Skene's gland: understand what it is, what it is for and care

Do you know the Skene Gland? It is a gland in the female body, which is located below the urethra, close to the opening of the vagina.

It is usually surrounded by fabrics that are part of the clitoris. So whenever a woman becomes sexually aroused, these tissues fill with blood.

An interesting curiosity is that such a gland is equivalent to the male prostate. For this reason, it is often called the “female prostate”.

Want to learn more about the subject? So, keep following the content below!

What is Skene's Gland?

As mentioned above, this gland is located below the woman's urethra, near the entrance to the vagina. They are responsible for releasing a transparent or whitish liquid, which represents female ejaculation during sexual intercourse.

Its development varies from woman to woman, and in some, it may be more difficult to stimulate this gland to release fluid.

There are cases in which the gland is obstructed due to the accumulation of fluid inside, generating inflammation or causing the appearance of cysts. When this happens, treatment should be done with anti-inflammatory drugs or surgery.

After all, what is Skene's Gland for?

In addition to secreting a viscous liquid during the female climax in sexual intercourse - popularly understood as female ejaculation - there are other functions that the gland performs.

This secreted fluid has antimicrobial properties, which serve to protect the urinary tract against infections.

There is also the elimination of a protein, a prostate-specific antigen, normally found in men. This gland can still break down certain heavy proteins into polypeptides.

It is worth noting that the secreted liquid cannot be confused with vaginal lubrication. It precedes orgasm and is produced by another gland, Bartholin's.

The role of the Skene Gland in female ejaculation

We have already mentioned briefly that such glands are responsible for eliminating liquid during female orgasm. However, this does not happen for all women.

Those who experience this experience notice a small amount of fluid, comparable to ejaculation. This fluid expelled by Skene's glands is completely different from other vaginal secretions.

Normally, it is secreted when sexual arousal is very intense and, when orgasm is reached, the organism expels this liquid as a reflex.

At the same time, the urethra expels other fluid from the bladder—it is not known whether this fluid comes from the paraurethral glands or from the bladder itself. In this context, ejaculation can expel up to 300 ml of liquid.

However, it is important to remember that the female orgasm is not directly linked to female ejaculation. The fluid secreted by Skene is barely perceptible compared to the fluids eliminated by the bladder.

What can cause an obstruction of this gland?

We also mentioned initially that the accumulation of fluid in the glands can cause their obstruction. This happens when there is no normal release of these fluids, causing the gland's channels to block.

Thus, swelling of the gland and the formation of cysts, called “Skene's gland cyst” occur. In general, its manifestation is asymptomatic, which can result in an abscess (large accumulation of pus in a cavity, generating some type of inflammation).

Although the cysts are quite small, they can also manifest as larger lumps inside the vagina. Such an occurrence is associated with infection, which can cause fever and urinary complications, in addition to other discomforts.

Symptoms of gland inflammation

Among the main symptoms of inflammation of this gland, we can highlight:

• pain when urinating;

• swelling in the intimate region;

• presence of a nodule near the urethra.

As most cysts do not measure more than 1 cm, most women do not experience any symptoms. However, if they grow a lot, they can cause greater discomfort, such as difficulty urinating, which can be confused with a urinary tract infection.

In the case of an abscess, it means that there may be the presence of a parasite in the region, called Trichomonas vaginalis, responsible for trichomoniasis.

Thus, the woman may experience more intense pain, fever, pain during sexual intercourse and when sitting or walking. So, whenever a woman experiences any persistent discomfort in the region, she should consult a specialist as soon as possible.

How to treat inflammation in Skene's Gland?

In cases of the presence of small and asymptomatic cysts, there is no need for any treatment. The decision to treat the problem depends on 3 factors:

1. cyst size;

2. degree of discomfort;

3. presence of infection.

The first step is to consult a gynecologist for the correct diagnosis. Initially, treatment can be done with the administration of anti-inflammatories and analgesics to relieve pain and swelling.

In case the cyst is infected due to the presence of bacteria, antibiotics such as amoxicillin may need to be administered.

There is also surgical drainage, which consists of a small incision to allow the fluid and accumulated pus to drain.

There is still the surgical procedure of marsupialization. This procedure involves making a slit inside the cyst abscess to allow the fluid to drain.

In practice, the edges are sewn, leaving a small opening for the insertion of the catheter.

In the most critical cases, in which the discomfort cannot be eliminated with medication or simple procedures, the only option left is to remove the glands.

Typically, this condition affects adult women—young, middle-aged, or elderly women. However, there are rare cases in children.

Meet the Metamorfose Network and ask other questions about it on our blog!

Conclusion

That was our information about Skene's Gland. As you can see, this gland plays an important role in female orgasm, despite not interfering with climax occurs or not.

When the fluid present in them is not expelled periodically, obstruction of the channels can occur, leading to the formation of cysts. They are usually very small and asymptomatic “tumors”.

However, when bacteria and other microorganisms are present, the condition can worsen, causing inflammation, abscesses and other unpleasant symptoms. In any case, it is essential that the woman consults with a specialist doctor at the slightest sign of discomfort in the region.