Skene’s glands are two small glands located on either side of the urethral opening in females. Sometimes called paraurethral glands, they sit just inside the vestibule of the vulva and produce fluid that lubricates and protects the urethra. They’re often considered the female equivalent of the prostate gland, and they share more in common with the prostate than most people realize.
Where Skene’s Glands Are Located
The glands sit to the left and right of the urethral opening, the small hole where urine exits the body. They’re very small and difficult to see with the naked eye. Their ducts don’t simply open onto the surface of the vulva. Instead, they extend inward and penetrate into the lumen of the urethra along its full length, with the ducts actually outnumbering the glands themselves.
In terms of size, the full paraurethral glandular tissue in an adult averages about 3.3 cm long, 1.9 cm wide, and 1 cm tall, with a mean weight of roughly 5 grams. That makes it about one-tenth to one-quarter the size of the average adult male prostate.
What Skene’s Glands Do
These glands secrete fluid into and around the urethra, and that fluid appears to serve a protective role. Analysis of the secretion shows it contains elevated levels of glucose and compounds typically associated with the male prostate, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase. The composition is distinctly different from urine, with lower levels of creatinine and urea.
Researchers have hypothesized that this secretion helps protect against urinary tract infections. The fluid may contain antimicrobial compounds, including zinc, that create a hostile environment for bacteria trying to colonize the urethra. This would make the glands part of the body’s frontline defense in an area that’s particularly vulnerable to infection in females, given the short length of the urethra.
The Connection to the Male Prostate
Skene’s glands are now widely recognized as the anatomical counterpart of the male prostate. The two structures develop from the same embryonic tissue, and the evidence supporting their similarity goes beyond anatomy. In a study of 19 patients ranging from newborns to 86-year-olds, paraurethral glands were found in nearly all of them. Of those, 83% tested positive for PSA and 67% for prostatic acid phosphatase, the same markers used to evaluate the male prostate. The pattern of staining didn’t vary with age, suggesting this is a stable, lifelong feature of the tissue. Some researchers now refer to the glands simply as the “female prostate.”
The Role in Female Ejaculation
Skene’s glands are the primary anatomical source of female ejaculate. The fluid originates in the paraurethral glands and exits through the urethra during sexual arousal or orgasm. Its composition differs from urine in measurable ways, and it contains PSA, reinforcing the connection to prostatic tissue. The fluid may also carry antibacterial properties that protect the urinary tract.
While the specific function of female ejaculation is still debated in the scientific literature, the phenomenon itself is well-supported by anatomical and biochemical evidence.
Skene’s Gland Cysts
When a duct in a Skene’s gland becomes blocked, fluid can build up and form a cyst. These cysts are often small and cause no symptoms at all. When they do cause problems, you might notice a movable lump near the urethral opening, pain during urination, discomfort during sex, or recurrent urinary tract infections.
Many cysts need no treatment. If a cyst isn’t causing symptoms, doctors typically recommend a watch-and-wait approach, and some cysts resolve on their own. This is especially common in newborns, where small paraurethral cysts may disappear without intervention. For adults with painful or persistent cysts, options range from needle aspiration (draining the fluid with a small needle) to a procedure called marsupialization, which creates a small permanent opening to prevent fluid from building up again. Recovery from marsupialization typically takes two to four weeks.
Infections and Abscesses
Bacteria can infect the Skene’s glands, a condition sometimes called skeneitis. Common culprits include E. coli and certain staphylococcal bacteria. Symptoms overlap with urinary tract infections, which makes diagnosis tricky. About half of people with paraurethral gland problems have lesions that can’t be felt during a physical exam, so imaging is often needed to confirm the diagnosis.
If bacteria infect an existing cyst, it can develop into an abscess, a painful, swollen pocket of pus. Antibiotics are the first-line treatment for infected glands. However, larger abscesses often don’t respond well to antibiotics alone, and surgical drainage or removal becomes necessary.
How Skene’s Gland Problems Are Diagnosed
A physical examination is the starting point. Your doctor will inspect and gently press along the front vaginal wall and the area surrounding the urethra, checking for lumps, swelling, or tenderness. But because many lesions are too small or deep to feel, imaging plays a crucial role.
Ultrasound, particularly transvaginal or transperineal approaches, is accessible and effective for identifying cystic lesions in real time. It has a sensitivity of about 80% and specificity of 65% for structures in this area. For more complex cases, MRI is the preferred tool. It provides superior soft-tissue contrast with a sensitivity of 85 to 95% and specificity of 90 to 97%, making it far more reliable for pinpointing the exact origin of a lesion and its relationship to surrounding structures. MRI is also essential for distinguishing Skene’s gland cysts from other conditions that look similar, such as urethral diverticula (small pouches that form along the urethra) or Bartholin’s gland cysts, which are located further back near the vaginal opening.
On MRI, Skene’s gland cysts typically appear as small, rounded or teardrop-shaped lesions, usually under 2 cm, positioned at the lower end of the urethra below the pelvic floor.