Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe Skene’s GlandsSkene’s Gland CancerSigns and SymptomsTreatment and OutlookCysts and Other Conditions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Skene’s Glands
Skene’s Gland Cancer
Signs and Symptoms
Treatment and Outlook
Cysts and Other Conditions
Females can very rarely develop cancer in a pair of organs called theSkene’s glands, which originate from the same tissues in anembryothat give rise to the prostate gland. However, females cannot getprostate cancerbecause they don’t haveprostate glandslike males.
Unlike prostate cancer, which is the second most common cancer in males,Skene’s gland cancer is exceptionally rare, with only 20 cases reported in medical literature as of 2022.
This article explains what the Skene’s glands are and how cancer develops there. It also describes the signs and symptoms of Skene’s gland cancer and how the condition is diagnosed and treated. It will also discuss Skene’s gland cysts, a benign condition.
Maskot / Getty Images
Types of Cancers Affecting Females
Skene’s Glands
Skene’s glands, also known as the lesser vestibular glands or paraurethral glands, are a pair of pea-sized glands situated near the end of theurethra(the tube through which urine exits the body).
Skene’s glands originate from the same cells that give rise to the prostate gland duringembryogenesis. Embryogenesis is the process in which afertilized eggstarts to divide and differentiate into specialized cells that make up various tissues and organs in the body.
The differentiation of the prostate gland and Skene’s glands depends on whether the embryo carries a gene called the sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene.
This SRY gene triggers the production oftestosteroneandother androgen sex hormones, causing embryonic tissues to develop into male sex organs, including the prostate gland.
In embryos without the SRY gene, the absence of testosterone during this period of development causes tissues to develop into female sex organs, including the Skene’s glands.
What Do Skene’s Glands Do?
There remains some debate as to the function of Skene’s gland, but it is generally agreed that the milk-like fluid they secrete helps lubricate the opening of the urethra.
The Skene’s gland is similar to the prostate gland in that it secretes fluids that containprostate-specific antigen (PSA). This is the same substance that healthcare providers use to detect anenlarged prostate.
Cancer of the Skene’s Gland
Females cannot get prostate cancer. But females can get Skene’s gland cancer, otherwise known asfemale urethral adenocarcinoma(FUA). It is an extremely rare cancer.
By way of background,carcinomais a type of cancer that affectsepithelialcells. These are the cells that form the covering of all body surfaces, including the lining of body cavities and hollow organs. Most cancers affecting the skin, breasts, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, prostate gland, and head and neck are carcinomas.Those affecting glandular tissues are calledadenocarcinoma.
While other types of cancers can affect the female urethra (includingsquamous cell carcinomaandclear cell carcinoma), FUA specifically involves the Skene’s glands.
FUA is extremely rare, accounting for less than 0.003% of cancers affecting thefemale genital and urinary tract. It is also very aggressive, causing large tumors that spread quickly through thelymphatic system. Most cases are not detected until the cancer hasmetastasized(spread to distant organs).
How Serious Is Skene’s Gland Cancer?Female urethral adenocarcinoma has a high mortality rate, mainly due to late diagnosis of the disease. Thefive-year survival ratefor all female urethral cancers is around 44%.With FUA specifically, the survival rate is closer to 31%—meaning that only one in three people will live for five years or more following their diagnosis.
How Serious Is Skene’s Gland Cancer?
Female urethral adenocarcinoma has a high mortality rate, mainly due to late diagnosis of the disease. Thefive-year survival ratefor all female urethral cancers is around 44%.With FUA specifically, the survival rate is closer to 31%—meaning that only one in three people will live for five years or more following their diagnosis.
What to Know About Urethral Cancer
Symptoms of Female Urethral Adenocarcinoma
Female urethral adenocarcinoma is frequentlyasymptomatic(without symptoms) in the early stages. It is only when the tumor grows to a notable size that a person may feel and/or see it as a hardened nodule (lump) with a round surface.
The location of the nodule can vary based on where the tumor started. Those that originate in the duct of a Skene’s gland can cause a nodule on thelabia minora(the inner skin flaps on either side of the vagina).Those that start in the gland itself can cause a nodule on thelabia majora(the outer skin flaps on either side of the vagina).
The nodule will typically be painless but can cause pain if it presses on a nerve or adjacent structures.The nodule can range in size from under 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) to well over 4 centimeters (1.5 inches).
Urinary Symptoms
With FUA, urinary symptoms can occur when the tumor penetrates the lining of the gland and invades the adjacent urethra. When this happens, a person may develop symptoms similar to aurinary tract infection (UTI).
The symptoms can vary based on whether the distal urethra (near the opening of the urethra) or the proximal urethra (closer to the bladder) is involved. Proximal tumors tend to be more severe.
Symptoms of FUA may include:
When FUA is advanced and has begun to spread, a person may experience chronic back pain, severe fatigue, unexplained weight loss, andswollen lymph nodesin the groin. Common sites of metastases are the bladder, vagina, liver, lungs, brain, and bones.
Signs and Symptom of Urethral Cancer
The treatment of FUA typically involves surgery with or withoutchemotherapyand radiation therapy.
Early-Stage Tumors
Noninvasive, localized tumors are treated with localized surgery. This may involve a surgical procedure called a transurethral local resection that removes the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue while preserving the urethra.This is similar to thetransurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)used in people with a prostate.
Another procedure called transurethral laser vaporization may be appropriate for smaller tumors, especially those near the opening of the urethra.The procedure literally vaporizes the tumor while also preserving the urethra.
In cases in which resection or laser surgery cannot be performed, radiation therapy has been used successfully.
Advanced Tumors
Invasive, advanced tumors are treated with a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
The surgery involves aradical urethrectomy, a procedure that removes the entire urethra all the way up to thebladder neck, as well as a large area of surrounding tissues and muscles. In addition to removing the tumor and Skene’s glands, some of the vaginal wall may also be removed.
Prior to surgery, a combination of radiation and chemotherapy—known as neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy—is recommended help shrink the tumor and improve outcomes.
Prognosis
Studies suggest that the average survival time for people with localized disease is 99 months, while those with locally advanced or metastatic disease have a survival time of around 36 months with the appropriate treatment.
The combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy is key to survival in advanced cases. People treated with surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy alone lived half as long (18 months) than those who had undergone all three treatments.
Even so, a person’s quality of life can be significantly reduced after a radical urethrectomy. Counseling and support may be needed to adjust to necessary interventions such as aurostomy(used in place of normal urination to drain urine from the bladder with a tube inserted through the abdominal wall).
Associated Conditions
Skene’s glands are vulnerable to conditions beyond cancer. While these other conditions are far less serious, they can cause significant pain and other symptoms.
Skene’s Gland Cysts and Abscesses
Skene’s gland cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can develop inside the gland or in the duct of the gland. Most of thecystsare small and asymptomatic.
However, some can grow quite large and cause symptoms such as:
Skene’s gland cysts can also occur as acongenital condition(a condition you are born with) in one of every 2,000 to 7,000 newborns, The cause of this is unknown.
A Skene’s gland cyst can be removed with surgery. Cysts and abscesses can also be drained with a needle (known asneedle aspiration).Antibioticsmay be prescribed if an infection is involved.
Adenofibroma
Adenofibroma, also known as a fibroadenoma, is a benign (noncancerous) tumor that usually develops in the breasts,ovaries, oruterusof postmenopausal people. They can range anywhere from 1 to 15 centimeters in size and cause a variety of symptoms depending on where they are located.
Adenofibromas differ from other benign tumors in that they affect both glandular tissues and fibrous connective tissues. They are most common in postmenopausal people who useestrogen replacement therapy.
The Skene’s glands are a rare site for adenocarcinoma. The tumor can develop in the duct of the gland or in the gland itself. A person with Skene’s gland adenofibroma may be asymptomatic if the tumor is small, but large ones can cause:
Adenofibromas of the Skene’s gland can usually be removed with surgery.
What Is a Urethral Caruncle?
Summary
Females cannot get prostate cancer, but they can get female urethral adenocarcinoma (FUA) in the Skene’s glands. which are the counterpart to the prostate gland in males. FUA is exceptionally rare, with only around 20 documented cases in medical literature. Even so, FUA is known to be aggressive, with a high rate of mortality.
Most Common Cancers in Females and Males
21 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: prostate cancer.Gao Q, Liu X, Ye Lin, et al.Adenosquamous carcinoma of Skene’s gland: a case report and literature review.Front Oncol.2022;12:893980. doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.893980Tamburrini S, Vascone C, Marrone V, et al.Skene’s glands abscess: an overlooked diagnosis in acute lower urinary symptoms.Radiol Case Rep. 2021;16(12):3715-3716. doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2021.09.006Arnold AP.A general theory of sexual differentiation.J Neurosci Res.2017;95(1-2):291–300. doi:10.1002/jnr.23884Dwyer PL.Skene’s gland revisited: function, dysfunction and the G spot.Int Urogynecol J.2012;23(2):135-137. doi:10.1007/s00192-011-1558-1 Allowing this older source.Rodriguez FD, Camacho A, Bordes SJ, Gardner B, Levin RJ, Tubs RS.Female ejaculation: an update on anatomy, history, and controversies.Clin Anat.2021;34(1):103-7. doi:10.1002/ca.23654Dell’Atti L, Galosi AB.Female urethra adenocarcinoma.Clin Genitourin Cancer.2018;16(2):e263-e267. doi:10.1016/j.clgc.2017.10.006National Cancer Institute.Cancer classification.National Cancer Institute.Definition of adenocarcinoma.Aron M, Park S, Lowenthal BM, et al.Primary female urethral carcinoma: proposed staging modifications based on assessment of female urethral histology and analysis of a large series of female urethral carcinomas.Am J Surg Pathol. 2020;44(12):1591–601. doi:10.1097/PAS.0000000000001569Pratama ME, Ismy J, Kamarlis R, Mauny MP.Female primary urethral carcinoma: a rare case report.Int J Surg Case Rep.2021;85:106100. doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.106100Tsutsumi S, Kawahara T, Hattori Y, et al.Skene duct adenocarcinoma in a patient with an elevated serum prostate-specific antigen level: a case report.J Med Case Rep.2018;12:32. doi:10.1186/s13256-017-1558-yDel Gazio A, Silva AC, Lam-Himlin DM, Allen BC, Levendecker J, Kawashima A.Magnetic resonance imaging of solid urethral and peri-urethral lesions. Insights Imaging2013;4(4):461-469, doi:10.1007/s13244-013-0259-3National Cancer Institute.Urethral cancer treatment (PDQ)–health professional version.Tian J, Zhu T, Xu Z, et al.Management of primary female urethral adenocarcinoma: two rare case reports and literature review,Medicina (Kaunas).2023;59(1):109. doi:10.3390/medicina59010109American Cancer Society.Cancer staging.Li A, Wang W, Zuo X, et al.Transurethral holmium laser vaporization to the urethral tumour through a ureteroscope.Can Urol Assoc J.2014;8(11-12):E913–915. doi:10.5489/cuaj.2026Peyton CC, Azizi M, Chipollini J, et al.Survival outcomes associated with female primary urethral carcinoma: review of a single institutional experience.Clin Genitourin Cancer.2018;16(5):e1003-e1013. doi:10.1016/j.clgc.2018.05.012Kusma Y, Ito K, Suzuki T.Skene’s duct cyst.J Gen Fam Med.2017;18(5):299–300. doi:10.1002/jgf2.64Ece B, Aydın S.Imaging of fibroadenoma: be careful with imaging follow-up.World J Clin Cases. 2022;10(25):9176–9. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v10.i25.9176Ismail S, Elshimali R, Khaddour H, Elshimali Y.Skene’s gland adenofibroma: a diagnostic challenge of a rare entity.Int J Clin Invest Case Rep. 2022;1(1):7-10. doi:10.55828/ijcicr-11-02
21 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: prostate cancer.Gao Q, Liu X, Ye Lin, et al.Adenosquamous carcinoma of Skene’s gland: a case report and literature review.Front Oncol.2022;12:893980. doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.893980Tamburrini S, Vascone C, Marrone V, et al.Skene’s glands abscess: an overlooked diagnosis in acute lower urinary symptoms.Radiol Case Rep. 2021;16(12):3715-3716. doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2021.09.006Arnold AP.A general theory of sexual differentiation.J Neurosci Res.2017;95(1-2):291–300. doi:10.1002/jnr.23884Dwyer PL.Skene’s gland revisited: function, dysfunction and the G spot.Int Urogynecol J.2012;23(2):135-137. doi:10.1007/s00192-011-1558-1 Allowing this older source.Rodriguez FD, Camacho A, Bordes SJ, Gardner B, Levin RJ, Tubs RS.Female ejaculation: an update on anatomy, history, and controversies.Clin Anat.2021;34(1):103-7. doi:10.1002/ca.23654Dell’Atti L, Galosi AB.Female urethra adenocarcinoma.Clin Genitourin Cancer.2018;16(2):e263-e267. doi:10.1016/j.clgc.2017.10.006National Cancer Institute.Cancer classification.National Cancer Institute.Definition of adenocarcinoma.Aron M, Park S, Lowenthal BM, et al.Primary female urethral carcinoma: proposed staging modifications based on assessment of female urethral histology and analysis of a large series of female urethral carcinomas.Am J Surg Pathol. 2020;44(12):1591–601. doi:10.1097/PAS.0000000000001569Pratama ME, Ismy J, Kamarlis R, Mauny MP.Female primary urethral carcinoma: a rare case report.Int J Surg Case Rep.2021;85:106100. doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.106100Tsutsumi S, Kawahara T, Hattori Y, et al.Skene duct adenocarcinoma in a patient with an elevated serum prostate-specific antigen level: a case report.J Med Case Rep.2018;12:32. doi:10.1186/s13256-017-1558-yDel Gazio A, Silva AC, Lam-Himlin DM, Allen BC, Levendecker J, Kawashima A.Magnetic resonance imaging of solid urethral and peri-urethral lesions. Insights Imaging2013;4(4):461-469, doi:10.1007/s13244-013-0259-3National Cancer Institute.Urethral cancer treatment (PDQ)–health professional version.Tian J, Zhu T, Xu Z, et al.Management of primary female urethral adenocarcinoma: two rare case reports and literature review,Medicina (Kaunas).2023;59(1):109. doi:10.3390/medicina59010109American Cancer Society.Cancer staging.Li A, Wang W, Zuo X, et al.Transurethral holmium laser vaporization to the urethral tumour through a ureteroscope.Can Urol Assoc J.2014;8(11-12):E913–915. doi:10.5489/cuaj.2026Peyton CC, Azizi M, Chipollini J, et al.Survival outcomes associated with female primary urethral carcinoma: review of a single institutional experience.Clin Genitourin Cancer.2018;16(5):e1003-e1013. doi:10.1016/j.clgc.2018.05.012Kusma Y, Ito K, Suzuki T.Skene’s duct cyst.J Gen Fam Med.2017;18(5):299–300. doi:10.1002/jgf2.64Ece B, Aydın S.Imaging of fibroadenoma: be careful with imaging follow-up.World J Clin Cases. 2022;10(25):9176–9. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v10.i25.9176Ismail S, Elshimali R, Khaddour H, Elshimali Y.Skene’s gland adenofibroma: a diagnostic challenge of a rare entity.Int J Clin Invest Case Rep. 2022;1(1):7-10. doi:10.55828/ijcicr-11-02
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: prostate cancer.Gao Q, Liu X, Ye Lin, et al.Adenosquamous carcinoma of Skene’s gland: a case report and literature review.Front Oncol.2022;12:893980. doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.893980Tamburrini S, Vascone C, Marrone V, et al.Skene’s glands abscess: an overlooked diagnosis in acute lower urinary symptoms.Radiol Case Rep. 2021;16(12):3715-3716. doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2021.09.006Arnold AP.A general theory of sexual differentiation.J Neurosci Res.2017;95(1-2):291–300. doi:10.1002/jnr.23884Dwyer PL.Skene’s gland revisited: function, dysfunction and the G spot.Int Urogynecol J.2012;23(2):135-137. doi:10.1007/s00192-011-1558-1 Allowing this older source.Rodriguez FD, Camacho A, Bordes SJ, Gardner B, Levin RJ, Tubs RS.Female ejaculation: an update on anatomy, history, and controversies.Clin Anat.2021;34(1):103-7. doi:10.1002/ca.23654Dell’Atti L, Galosi AB.Female urethra adenocarcinoma.Clin Genitourin Cancer.2018;16(2):e263-e267. doi:10.1016/j.clgc.2017.10.006National Cancer Institute.Cancer classification.National Cancer Institute.Definition of adenocarcinoma.Aron M, Park S, Lowenthal BM, et al.Primary female urethral carcinoma: proposed staging modifications based on assessment of female urethral histology and analysis of a large series of female urethral carcinomas.Am J Surg Pathol. 2020;44(12):1591–601. doi:10.1097/PAS.0000000000001569Pratama ME, Ismy J, Kamarlis R, Mauny MP.Female primary urethral carcinoma: a rare case report.Int J Surg Case Rep.2021;85:106100. doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.106100Tsutsumi S, Kawahara T, Hattori Y, et al.Skene duct adenocarcinoma in a patient with an elevated serum prostate-specific antigen level: a case report.J Med Case Rep.2018;12:32. doi:10.1186/s13256-017-1558-yDel Gazio A, Silva AC, Lam-Himlin DM, Allen BC, Levendecker J, Kawashima A.Magnetic resonance imaging of solid urethral and peri-urethral lesions. Insights Imaging2013;4(4):461-469, doi:10.1007/s13244-013-0259-3National Cancer Institute.Urethral cancer treatment (PDQ)–health professional version.Tian J, Zhu T, Xu Z, et al.Management of primary female urethral adenocarcinoma: two rare case reports and literature review,Medicina (Kaunas).2023;59(1):109. doi:10.3390/medicina59010109American Cancer Society.Cancer staging.Li A, Wang W, Zuo X, et al.Transurethral holmium laser vaporization to the urethral tumour through a ureteroscope.Can Urol Assoc J.2014;8(11-12):E913–915. doi:10.5489/cuaj.2026Peyton CC, Azizi M, Chipollini J, et al.Survival outcomes associated with female primary urethral carcinoma: review of a single institutional experience.Clin Genitourin Cancer.2018;16(5):e1003-e1013. doi:10.1016/j.clgc.2018.05.012Kusma Y, Ito K, Suzuki T.Skene’s duct cyst.J Gen Fam Med.2017;18(5):299–300. doi:10.1002/jgf2.64Ece B, Aydın S.Imaging of fibroadenoma: be careful with imaging follow-up.World J Clin Cases. 2022;10(25):9176–9. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v10.i25.9176Ismail S, Elshimali R, Khaddour H, Elshimali Y.Skene’s gland adenofibroma: a diagnostic challenge of a rare entity.Int J Clin Invest Case Rep. 2022;1(1):7-10. doi:10.55828/ijcicr-11-02
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: prostate cancer.
Gao Q, Liu X, Ye Lin, et al.Adenosquamous carcinoma of Skene’s gland: a case report and literature review.Front Oncol.2022;12:893980. doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.893980
Tamburrini S, Vascone C, Marrone V, et al.Skene’s glands abscess: an overlooked diagnosis in acute lower urinary symptoms.Radiol Case Rep. 2021;16(12):3715-3716. doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2021.09.006
Arnold AP.A general theory of sexual differentiation.J Neurosci Res.2017;95(1-2):291–300. doi:10.1002/jnr.23884
Dwyer PL.Skene’s gland revisited: function, dysfunction and the G spot.Int Urogynecol J.2012;23(2):135-137. doi:10.1007/s00192-011-1558-1 Allowing this older source.
Rodriguez FD, Camacho A, Bordes SJ, Gardner B, Levin RJ, Tubs RS.Female ejaculation: an update on anatomy, history, and controversies.Clin Anat.2021;34(1):103-7. doi:10.1002/ca.23654
Dell’Atti L, Galosi AB.Female urethra adenocarcinoma.Clin Genitourin Cancer.2018;16(2):e263-e267. doi:10.1016/j.clgc.2017.10.006
National Cancer Institute.Cancer classification.
National Cancer Institute.Definition of adenocarcinoma.
Aron M, Park S, Lowenthal BM, et al.Primary female urethral carcinoma: proposed staging modifications based on assessment of female urethral histology and analysis of a large series of female urethral carcinomas.Am J Surg Pathol. 2020;44(12):1591–601. doi:10.1097/PAS.0000000000001569
Pratama ME, Ismy J, Kamarlis R, Mauny MP.Female primary urethral carcinoma: a rare case report.Int J Surg Case Rep.2021;85:106100. doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.106100
Tsutsumi S, Kawahara T, Hattori Y, et al.Skene duct adenocarcinoma in a patient with an elevated serum prostate-specific antigen level: a case report.J Med Case Rep.2018;12:32. doi:10.1186/s13256-017-1558-y
Del Gazio A, Silva AC, Lam-Himlin DM, Allen BC, Levendecker J, Kawashima A.Magnetic resonance imaging of solid urethral and peri-urethral lesions. Insights Imaging2013;4(4):461-469, doi:10.1007/s13244-013-0259-3
National Cancer Institute.Urethral cancer treatment (PDQ)–health professional version.
Tian J, Zhu T, Xu Z, et al.Management of primary female urethral adenocarcinoma: two rare case reports and literature review,Medicina (Kaunas).2023;59(1):109. doi:10.3390/medicina59010109
American Cancer Society.Cancer staging.
Li A, Wang W, Zuo X, et al.Transurethral holmium laser vaporization to the urethral tumour through a ureteroscope.Can Urol Assoc J.2014;8(11-12):E913–915. doi:10.5489/cuaj.2026
Peyton CC, Azizi M, Chipollini J, et al.Survival outcomes associated with female primary urethral carcinoma: review of a single institutional experience.Clin Genitourin Cancer.2018;16(5):e1003-e1013. doi:10.1016/j.clgc.2018.05.012
Kusma Y, Ito K, Suzuki T.Skene’s duct cyst.J Gen Fam Med.2017;18(5):299–300. doi:10.1002/jgf2.64
Ece B, Aydın S.Imaging of fibroadenoma: be careful with imaging follow-up.World J Clin Cases. 2022;10(25):9176–9. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v10.i25.9176
Ismail S, Elshimali R, Khaddour H, Elshimali Y.Skene’s gland adenofibroma: a diagnostic challenge of a rare entity.Int J Clin Invest Case Rep. 2022;1(1):7-10. doi:10.55828/ijcicr-11-02
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