Named for physician Alexander Skene, the first to describe it, the Skene’s gland is part of human female reproductive anatomy in the area of the urethral sponge. Found on the upper-front part of the vagina wall near where the urethra ends, the secretions are drained from this gland into the urethra. The Skene’s gland is believed to be related to female ejaculation, G-spots, and G-spot orgasms.

Also known as the lesser vestibular or paraurethral glands, the Skene’s gland’s full anatomy is difficult to describe with precision. It is generally considered analogous to a man’s prostate, but some women have a fully developed and sizable gland while others seem to lack the gland completely. It is believed that this wide variation in anatomy explains the reason why some women experience G-spot orgasms and ejaculations to varying degrees, while other women do not.

During sexual stimulation, the Skene’s gland becomes swollen with blood on the front wall of the vagina and is commonly called the G-spot. Containing many nerve endings, ongoing stimulation in the area of the gland can produce an orgasm; however, as the gland’s nerve fibers are different from clitoral nerve fibers, the sensation of the orgasm is described as being different as well. Many scientists believe that the variation in the size of the gland among women, and the subsequent variation in the concentration of nerves, is the source for disagreement on the existence of the G-spot.

The Skene’s gland is believed to be the complete source of female ejaculation. During intercourse, the gland can produce significant amounts of fluid. At the point of orgasm, this fluid is then expelled through the urethra in a manner identical to how semen is expelled through the male urethra. Many women who experience this form of ejaculation believe that they have accidentally expressed urine and experience embarrassment, but the fluid is not necessarily urine. It is common for women who experience this to suppress their orgasms to prevent embarrassment.

The fluid that the Skene’s gland produces is nearly identical to the fluid produced by the male prostate. Comprised mostly of filtered blood plasma, the fluid also contains many other components such as certain proteins and enzymes. All of these components present in the fluid produced by the gland are also present in the fluid produced by the male prostate. Research has shown that the physical structure of the gland itself is also identical to the prostate. As a result, many physicians have begun to refer to the gland as the female prostate.