The Skene gland is a structure situated within the female lower urinary tract that has been a subject of anatomical discussion and historical confusion. It represents a complex glandular system whose function has only recently become clearer through advances in scientific understanding. While often overlooked, the gland plays a part in both urinary and sexual health. Current research has helped to clarify the gland’s specific secretions, its relationship to other organs, and the various medical conditions that can affect it.
Anatomy and Location
The Skene gland system consists of a network of ducts and glands located around the lower end of the urethra. These glands are typically found in the tissue surrounding the urethra, deep within the vestibule of the vulva. They are situated on the anterior wall of the vagina, with their ducts opening near the urethral meatus, the external opening of the urethra.
The system is composed of two main ducts that branch into numerous small glandular clusters. Fluid from these glands travels through small, pinprick-sized openings located on either side of the urethral opening. This anatomical placement, nestled in the periurethral tissue, means that the gland is closely associated with the urethra itself. The surrounding tissue is known to swell due to increased blood flow during periods of sexual arousal.
Biological Role and Secretions
The primary biological function of the Skene gland is the production and secretion of fluid into the urethral opening. This secretion serves to lubricate the urethra, which aids in its function as the channel for urine to exit the body. The fluid is also thought to contain substances that exhibit antimicrobial properties, potentially offering protection against urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Chemical analysis of the fluid reveals a composition that links it closely to the male prostate gland. The secretions contain Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), which are proteins found in high concentrations in male seminal fluid. This milk-like ultrafiltrate of blood plasma also contains high concentrations of glucose and fructose. The presence of these specific prostatic markers underscores the shared embryological origin between the Skene gland and the male prostate.
The gland also plays a role in specific sexual responses, particularly female ejaculation. When the gland is stimulated, a small amount of fluid is secreted through the ducts. Researchers believe this fluid is the source of the “female ejaculate,” which is distinct from the larger volume of transparent fluid associated with “squirting.” The secretion from the gland is produced during high sexual arousal, similar to the process of emission in the male reproductive system.
Alternative Terminology and Historical Context
The structure is named after Alexander Johnston Chalmers Skene, a Scottish gynecologist who described it in Western medical literature in 1880. However, the glands had been observed by other anatomists centuries earlier. Today, the preferred and more anatomically descriptive terms are “paraurethral glands” or “periurethral glands,” referring to their location alongside or around the urethra.
The term “female prostate” is also commonly used due to the gland’s shared developmental pathway with the male prostate. Both organs arise from the same embryological tissue, the urogenital sinus, and this homology supports the use of the term. In 2002, the Federative International Committee on Anatomical Terminology officially added the term “female prostate” as a synonym for the paraurethral glands. The scientific rationale for this adoption lies primarily in the shared biochemical output, specifically the production of PSA and PAP, which are highly specific prostatic markers.
Clinical Conditions
The Skene gland system is susceptible to various pathological conditions that require medical attention. One of the most common issues is the formation of a Skene’s gland cyst, which occurs when a duct becomes obstructed. This blockage causes the glandular secretions to accumulate, leading to a small, typically benign, cystic swelling near the urethral opening. While often asymptomatic, a cyst can sometimes cause a palpable lump, pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), or difficulty with urination (dysuria) if it grows large enough to impede the flow of urine.
The glands can also become inflamed or infected, a condition known as skenitis or Skene’s adenitis. This infection may be caused by common bacteria, including those responsible for sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea, or by a bacterial infection spreading from the urethra. Symptoms of skenitis often mimic a severe urinary tract infection, presenting as pain, swelling, and tenderness in the periurethral area. Untreated infection can sometimes progress to form a painful Skene’s gland abscess.
In rare instances, the glands can be the site of a malignant growth, such as an adenocarcinoma. Since the gland is homologous to the prostate, these cancers often display histological characteristics similar to prostatic adenocarcinoma, including the expression of Prostate Specific Antigen. Diagnosis often relies on imaging techniques and tissue biopsy, and treatment typically involves surgical excision.