomes engorged with blood, increasing sensitivity and causing tissues to swell. This swelling alone can put gentle pressure on the bladder and urethra, creating a low-level background noise of urinary sensation that intensifies as arousal builds.
The Big Squeeze: Muscle Contractions
The defining feature of an orgasm is a series of involuntary, rhythmic contractions of the pelvic floor muscles. These are the same muscles used to stop the flow of urine. When they contract powerfully during climax, they put significant pressure on everything in the vicinity—including the bladder and urethra. This intense squeezing sends a signal to the brain that is nearly identical to the signal for a full bladder desperately needing to be emptied. One commenter on Reddit provided a wonderfully simple analogy to explain this mechanical pressure:
Think of it this way... you got a tube of toothpaste, and you roll it up from the bottom. ... Now, think of the muscles down there. When you orgasm, those muscles all squeeze HARD. They're squeezing on everything down there. ... So your urethra feels the same squeeze it would if your bladder was full and trying to pee.
This muscular action is the primary culprit behind the phantom urge to pee. It’s not about the volume of liquid in your bladder, but the physical pressure being exerted upon it.
The G-Spot and the Skene's Glands
Adding another layer to the experience are the Skene's glands, sometimes referred to as the female prostate. These glands, which vary in size from person to person, are located on either side of the urethra. They are part of a complex of tissue and nerves often associated with the G-spot. During arousal, the Skene's glands swell and can produce a clear, whitish fluid. This swelling can contribute to a feeling of fullness around the urethra, and the stimulation required to trigger an orgasm often directly involves this area. The fluid they produce is the source of what is known as female ejaculation. The fear of urinating during sex is so prevalent that it can prevent some from fully experiencing pleasure, as one person shared:
As a woman, this happens every single time. And I was always scared to 'let go' because I thought I would pee all over him. Then one time I did and it was not pee. It felt so much better.
This testimony highlights the critical difference: the fluid released from the Skene's glands is not urine. It is compositionally different, more similar to the fluid produced by the male prostate. Understanding this can be liberating, allowing for a release of inhibition built on a misunderstanding of the body's mechanics.
Putting It All Together
The urge to pee during orgasm is not a single phenomenon but a symphony of physiological events. It’s the result of swollen tissues in a compact anatomical space, powerful muscle contractions mimicking bladder pressure, and the stimulation of glands that sit right next to the urethra. Far from being a sign of a problem, it’s a hallmark of a healthy, functioning sexual response. By demystifying the science behind the sensation, we can replace anxiety with appreciation for the complex and remarkable processes of the human body.