The Skene’s glands can occasionally cause health problems, usually by becoming infected.
Cancers of the Skene’s glands are extremely rare.
The Skene’s glands are ducts that have small, pinprick size external openings through which they release secretions.
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The size of the glands varies from woman to woman.
Functions
The Skene’s glands are important for both urinary and sexual health.
These secretions are thought to be antimicrobial and may help preventurinary tract infections(UTIs).
Sexual Functions
The Skene’s glands help lubricate the vagina during sexual arousal.
The glands are surrounded with clitoral tissue, which swells during sexual arousal.
This swelling stimulates the Skene’s glands to release a mucus-rich fluid.
Although some people use the termssquirtingand female ejaculation interchangeably, these are different phenomena.
They involve chemically distinct secretions emitted by different organs.
Female ejaculation involves the release of fluid from the Skene’s glands during orgasm.
Coital incontinence, or squirting, involves the release of fluid from the bladder during orgasm.
Not all women experience female ejaculation.
Skenitis
The Skene’s glands can become infected and inflameda condition known asskenitis.
Conversely, skenitis can sometimes cause recurrent UTIs.
If you have skenitis, your Skene’s glands will enlarge and become tender to the touch.
These cysts and abscesses are most common in a person’s 30s and 40s.
Large cysts can block the flow of urine through the urethra, preventing you from passing urine.
Skenitis is typically treated with antibiotics.
If antibiotics fail to clear a cyst or abscess, you may need surgery to remove it.
Cancer
The Skene’s glands derive from the same tissue as the prostate gland.
Fewer than 20 cases of cancers originating in the Skene’s glands have been documented.
Like prostate cancer,cancers of the Skene’s glandssometimes secrete prostate-specific antigen.
Your healthcare provider should perform a urine test (urinalysis) to confirm a UTI.
Skenitis can often be detected by a physical exam alone, but sometimes imaging is required.
Your lingering symptoms could indicate an underlying medical issue that requires treatment.
These cancers are typically treated with surgery.
Additional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation depend on how advanced the cancer is.
The Skene’s glands are located in the vaginal wall and help lubricate the vagina during sex.
These glands can occasionally cause issues if they become infected, which is referred to as skenitis.
Although studies find these phenomena can and do occur, your experience may vary.
Some people report having intense G-spot orgasms; others never do.
Some people experience female ejaculation; others never do.
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