Women’s Health
No, women don’t have a prostate in the strict anatomical sense. They have Skene’s glands, two small glands beside the urethra that grow from the tissue that would have become a prostate. Like the prostate, they make prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which is why they’re often called the “female prostate.” Problems are uncommon, and cancer is extremely rare.
- Skene’s glands (paraurethral glands) are two small glands beside the urethral opening, each roughly the size of a small blueberry, according to Cleveland Clinic.
- They develop from the urogenital sinus, the same embryonic tissue that forms the male prostate. Androgen signaling determines which structure forms.
- A 1998 letter in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute cited studies of 130 women’s urethras that found PSA and prostate-specific acid phosphatase in Skene’s tissue. FICAT added the term “female prostate” to Terminologia Histologica in 2008.
- In a 2006 University of Pisa study, healthy women had a median serum PSA of about 5 pg/mL, while women with PCOS (now also called PMOS) had levels nearly three times higher.
- Skene’s gland cancer is extremely rare, with roughly 13 to 20 published cases. Most Skene’s gland problems are infections or cysts that respond to antibiotics or drainage.
Search “do women have a prostate” and you’ll get two opposite answers, sometimes from equally trusted sources. Baptist Health states plainly that the prostate isn’t part of female anatomy. A 1998 letter in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute argued the opposite: that women do have a prostate, and that it has real clinical significance.
Both sides are describing the same thing. It’s a pair of small glands near the urethral opening called Skene’s glands, also known as the paraurethral glands. According to Cleveland Clinic, they’re roughly the size of a small blueberry, and they help with both urinary and sexual health.
So the honest answer depends on how you define “prostate.”
This guide explains what Skene’s glands are, why scientists compare them to the prostate, and what they actually do. It also covers which conditions can affect them and when a symptom is worth a doctor’s visit.
We reviewed anatomy research indexed by the National Library of Medicine alongside clinical guidance from Cleveland Clinic and the MSD Manual.
Do Women Have a Prostate? The Short Answer
Women don’t have a prostate gland in the anatomical sense. There’s no single walnut-sized organ wrapped around the urethra below the bladder. Women do have Skene’s glands, small paired glands near the urethral opening. These develop from the same embryonic tissue as the male prostate and make some of the same proteins.
Whether you call Skene’s glands a “female prostate” comes down to definitions. Some experts define the prostate by its size, shape, and role in making semen. Others define it by where the tissue comes from and what it produces. The two views are laid out below.
In this guide, “women” refers to people born with female anatomy. Transgender women usually still have a prostate. See the note for transgender women in the cancer section.
Why Do Some Experts Say “No”?
Most hospital and patient-education sources use the anatomical definition. By that standard, the prostate is part of the male reproductive system, and Baptist Health describes Skene’s glands as glands with “some of the same properties” rather than a true prostate.
Aleece Fosnight, PA-C, a physician assistant who specializes in sexual medicine and urology, avoids the nickname. In an interview with Rescripted, she encourages patients to say “Skene’s glands” or “paraurethral glands” instead of “female prostate.”
Why Do Some Researchers Say “Yes”?
Strong Evidence Based on human tissue studies
The term also has some official standing. A 2021 paper in Pharmacologyonline reports that the Federative International Committee for Anatomical Terminology (FICAT) recognized “female prostate” in 2008, in its Terminologia Histologica, based largely on Zaviačič’s work.
Even supporters admit open questions remain. A 2017 review in Cell Biology International notes that the gland’s biological purpose in females is still unclear, which is a big reason the debate continues. Preliminary Evidence Review drawing heavily on animal studies
What Is the Prostate Gland?
The prostate is a small gland in the male reproductive system that adds fluid to semen. According to Cleveland Clinic, it sits just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body.
A few key facts help explain why people compare it to Skene’s glands:
- Size: About the size of a walnut, and it usually gets larger with age.
- Main job: It makes part of the fluid in semen, and its muscles help push semen through the urethra during ejaculation.
- PSA production: Prostate cells make prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein that doctors measure in the blood. Researchers have found that Skene’s glands are the main source of PSA in women, too.
Because the prostate surrounds the urethra, problems with it often show up as urinary symptoms. The three most common conditions are:
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): A noncancerous enlargement that can squeeze the urethra. Atlantic Urology Specialists lists frequent nighttime urination, trouble starting to pee, and a weak or stop-start stream as typical signs.
- Prostatitis: Inflammation or infection of the prostate.
- Prostate cancer: Cleveland Clinic notes it’s the second most common cancer affecting males.
Prostate cancer is common in men, while cancer of Skene’s glands is extremely rare. For more on screening, see our guide to what a PSA test measures.
What Are Skene’s Glands (the “Female Prostate”)?
Skene’s glands are two small glands on either side of the female urethra that release fluid near the urethral opening. Cleveland Clinic describes them as tiny ducts that support urinary and sexual health, each about the size of a small blueberry. Size varies from person to person.
The glands are named after Alexander Skene, a gynecologist who drew attention to them in 1880. He wasn’t the first to describe them, though.
What Are the Other Names for Skene’s Glands?
You may see Skene’s glands listed under several names in medical writing. Cleveland Clinic notes all of these refer to the same structures:
- Paraurethral glands
- Periurethral glands
- Skene’s ducts
- Lesser vestibular glands
- Female prostate (an informal and debated term)
Where Is the Female Prostate Located?
Skene’s glands sit along the lower end of the urethra, near the front wall of the vagina. Their tiny ducts open into the vulvar vestibule, just to the left and right of the urethral opening. Because they’re so small and tucked beside the urethra, most women never see or feel them.
Skene’s glands flank the urethral opening. Bartholin’s glands sit lower, beside the vaginal opening.
How Are Skene’s Glands Different From Bartholin’s Glands?
Skene’s glands and Bartholin’s glands are both small, paired glands near the vaginal opening, which is why people mix them up. The simplest way to tell them apart is location. As Cleveland Clinic explains, Skene’s glands sit near the urethra, while Bartholin’s glands sit on either side of the vagina.
Their jobs differ, too. A 2019 review in American Family Physician explains that Bartholin’s glands secrete lubricating mucus during arousal. They’re the female counterpart of the male bulbourethral (Cowper’s) glands, not the prostate.
of women develop a Bartholin duct cyst or abscess at some point (American Family Physician, 2019)
Bartholin’s gland problems are far more common than Skene’s gland problems. Read more in our Bartholin cyst guide.
Why Do Skene’s Glands and the Prostate Come From the Same Tissue?
Skene’s glands and the prostate both grow from the same patch of tissue in the early embryo, called the urogenital sinus. That shared origin makes them homologous structures, meaning they start from the same building blocks even though they end up looking and working differently. A 2021 paper on female paraurethral glands points to this common origin as the core reason researchers link the two. Strong Evidence Based on embryology and human tissue research
Hormones decide which path the tissue takes. A 2017 review of prostate development in the journal Development describes androgen signaling, driven by male hormones such as testosterone, as a key trigger for prostate formation. With strong androgen signals, the tissue grows into a full prostate. With low androgen levels, it develops into the much smaller Skene’s glands.
signaling
levels
Same starting tissue, different hormonal signals: that’s why Skene’s glands are called the “female prostate.”
This pattern isn’t unique to the prostate. The urogenital sinus also gives rise to Bartholin’s glands, which American Family Physician identifies as the female counterpart of the male bulbourethral glands. Many reproductive structures come in matched male and female versions like this.
The homology has been studied beyond humans, too. The 2017 Cell Biology International review notes that female prostate tissue appears in several mammals, including rodents, rabbits, bats, and dogs. In rodents, it closely resembles one lobe of the male prostate under the microscope. Preliminary Evidence Based on animal research
Female Prostate vs. Male Prostate: Side-by-Side Comparison
The female prostate and male prostate share an origin and a key protein, but they differ in size, structure, purpose, and disease risk. The table below summarizes the main differences. Sources for each row are linked in the notes that follow.
| Feature | Male Prostate | Skene’s Glands (Female Prostate) |
|---|---|---|
| Embryonic origin | Urogenital sinus | Urogenital sinus |
| Number | One gland | Two small glands |
| Size | About the size of a walnut | About the size of a small blueberry each |
| Location | Below the bladder, wrapped around the urethra | Beside the lower urethra, near the front vaginal wall |
| Main secretion | Part of the fluid in semen | Fluid that lubricates the urethral opening |
| Makes PSA? | Yes | Yes (main source of PSA in women) |
| Role in reproduction | Essential to semen and ejaculation | No clearly established reproductive role |
| Common conditions | BPH, prostatitis, prostate cancer | Infection (skenitis), cysts, abscesses |
| Cancer risk | Second most common cancer in males | Extremely rare (about 20 reported cases) |
- Male prostate rows: Size, location, function, and cancer ranking come from Cleveland Clinic’s prostate overview.
- Skene’s gland rows: Size, secretion, conditions, and the roughly 20 reported cancer cases come from Cleveland Clinic’s Skene’s gland page.
- Location: The Urology Center of Iowa places the glands near the front vaginal wall, on either side of the lower urethra.
- Shared origin: See the embryology section above.
- PSA: Zaviačič and Ablin’s 2000 review in Histology and Histopathology describes Skene’s glands as the main source of PSA in women.
- Role in reproduction: The 2017 Cell Biology International review notes that the gland’s biological function in females remains unclear.
What Do Skene’s Glands Do?
Skene’s glands release a small amount of fluid that lubricates the urethral opening and may help protect the urinary tract. They also produce PSA, and they likely play a role in sexual response. Scientists are still working out the details, so the evidence behind each function varies.
Do Skene’s Glands Lubricate and Protect the Urethra?
The best-supported job of Skene’s glands is keeping the urethral opening lubricated. Cleveland Clinic notes that researchers believe the glands secrete a substance that lubricates the urethra’s opening during urination. Moderate Evidence Widely accepted but not directly measured in large studies
That fluid may also help fight infection. Baptist Health reports that researchers think it has antimicrobial properties that help protect the urinary tract from bacteria. This is a plausible but less proven role. Preliminary Evidence Limited direct evidence If you deal with frequent bladder infections, see our guide to UTIs in women: causes and prevention.
Do Skene’s Glands Produce PSA?
Strong Evidence Based on human tissue studies
We cover what this means for blood tests in the next section.
What Role Do They Play in Sexual Response and Female Ejaculation?
Skene’s glands are linked to sexual response, though the exact role is still debated. Healthline explains that the glands swell with increased blood flow during arousal, similar to the clitoris.
The glands may also be the source of female ejaculation, which isn’t the same thing as “squirting.” A study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine by French gynecologist Samuel Salama and colleagues used pelvic ultrasound to track seven women during arousal. Here’s what they found:
- Each woman’s bladder was empty before stimulation, filled noticeably during arousal, and was empty again after squirting. That means the large volume of fluid came mainly from the bladder.
- In five of the seven women, the fluid contained small amounts of PSA that hadn’t been present in their urine beforehand. That PSA most likely came from Skene’s glands.
Preliminary Evidence Small human study of seven participants
Based on findings like these, Salama and colleagues distinguished female ejaculation, a small, thicker, PSA-containing secretion, from squirting, a larger release of mostly bladder fluid. Some women experience both, and some experience neither. Both are normal.
Are Skene’s Glands the G-Spot?
They might be part of it, but nobody knows for sure. Healthline notes that experts suspect Skene’s glands influence or make up part of the G-spot, and Medical News Today similarly says the glands may correspond to it. Whether the G-spot is a distinct anatomical structure at all remains unsettled. Preliminary Evidence Contested
PSA in Women: What Does It Mean?
Women do have small amounts of prostate-specific antigen in their blood, and most of it comes from Skene’s glands. In healthy women, the amount is tiny and fairly stable.
median PSA level in healthy premenopausal and postmenopausal women (University of Pisa, 2006)
Moderate Evidence Small human study
Why Aren’t Women Screened With a PSA Test?
PSA testing exists to screen for prostate cancer, a disease that women born with female anatomy can’t get. In the US, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force addresses PSA screening only for men. It recommends an individual decision for men aged 55 to 69 and advises against screening at 70 and older. The Task Force notes an update to that guidance is in progress.
Skene’s gland cancer is far too rare to justify screening every woman. If your doctor orders a PSA test, it’s usually to investigate a specific concern rather than as a routine check. To learn how the test works, see our guide to what a PSA test measures.
How Are PSA, PCOS (Now Called PMOS), and Breast Tissue Connected?
PSA in women seems to rise with androgen levels. In the same Pisa study, women with polycystic ovary syndrome had median PSA levels nearly three times higher than healthy women. A 2017 study in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine of 45 women with the condition found that PSA tracked closely with testosterone levels. Its authors proposed PSA as a possible marker of excess androgens, though it isn’t a standard diagnostic test. Moderate Evidence Small human studies
A June 2026 post on the AAFP Community Blog reports that polycystic ovary syndrome has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). You’ll likely see both names for a while. Learn more in our PCOS overview.
Breast tissue can also make PSA in some cases. In one study of more than 400 tissue samples, Zaviačič and colleagues didn’t detect PSA in normal breast tissue, but they did find it in certain benign breast changes and some breast cancers. That’s one more reason a woman’s PSA result needs a doctor’s interpretation. Moderate Evidence Human tissue studies
Conditions That Can Affect Skene’s Glands
Most women never have a problem with their Skene’s glands. When issues do happen, they’re usually infections, cysts, or abscesses, and most are treatable. Cleveland Clinic notes that most conditions involving these glands aren’t serious or cancerous. Because the glands sit right beside the urethra, problems in one area can easily affect the other.
What Is Skenitis (Female Prostatitis)?
According to Medical News Today, many doctors consider female prostatitis to be a urethral infection, though some research suggests the glands themselves may be the source.
The overlap matters because the infection can travel in either direction. Healthline explains that a UTI can spread to the glands, and a gland infection can show up as urinary symptoms. Moderate Evidence Clinical literature with ongoing debate over terminology
What Are the Symptoms and Treatment of Skene’s Duct Cysts and Abscesses?
A Skene’s duct cyst forms when the gland’s duct gets blocked and fluid builds up behind it. Cleveland Clinic lists infection and inflammation as common causes of blockage in adults. Some babies are born with these cysts; estimates range from 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 7,000 newborns.
Most cysts are harmless. The MSD Manual reports that most are under 1 cm and cause no symptoms. Larger ones may cause the symptoms below.
Possible Symptoms of a Larger Skene’s Duct Cyst
- Pain during sex
- Painful urination that feels like a UTI
- Recurring urinary tract infections
- A tender, swollen lump if the cyst becomes infected (an abscess)
Doctors usually diagnose a cyst with a pelvic exam. Cysts that cause symptoms are usually removed surgically. Some are opened and drained with a procedure called marsupialization instead. Abscesses are treated with antibiotics plus drainage. Cleveland Clinic notes that Skene’s gland cysts aren’t cancerous and rarely return after surgery.
Is It a Skene’s Cyst or Something Else?
A few other conditions can cause a lump or tenderness in the same area, which is why a proper exam matters:
Look-Alike Conditions
- Urethral diverticulum: A small pouch along the urethra that can look like a Skene’s duct cyst. The MSD Manual notes that ultrasound or cystoscopy may be needed to tell them apart.
- Bartholin’s cyst: A blocked Bartholin’s gland causes a lump lower down, beside the vaginal opening rather than the urethra, as Cleveland Clinic explains.
Can Sexually Transmitted Infections Affect Skene’s Glands?
Some STIs can reach Skene’s glands. Medical News Today notes that gonorrhea, for example, can spread from other parts of the genitals into the glands. Treating the underlying infection promptly helps prevent this.
What About Adenofibroma and Other Rare Growths?
Medical News Today also lists adenofibroma, a rare type of growth, among the conditions that can affect Skene’s glands. Any new lump near the urethra should be checked by a doctor rather than self-diagnosed.
See a Doctor Promptly If You Notice:
- A painful, swollen, or growing lump near the urethral opening
- Blood in your urine
- Fever along with pelvic or genital pain
- Trouble urinating or being unable to urinate
- UTIs that keep coming back despite treatment
- New pain during sex that doesn’t go away
These symptoms have many possible causes, and most aren’t serious. A proper exam is the only way to know what’s going on.
Can Women Get Prostate Cancer?
Women born with female anatomy can’t get prostate cancer because they don’t have a prostate gland. They can, very rarely, develop cancer in Skene’s glands. This is sometimes called “female prostate cancer,” but it’s a separate, extremely rare disease.
What Is Skene’s Gland Cancer (Female Urethral Adenocarcinoma)?
Skene’s gland cancer is a rare cancer that starts in the glandular tissue beside the urethra. Patient Power notes it’s also called female urethral adenocarcinoma. Under the microscope, it can look much like prostate cancer and test positive for PSA.
of cancers of the female genital and urinary tract, per a 1994 estimate
It’s exceptionally rare. A 1994 report estimated that it accounts for about 0.003% of cancers of the female genital and urinary tract. Cleveland Clinic puts the total at about 20 reported cases, while a 2021 case report in the Polish Journal of Pathology counted 13 published cases. Preliminary Evidence Case reports and case series
Why do the counts differ? Doctors must rule out other cancers of the urethra and genital tract before confirming this diagnosis, and reports use different criteria. A 2011 study also suggested some cancers labeled as urethral may actually begin in Skene’s glands. The true number may be slightly higher than the official count, but it remains extremely small.
What Symptoms Should You Watch For?
Possible Symptoms (per Patient Power)
- Pelvic pain or discomfort
- Pain during sex
- A lump or mass in the vaginal area, near the urethra
- Blood in the urine, stool, or vaginal discharge
- Frequent urination or trouble urinating
These symptoms are far more likely to come from an infection or a cyst than from cancer. Because so few cases exist, doctors know little about how this cancer typically behaves. Published case reports describe treatment with surgery, radiation, and in some cases hormone therapy, which is one more reason to get new symptoms checked early.
Can Transgender Women Get Prostate Cancer?
If this applies to you, ask your doctor whether prostate screening makes sense for your age and history.
- A new lump or bump near the urethral opening, especially one that’s growing
- Blood in your urine
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding, including any bleeding after menopause
- Ongoing pelvic pain or pain during sex with no clear cause
Cancer is very unlikely, but these signs always deserve a prompt exam.
When Should You See a Doctor About Skene’s Gland Symptoms?
See a doctor if you have painful urination, pain during sex, a change in how often you need to pee, or a lump near the urethral opening. Cleveland Clinic lists those first three as reasons to check in with a healthcare provider. Most of these problems turn out to be infections or cysts that are easy to treat.
Which Doctor Should You See?
A good starting point is your primary care provider or an OB-GYN. If your symptoms involve the urethra or keep returning, you may be referred to a urologist or a urogynecologist, a specialist in female pelvic floor and urinary conditions.
What Can You Expect at Your Appointment?
Symptom History
Your provider will ask when symptoms started, whether they come and go, and whether you’ve had recent UTIs or STIs.
Pelvic Exam
According to the MSD Manual, doctors usually diagnose Skene’s gland cysts by examination alone.
Imaging, If Needed
The MSD Manual notes that ultrasound or cystoscopy (a camera exam of the urethra and bladder) may be used when the diagnosis isn’t clear.
Treatment Plan
Infections are usually treated with antibiotics. Symptomatic cysts or abscesses may need drainage or a minor procedure.
Don’t let embarrassment delay a visit. Doctors who treat the pelvic area see these concerns every day, and a quick exam often brings a clear answer.
If burning or urgency is your main symptom, our guide to painful urination and when to see a doctor covers other common causes. For ongoing pelvic discomfort, see our overview of pelvic floor health for women.
Common Myths About the Female Prostate
Here’s what the research shows about five common claims.
Fact: Women make PSA too, mostly in their Skene’s glands. Researchers Zaviačič and Ablin identified these glands as the principal source of PSA in women. Levels are simply much lower than in men.
Fact: Cleveland Clinic describes them as glands that support both urinary and sexual health. Scientists are still studying their full role, but “unimportant” isn’t supported by the evidence.
Fact: Large-volume squirting comes mostly from the bladder. The small study discussed earlier found PSA in the fluid of five of seven women, which points to a Skene’s gland contribution. True female ejaculation is a smaller, separate secretion.
Fact: Women can’t develop BPH, since it’s a disease of the prostate itself. As Atlantic Urology Specialists explains, though, women can have similar urinary symptoms from other causes.
Fact: Most lumps here are cysts or abscesses, and Skene’s gland cysts aren’t cancerous. Any new lump still deserves an exam to confirm what it is.
The Bottom Line
Women born with female anatomy don’t have a prostate, but they do have its closest counterpart: Skene’s glands. These small glands beside the urethra grow from the same embryonic tissue as the prostate. They make PSA and help keep the urinary tract healthy, which is why many researchers call them the “female prostate.”
Key Takeaways
- Short answer: No anatomical prostate in women, but Skene’s glands are its female homolog.
- Shared origin: Both structures develop from the urogenital sinus. Hormones decide which one forms.
- Function: Skene’s glands lubricate the urethral opening, produce PSA, and likely contribute to female ejaculation.
- Common problems: Infections, cysts, and abscesses happen occasionally and are usually treatable.
- Cancer risk: Skene’s gland cancer is extremely rare, with only a small number of published cases.
- When to act: A new lump, blood in your urine, or pain during sex or urination deserves a doctor’s visit.
This guide doesn’t recommend any products. If you have symptoms, the most useful next step is an exam, not a purchase. To keep learning, read our guides to UTIs in women: causes and prevention and pelvic floor health for women.
This article explains general anatomy and research. It can’t diagnose your symptoms. If something feels off near your urethra or vagina, book an appointment with your primary care provider or an OB-GYN.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can women get prostate cancer?
Where is the female prostate located?
What is the female equivalent of the prostate?
Do all women have Skene’s glands?
Do men have Skene’s glands?
What are the symptoms of a Skene’s gland problem?
Do women have PSA in their blood?
References
Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases · Loria M, et al. Incidence of prostate cancer in transgender women in the US: a large database analysis. doi:10.1038/s41391-024-00804-4. · Published online February 7, 2024
Cleveland Clinic · Skene’s gland. · Last reviewed September 2, 2022
Cell Biology International · Biancardi MF, dos Santos FCA, de Carvalho HF, Sanches BDA, Taboga SR. Female prostate: historical, developmental, and morphological perspectives. 41(11):1174–1183. · 2017
The Journal of Sexual Medicine · Salama S, Boitrelle F, Gauquelin A, et al. Nature and origin of “squirting” in female sexuality. · Published online December 24, 2014
Histology and Histopathology · Zaviačič M, Ablin RJ. The female prostate and prostate-specific antigen: immunohistochemical localization, implications of this prostate marker in women and reasons for using the term “prostate” in the human female. 15(1):131–142. · 2000
Journal of the National Cancer Institute · Zaviačič M, Ablin RJ. The female prostate. 90(9):713. · 1998
References are listed from most recent to oldest.
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