HWN Suggests

It’s Time to Learn About the Female Prostate

One of the great things about having access to the internet is the unbelievable wealth of information that exists, literally, at the touch of your fingertips. As a person in the 21st century, in North America, I use search engines to learn about things that I’m curious about on a daily basis. One thing that I’ve wondered about in the past is whether or not females have prostates. I was curious about this because I heard that fluid excretes from “G-spot” stimulation, but I also heard that it secretes from a gland homologous to the male prostate. Ultimately, I just wanted to optimise my body’s potential for having fun.

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 Skene’s Glands And Recurrent UTI

It’s possible you’ve never heard of the Skene’s glands. Many people haven’t. Yet the Skene’s glands, which envelop the urethra and are often referred to as the “female prostate,” are responsible for female ejaculation – which may be an evolutionary defense mechanism to protect against UTIs. When the Skene’s glands become infected or inflamed, this is a condition called skenitis. Skenitis can lead to urinary tract symptoms similar to those of a UTI as well as abscesses and cysts within the Skene’s glands. However, Skenitis often goes un- or misdiagnosed. So how do you know if an infection in the Skene’s glands may be contributing to recurrent or chronic UTI symptoms?

 Understanding the Skene’s glands

When examined closely, the male prostate and Skene’s glands appear to operate very similarly. This is why researchers are now starting to call Skene’s glands the female prostate.

 What Women Should Know About the Skene’s Gland

Your body has parts you may not know well, and one of the most overlooked is the Skene’s gland. Often called the “female prostate,” it shares similarities with the male prostate and plays a role in protecting against infections and supporting sexual function. The primary job of your Skene’s gland is to produce a mucus-like fluid that lubricates the urethral opening and surrounding vestibular area. This natural moisture helps reduce friction and irritation during both daily activities and intimate moments.

Articles of Interest

Bigger is better when it comes to the G spot

The term G spot, coined by Ernest Gräfenberg in 1950, refers to an area a few centimetres up inside the vagina on the side closest to a woman’s stomach. Buried in the flesh here are the Skene’s glands, the female equivalent of the prostate gland. In men, the prostate produces the watery component of semen. In women, Skene’s glands are also thought to produce a watery substance that may explain female “ejaculation”. The tissue surrounding these glands, which includes the part of the clitoris that reaches up inside the vagina, swells with blood during sexual arousal. And there’s some evidence that nerves in the area produce an orgasm different to one produced by clitoral stimulation.

Clinical implications of the forgotten Skene's glands: A review of current literature

To review the current literature to focus on the clinical and pathological aspects of the Skene's glands. The historical perspective including embryology, anatomy, histology, and current role of prostatic specific antigen (PSA) as a tumor marker of lesions which develop from the Skene's glands, 'female prostate.'

Do Women Have a Prostate? What Science Says

While the prostate gland is classically considered a male-specific organ, the female body contains a set of structures known as the Skene’s glands (also known as the paraurethral glands) which are widely recognized as the anatomical and functional counterpart to the male prostate.

My Epic Journey to Find the "Skene's Glands," the Mystical Source of Female Ejaculation

My quest begins with a set of glands—located on the anterior wall of the vagina near the urethra and G-spot—called the Skene's Glands. If you're unfamiliar, the Skene's, my friends, are the mystical entities that are considered the epicenter of female ejaculation. I had always thought that squirting could only be attributed to fakeouts in porn and the occasional unicorn girl, but apparently everyone has these glands. Big shocker: They're named after a man, Alexander Skene. The Skene's fill with fluid during sexual arousal and if stimulated during sexual arousal, sex, or masturbation, can actually release this liquid.

Paraurethral glands

Paraurethral glands (or Skene glands) lie within the wall of the distal female urethra and secrete mucus during sexual activity. Each gland is drained by a single paraurethral (Skene) duct. They are homologous to the male prostate gland. If the paraurethral duct becomes obstructed (inflammation, inspissated mucus), then a paraurethral (Skene) duct cyst may result.

Skene's glands abscess an overlooked diagnosis in acute lower urinary symptoms

Patients may present with chronic urethral pain, recurrent urinary tract infections, unexplained dyspareunia, and dysuria. At imaging Skene's glands are typically located on the anterior vaginal wall, at symphysis level and paramedian to urethra. Clinicians should consider Skenitis in the differential diagnosis of lower urinary tract symptoms.

Skene’s Glands and UTIs: What’s the deal?

Skene’s glands are small glands that surround the female urethra. Embryologically, they are homologous to the male prostate gland, and are thought to secrete fluid into the urethra. The exact purpose of the skene’s glands in the female urinary tact is unknown but these are the cysts that may be responsible for “female ejaculation.” Occasionally, when patients have frequent urinary tract infections, the skene’s glands can get recurrently infected with bacteria and inflamed. This is called skenitis and most people do not have any symptoms when this occurs. Eventually, the inflammation may lead to scarring and then blockage of the skene’s gland.

The G-Spot and Female Prostate

The evidence suggests that the G-spot, as a distinct entity, is less about anatomical uniqueness and more about the interplay of surrounding tissues, including the female prostate. What’s more important than terminology is recognizing and embracing the diversity of orgasmic experiences. Whether clitoral, vaginal, cervical, or a combination, all forms of pleasure are valid and backed by science. Moving forward, let’s focus less on labels and more on understanding and normalizing the spectrum of female sexual health and pleasure.

Understanding Skene's Glands and Their Role in Sexual Health

The Skene’s glands are a pair of small glands next to the urethra and near where urine leaves the body. The glands help to moisten the urethra and release a mucus-like fluid that provides lubrication during sex.