It is a common question whether women possess a prostate gland similar to that found in men. While women do not have an identical prostate organ, they do have a structure considered homologous to the male prostate. This structure is known as Skene’s glands.
The Male Prostate and Female Anatomy
The male prostate gland is a walnut-shaped organ, typically weighing around 30 grams. It is situated in the male pelvis, directly below the bladder and in front of the rectum, with the urethra passing through its center.
Its primary function is to produce a fluid that contributes to semen. This fluid nourishes sperm and provides an alkaline environment, protecting them in the acidic vaginal environment. The prostate’s muscles also propel semen through the urethra during ejaculation. Women do not possess this specific organ.
The Female Equivalent: Skene’s Glands
Women have structures known as Skene’s glands, also referred to as paraurethral glands. These typically small, pea-sized glands are located on either side of the urethra’s lower end, near the front wall of the vagina, with small ducts opening near the urethral meatus.
Skene’s glands play a role in both urinary and sexual health. They secrete a fluid that lubricates the urethral opening and may contain antimicrobial properties, helping prevent urinary tract infections.
During sexual arousal, these glands can swell and release a mucus-like substance, contributing to lubrication. In some individuals, they are believed to be involved in female ejaculation, producing a fluid containing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase, similar to components in male seminal fluid. Their shared embryonic origin from the same urogenital sinus tissue as the male prostate explains their homology.
Understanding the Historical Context
The understanding and recognition of Skene’s glands, and their similarities to the male prostate, have evolved over centuries. Anatomist Reinier de Graaf first described glands surrounding the female urethra in 1672, even referring to them as the “female prostate.” Alexander Skene later brought renewed attention to these glands in 1880, leading to them being named after him.
For a long time, there was limited acknowledgment of female anatomical structures beyond their reproductive functions in medical literature. This historical bias contributed to the delay in fully understanding and appreciating Skene’s glands.
However, scientific advancements, including the identification of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the fluid produced by Skene’s glands, have provided further evidence of their homology with the male prostate. In 2002, the Federative International Committee on Anatomical Terminology officially recognized the term “female prostate” as an alternative for paraurethral glands, reflecting a more complete understanding of female anatomy.