Do Women Have a Prostate or Something Else?

What Is the Prostate?

The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland found in men, tucked just below the bladder and wrapped around the urethra. Though modest in size, its role is vital, it produces prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a key enzyme that helps semen stay fluid. This fluidity allows sperm to swim freely and improves their chances of reaching an egg. Quietly working behind the scenes, the prostate is a cornerstone of male fertility.

But this raises a natural question: if the prostate is so important in men, what about women?

Do Women Have a Prostate?

Women don’t have a prostate gland in the traditional sense, but they do have something similar. Known as Skene’s glands, or paraurethral glands, these tiny structures are considered the female counterpart to the male prostate. In medical literature, they’re often referred to as the “female prostate”.

What are Skene’s glands?

Skene’s glands are considered as a “female prostate”. They are named after Alexander Johnston Chalmers Skene, a physician who studied Skene’s glands. Skene’s glands are small glands located just inside the front wall of the vagina, near the opening of the urethra (the tube you pee through). You have one on each side, and they’re so tiny that many people don’t even know they exist.

Skene’s glands can release fluid, especially during sexual arousal, and some experts believe they may be linked to female ejaculation and orgasm.

Though small, Skene’s glands play a gentle but important role in your body’s sexual and urinary health.

Can Women Get Prostate (Skene’s glands) Problems?

Yes, women can experience issues related to Skene's glands, including infections, cysts, and, in rare cases, adenocarcinoma.

Infections

Infections of the Skene's glands, known as skenitis, can cause symptoms such as painful urination and discomfort in the vaginal area. These infections are often treated with antibiotics.

Cysts

Blockage of the Skene's ducts can lead to the formation of cysts, which may cause swelling, foreign body sensation, and discomfort. In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to remove the cysts.

Rare Cases of Cancer (Adenocarcinoma)

Adenocarcinoma (type of cancer) of the Skene's glands is extremely rare, with only about 20 cases reported in medical literature. This aggressive cancer often presents with symptoms similar to urinary tract infections and may require a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

While PSA is not a standard cancer screening tool for women, an elevated PSA level (biomarker for Prostate cancer in males), especially with a suspicious mass, may be a red flag for Skene’s gland adenocarcinoma. 

Symptoms of Skene’s Gland Problems

Problems with the Skene’s glands can lead to certain symptoms, and these are signs you should not ignore:

• Pain or burning during urination
• A lump or swelling near the urethra
• Unusual discharge from the urethral area

Just because these issues are uncommon doesn’t mean they should be overlooked

Female Prostate (Skene’s Gland) vs. Male Prostate

Although they’re found in different sexes, the male prostate and female Skene’s glands have several features in common, from their location to the fluids they produce.

As you can see, the Skene’s glands and the prostate share many similarities and develop from the same embryonic tissue, even though they exist in different sexes and play slightly different roles.