Biology is messy. We’re taught in high school that the prostate is a "male" organ, a walnut-sized thing that sits under the bladder, causes trouble in old age, and that’s basically that. But if you’re asking can a woman have a prostate, the answer isn't a simple yes or no—it’s more of a "well, kind of, and we’ve been ignoring it for way too long."
Technically, cisgender women don't have the exact same anatomical prostate gland that men do. However, they do have a series of glands and ducts along the anterior wall of the vagina that are so functionally and chemically similar that the official international anatomical terminology (the Terminologia Anatomica) actually renamed them the female prostate back in 2002. Most people, including many doctors, still call them the Skene’s glands.
Why does this matter? Because for decades, women’s health issues like "urethral syndrome" or chronic pelvic pain were dismissed as psychosomatic or "just a UTI" when, in reality, they might have been "prostatitis"—just in a female body.
What is the Female Prostate Exactly?
Most of the time, when we talk about this, we’re talking about the Skene’s glands (or paraurethral glands). They sit right there near the lower end of the urethra. They were first described in detail by Alexander Skene, a Scottish gynecologist, in the late 1800s. Honestly, he was late to the party; Dutch anatomist Reinier de Graaf had already pointed them out in the 1600s, noting they served a similar purpose to the male prostate.
They aren't just decorative.
These glands produce PSA—prostate-specific antigen. That’s the same protein doctors track in men to screen for prostate cancer. They also produce acid phosphatase. When you look at these cells under a microscope, they look remarkably like the tissue found in a man’s prostate. They’re essentially homologous structures. This means they develop from the same embryonic tissue. In a fetus, the same "stuff" that becomes the prostate in a male becomes the Skene’s glands in a female.
It’s all about the androgen levels during development.
The Connection to Ejaculation and Pleasure
This is where things get controversial, or at least they were for a long time. The Skene’s glands are widely believed to be the source of female ejaculation. When stimulated—often through the vaginal wall, in the area many call the G-spot—these glands can expel a fluid that is chemically distinct from urine.
It’s not just "water."
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Studies have shown this fluid contains that PSA we mentioned earlier, along with glucose and fructose. It’s a biological cocktail. For a long time, medical literature basically ignored this or labeled it as urinary incontinence because it didn't fit the neat, binary boxes of "how bodies work." But if you acknowledge that the female prostate exists, the mechanics of female ejaculation suddenly make a lot more sense. It's a glandular response.
Can a Woman Get Prostate Cancer?
It’s rare. Incredibly rare. But the answer is yes.
Since the Skene’s glands are histologically similar to the male prostate, they can develop the same types of malignancies. There are documented cases in medical journals—like those found in the Journal of Medical Case Reports—of Skene’s gland carcinoma.
The problem is diagnosis.
Because many practitioners don't even think about the "female prostate," a tumor there might be misdiagnosed as a urethral diverticulum or a simple cyst. Symptoms often mirror other things:
- Pain during intercourse.
- Blood in the urine (hematuria).
- Difficulty peeing or a frequent urge to go.
- Pressure in the pelvic floor.
If a woman has an abnormally high PSA level, it’s often a red flag that something is happening with these glands. It’s a niche area of oncology, but it’s a vital one for anyone experiencing chronic, unexplained urethral issues.
Beyond the Binary: Transgender Health and the Prostate
When we talk about whether a woman can have a prostate, we also have to talk about trans women. This is a common point of confusion.
Trans women who were assigned male at birth (AMAB) usually retain their prostate even after gender-affirming surgery (vaginoplasty). The surgery creates a vaginal canal, but the prostate is typically left in place because removing it is a high-risk procedure that can cause nerve damage and significant urinary issues.
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So, yes, many women have a traditional prostate.
However, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) changes things. When a trans woman takes estrogen and anti-androgens, the prostate usually shrinks. It becomes somewhat dormant. But "dormant" doesn't mean "gone." Trans women still need to be aware of prostate health, although the risk of cancer drops significantly when testosterone is suppressed. It’s a unique healthcare intersection where traditional "male" screening might still be necessary for a female patient.
Doctors sometimes forget this. Patients have to be their own advocates. It's a weird spot to be in, having to remind a provider to check an organ that "shouldn't" be there according to a simplified medical chart.
Why Does Nobody Talk About This?
Mostly, it’s a mix of historical sexism in medical research and a lack of funding. For centuries, the male body was treated as the "default" and the female body was just a male body with "extra" reproductive parts or "missing" organs. The idea that a woman has a functional prostate-equivalent didn't fit the narrative.
Think about the term "prostatitis."
In men, it’s a well-understood inflammation that causes pelvic pain. In women, similar symptoms are often lumped into "Pelvic Inflammatory Disease" (PID) or "Interstitial Cystitis." We are only just now seeing a shift toward recognizing that the Skene’s glands can become infected or inflamed just like a prostate can.
We need better terminology. "Paraurethritis" is one term, but "female prostatitis" is arguably more accurate.
Modern Medical Recognition
The shift started to happen more rapidly in the early 2000s. The Federative International Committee on Anatomical Terminology officially accepted the term "female prostate." This wasn't just a name change for the sake of it. It was an acknowledgment that the organ exists, it functions, and it can get sick.
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Still, your average GP might look at you funny if you bring it up.
There’s a massive gap between what's in high-level anatomical journals and what’s discussed in a standard check-up. We see this in how G-spot amplification or treatments for "female ejaculation" issues are handled—they’re often relegated to "sexual wellness" spas rather than urology clinics. That’s a mistake. The female prostate is a part of the urinary and reproductive system. It deserves clinical respect.
What You Should Watch For
If you’re experiencing weird symptoms, don't just assume it's a stubborn UTI. If you’ve had three rounds of antibiotics and that dull ache behind your pubic bone won't go away, it might be time to ask about the Skene's glands.
Specifically, keep an eye on:
- Recurrent "UTIs" where the culture comes back negative. This is a huge one. If there's no bacteria in the urine but it feels like an infection, the inflammation might be in the glands, not the bladder.
- Pain during or after orgasm. Since the Skene’s glands contract during arousal and climax, pain here can point to an obstruction or infection in the "female prostate."
- Specific tenderness. If you press on the front wall of the vagina (the "12 o'clock" position) and it feels exquisitely painful or triggers a burning sensation in the urethra, that’s a landmark for the Skene's glands.
Actionable Steps for Better Pelvic Health
Knowing you have a "female prostate" is step one. Step two is actually taking care of that area of your body.
First, if you are experiencing chronic pelvic pain, find a urologist or a urogynecologist who is familiar with Skene's gland disorders. Don't be afraid to use the term "female prostate" to see if they are up to date on modern anatomical terminology. If they dismiss it entirely, they might not be the right specialist for complex urethral issues.
Second, stay hydrated. The Skene’s glands, like the male prostate, rely on fluid movement. Stagnation in any glandular system can lead to stones (yes, you can get "prostate stones" in the Skene's glands) or infection.
Third, if you are a trans woman, ensure your healthcare provider includes prostate health in your long-term wellness plan. Even if you are on HRT, a baseline check-up is smart, especially as you age.
Finally, pay attention to your body's "normal." Whether it's the way you experience arousal or the way you pee, changes matter. The female prostate has been ignored for centuries, but you don't have to ignore yours.
Understanding this anatomy isn't just a fun fact for trivia night; it’s a necessary part of closing the gender gap in medical diagnostics. It turns out that the "male" prostate isn't quite so exclusive after all. It’s just another part of the complex, overlapping map of human biology.