What is the Skene's Glands?

Skene's Glands: Skene's glands are two small glands on either side of the urethral opening, just inside the vulva. They lubricate the urethra, help protect against infection, and are believed by researchers to be the source of female ejaculation, which is why they are often called the female prostate.

Also known as: paraurethral glands, periurethral glands, lesser vestibular glands, Skene's ducts, female prostate.

Skene's glands are among the least famous organs with the most interesting job. Each is about the size of a small blueberry, sitting on the left and right side of the urethral opening in the vestibule of the vulva, with duct openings so tiny they are nearly impossible to see. They were named after Alexander Skene, the physician who described them in detail in the 1880s, though anatomists have been arguing about them for far longer.

Two facts explain why they earn a place in a sex dictionary. First, they develop from the same cells that become the prostate in males, which is why "female prostate" is a fair nickname rather than a marketing phrase. Second, researchers believe they are the likely source of female ejaculation, which connects them directly to the G-spot and squirting conversations this dictionary gets asked about most. Anatomy varies from person to person, and so does everything these glands do, so nothing here is a benchmark anyone needs to hit.

What Do Skene's Glands Do

Their day job is quiet maintenance: they secrete fluid that lubricates the urethral opening when you pee, and that fluid has antimicrobial properties that help stop bacteria from spreading, which contributes to preventing urinary tract infections. Most people go their whole lives without ever noticing them working.

During sexual arousal the glands get more interesting. The tissue around them swells with blood flow, they add to lubrication during sex, and in some people they release fluid during orgasm in a way researchers compare to ejaculation. The milky fluid they produce contains proteins similar to those found in semen, which is the strongest evidence behind the female prostate comparison and behind the theory that these glands are what squirting actually comes from.

Skene's Glands, the G-Spot, and Squirting

The G-spot area sits on the front wall of the vagina, and the Skene's glands sit just on the other side of that wall, clustered around the urethra. That geography is why firm, repeated pressure on the front wall, from fingers or a curved G-spot toy, can stimulate the glands at the same time, and why G-spot stimulation is the route most associated with female ejaculation.

It is also why the famous "I feel like I need to pee" sensation during G-spot play is completely normal: everything in that neighborhood, glands, urethra, and bladder, is packed closely together. Emptying your bladder beforehand removes the worry, and the feeling usually fades as arousal builds. Whether ejaculation happens at all, and how much fluid is involved, varies enormously between people and even between sessions, since gland size and development differ from body to body. None of the outcomes are more correct than the others.

When Something Goes Wrong

Problems are rare, but they exist. The most common is skenitis, an infection of the glands that often develops from the same bacteria that cause gonorrhea and is easily mistaken for a urinary tract infection. Signs include swollen, sore glands, pain when peeing, a frequent urge to pee, painful sex, and vaginal pain. It is treated with antibiotics, and a prolonged infection can form an abscess that needs a doctor's attention, so this is not one to wait out.

The glands can also develop small cysts, which may cause a movable lump near the urethra, discomfort, or trouble peeing, and larger ones can be removed. See a doctor promptly for painful urination, pelvic pain, painful sex, bloody or cloudy pee, or foul smelling discharge, since only an examination can tell a Skene's gland problem apart from a UTI or an STI. Cancer of these glands has been reported only a handful of times in the medical literature, so a lump near the urethra almost always has a far more ordinary explanation, but it still deserves a professional look.

Skene's Glands vs Bartholin's Glands: Quick Comparison

Key Things to Know

• Skene's glands sit on either side of the urethral opening and develop from the same cells that become the prostate in males, which earns them the female prostate nickname honestly.
• Researchers believe they are the source of female ejaculation, and the fluid they release contains proteins similar to those in semen.
• Their position behind the front vaginal wall is why G-spot stimulation can involve them, and why a brief urge to pee during that kind of play is normal.
• Gland size and development vary from person to person, so whether squirting happens at all is a matter of anatomy and circumstance, not skill or effort.
• Pain when peeing, painful sex, or a sore lump near the urethra can mean an infected gland or cyst, which a doctor can treat, usually with simple antibiotics.

FAQ

Related Terms

G Spot · Squirting · Vulva · Clitoris

Sources

• Cleveland Clinic: “Skene’s glands develop from the same cells that become the prostate in males.”
• Cleveland Clinic: “Researchers believe the Skene’s glands may be the source of ejaculation in women.”
• Cleveland Clinic: “The most common disorder of your Skene’s glands is skenitis.”