Where is the Female Prostate? What You Should Know

The female prostate is the Skene’s gland, a small cluster of glands and ducts that sits on the front wall of the urethra, just inside the vaginal opening. It develops from the same embryonic tissue as the male prostate, which is why it shares the name. You cannot see it from the outside, and most people never think about it — but it sits at the center of several real medical questions.

That shared origin is not a metaphor. During early development, both males and females start with tissue that can form prostate-like glands. In males, that tissue grows into the prostate. In females, it becomes the Skene’s gland, also called the paraurethral gland. The two are not identical, but they are genuinely related structures.

What Is the Female Prostate and Where Is It Located?

The Skene’s gland is located on the anterior (front) wall of the urethra, near the opening where urine leaves the body. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder. The gland’s ducts open just inside the urethral opening, on either side of it.

Its position matters. Because it sits right at the junction of the urinary tract and the vaginal opening, problems with the Skene’s gland can cause symptoms that overlap with urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, and other pelvic conditions. That overlap is one reason it gets missed.

Anatomists have known about these glands for a long time. They are named after a 19th-century Dutch anatomist who described them. What has changed more recently is the recognition that they are not just a minor anatomical footnote — they are functional glandular tissue with clinical relevance.

The size varies. The Skene’s gland is small, typically measuring just a few millimeters, with ducts that are even finer. This small size is part of why it is difficult to examine and why imaging does not always capture it clearly.

Is the Female Prostate the Same as the Male Prostate?

They are homologous — meaning they arise from the same embryonic structure — but they are not the same organ. The male prostate is much larger, wraps around the urethra below the bladder, and produces a significant portion of seminal fluid. The female Skene’s gland is smaller, has a different shape, and its secretions play a different role.

What they share is tissue type. Both contain glandular tissue that can produce fluid, and both can develop similar problems: infection, cysts, and in rare cases, cancer. That last point is important because it is often overlooked.

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by prostate tissue. It was named for the male prostate because that is where it was first identified. But the Skene’s gland also produces PSA. This is not a disease marker on its own — it is simply a normal product of this glandular tissue. It does mean that PSA can be detected in female fluids, which occasionally causes confusion in lab results.

What Does the Female Prostate Do?

The Skene’s gland produces a fluid. That much is established. The composition of that fluid has been studied, and it contains compounds similar to those found in male prostatic fluid, including PSA and certain enzymes.

The function of this fluid is less clearly established. Some researchers propose it plays a role in lubrication or in the immune defense of the urethra. Others suggest it may have a role in sexual response. The evidence here is limited, and no single function has been confirmed with certainty.

The gland is also the source of what is commonly called female ejaculation. Research indicates that the fluid released during this event comes primarily from the Skene’s gland, and chemical analysis has found it is not urine. That said, the volume, frequency, and experience of this vary widely among individuals, and not everyone experiences it. The physiological mechanism is real; the cultural framing around it is often exaggerated or misunderstood.

One clarification worth making: the existence of the Skene’s gland is not debated in anatomy. What remains debated is the full extent of its function and how much it contributes to various pelvic processes.

What Conditions Affect the Female Prostate?

The Skene’s gland can develop several problems. Some are common and treatable. Others are rare and require more careful evaluation.

• Skene’s duct cysts: Blocked ducts can fill with fluid and form a cyst. These are usually small and painless, but larger ones can cause discomfort, a visible bulge, or difficulty urinating.
• Skene’s gland infection (skenitis): Infection can cause pain, swelling, discharge, or a burning sensation during urination. Symptoms often overlap with a urinary tract infection, which is why it can be misdiagnosed.
• Abscess: An infected cyst can become an abscess, which is painful and may require drainage.
• Cancer: Skene’s gland cancer is rare. It accounts for a very small fraction of female genital cancers. Because it is rare, it is often not considered early, which can delay diagnosis.

Symptoms that might point to a Skene’s gland issue include pain during urination, pain during sex, a lump or swelling near the vaginal opening, or recurrent urinary symptoms that do not respond to standard treatment. None of these are specific to the Skene’s gland — they can have many causes. That is exactly why a proper exam matters.

How Are Female Prostate Problems Diagnosed and Treated?

Diagnosis starts with a physical exam. A clinician can sometimes feel a cyst or area of swelling near the urethral opening. Imaging, such as ultrasound or MRI, can help clarify the size and location of a mass. In some cases, a sample of fluid or tissue is needed to rule out infection or cancer.

Treatment depends on the problem:

• Small, asymptomatic cysts often need no treatment.
• Infected cysts or abscesses may need antibiotics or drainage.
• Symptomatic cysts may be drained or removed surgically.
• Cancer treatment depends on the stage and type, and typically involves surgery, and sometimes radiation or other therapies.

There is no established screening protocol for Skene’s gland cancer, and no routine test for it. This is because it is rare. Screening programs are generally only recommended when a condition is common enough that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms. That is not the case here.

If you have persistent pelvic or urinary symptoms, the useful step is not to self-diagnose but to describe your symptoms clearly to a clinician. Mentioning that the symptoms have not improved with standard treatment is relevant information.

Does the Female Prostate Play a Role in Sexual Function?

The Skene’s gland is located in an area that is sensitive during sexual arousal. Some research suggests it contributes to sexual pleasure and to the fluid released during orgasm in some individuals. The evidence for a direct role in pleasure is not uniform across studies, and experiences vary widely.

What is clear is that the gland sits in a region rich in nerve endings and vascular tissue. Stimulation of that area can produce pleasurable sensations for some people. Whether the gland itself is the source of that sensation, or whether it is the surrounding tissue, is not fully settled.

Claims that stimulating the Skene’s gland produces a guaranteed response, or that every person will experience ejaculation, are not supported. The physiology is real. The universality is not.

Why Is the Female Prostate Often Overlooked?

Several reasons. First, it is small and internal, so it does not show up on routine exams unless a clinician is specifically looking for it. Second, its symptoms overlap with more common conditions, so it is often not the first thing considered. Third, medical training has historically focused more on the male prostate, and the female counterpart has received less attention.

There is also a naming problem. The term “female prostate” is not universally used in clinical settings. Some clinicians call it the Skene’s gland, some call it the paraurethral gland, and some avoid the term “prostate” altogether to prevent confusion with the male organ. This lack of consistent terminology can make it harder for patients to find information and for clinicians to communicate about it.

The anatomy itself is not controversial. The gland exists, it has been described in anatomical literature for well over a century, and its homology with the male prostate is established. What is still developing is the clinical understanding of how often it causes problems, how best to diagnose them, and how to treat them.