“Female Prostate Cancer”: What Women Should Know
- Alice Tooley
- Aug 6
- 4 min read
This may sound surprising, but women actually have something similar to a prostate, known as Skene’s glands. These small glands can, on rare occasions, develop a type of cancer informally called “female prostate cancer”. Because this condition is so rare, many people – including medical professionals – are not familiar with it.
Sadly, this lack of awareness means that some cases are diagnosed too late and become fatal.
This is why it is so important to understand what Skene’s glands are, where they are located, how to recognise the signs of “female prostate cancer”, and what treatments are available.
What Exactly Is the Female Prostate?
Every woman has two small glands, roughly the size of chickpeas, called Skene’s glands. They are generally known as the “female prostate” because their structure is similar to that of the male prostate. You will find them close to the urethra, “on the front wall of the vagina” (Kiefer, 2024).
Interestingly, these glands “have ducts that actually connect to the urethra so that fluid is released…this fluid may have antimicrobial properties to help prevent infection from entering the urethra” (Malik, 2023).
This means that they help to protect the urethra from infection. Interestingly, they also help to lubricate the vagina during sexual arousal.
So, although they are small and often overlooked, these glands are key to women’s health and pleasure–so it is beneficial to be aware of them.
Fun fact:
Dr Rena Malik, MD (2023), has pointed out that “some women…derive pleasure from the Skene’s Gland”.
Because these glands are located near the G-spot area, stimulation may result in pleasure. However, not everyone feels this, and that is perfectly normal – everyone’s bodies are different.
Can Women Get Prostate Cancer?
While it is much less common than in men, a form of cancer that affects the Skene’s glands does exist. In the medical community, this is categorised as a “urethral adenocarcinoma”, which simply means that it is a rare glandular cancer (Hayne, 2021).
Research suggests that this type of cancer makes up “less than 5% of urethral carcinoma cases” – and, worryingly, “survival outcomes…[are] poor” (Hayne, 2021)
The rarity of this cancer makes it difficult to diagnose, especially since it shares symptoms with more common conditions, such as urinary tract infections. This often leads to confusion during diagnosis, delays in treatment, and puts women’s health at serious risk.
A Crucial Distinction
Although Skene’s glands are similar to the male prostate, cancers affecting them are not the same as prostate cancer.
The symptoms and treatment options can be quite different and so, it is particularly important that healthcare professionals acknowledge this condition in its own right.
Symptoms to Look Out For
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing any of the following symptoms, it is worth speaking to a doctor:
Skin lesions
Pain, burning or itching
Loss of appetite
Loss of weight
(please note that all of these symptoms are typically associated with the area surrounding the vagina)
You may be at greater risk if:
You are over 40 years old
You have HPV
You smoke
You have had more than one pregnancy
How Is It Diagnosed?
Doctors typically take a team-based approach to diagnosing Skene’s Gland Cancer. Tests and procedures could include:
An ultrasound
An MRI scan
A tissue biopsy
What Are the Treatment Options?
Surgery is usually required to remove the cancer. Depending on how much is has progressed, procedures may include:
Humivulvectomy (removing part of the vulva)
Partial Pelvic Exenteration (removing the cancer tissue and the nearby pelvic tissue)
Total Vulvectomy (removing the entire vulva)
These operations are usually followed by radiotherapy to eliminate all traces of the cancer, along with regular monitoring to detect any recurrence.
(Tangella, 2022)
Why Awareness Matters
One of the biggest challenges with female prostate cancer is the lack of awareness. Many people still believe that prostate cancer only affects men, which fuels gender bias in both public and clinical settings.
Worryingly, this gender bias can prevent healthcare professionals from considering Skene’s Gland Cancer as a possible diagnosis. This can then cause delays in treatment which, sadly, may prove to be fatal.
This needs to change – raising awareness is key to saving lives.
Key takeaways:
The ”female prostate” refers to two Skene’s glands located near the urethra and vagina
Every woman has them, though many do not know about them
Skene’s Gland Cancer is extremely rare, but can be dangerous if developed
Increased awareness and early diagnosis could save lives
Small glands, big impact – it is time to bring this conversation into the spotlight.
Want to find out more? Click on the link below:
References
Chen, J., Gao, Q., He, S., Lan, J., Li, T., Liu, X., Teng, Y., Tian, M., Tingting Lv, Xie, S., Ye, L., & Zou, Y. (2022). Adenosquamous Carcinoma of Skene’s Gland: A Case Report and Literature Review. Frontiers in Oncology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.893980
Kiefer, A. (2024, June 4). The Skene’s Glands Role in Urinary and Sexual Health. Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/skene-gland-5207878
Malik, R. (2023, September 13). Do Women Have a Prostate Gland? (The Surprising Truth). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Iofk8_RXso
Tangella, K. (2022). Skene’s Gland Adenocarcinoma - DoveMed. DoveMed. https://www.dovemed.com/diseases-conditions/skenes-gland-adenocarcinoma
Hayne, D., Oey, O., Swarbrick, N., & Viswambaram, P. (2021). Adenocarcinoma of the urethra: A rare subtype of urethral cancer. Urology Case Reports, 37, 101654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eucr.2021.101654
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