Can Women Get Prostate Cancer​?

Can Women Develop Prostate Cancer?

Prostates are often thought of in terms of men’s health. The male prostate, prostate cancer, and male reproductive functions all relate to men. Many are shocked to find out that women contain male prostate-equivalent tissue. Because of this, a debate has started. Can women develop prostate cancer?

The answer takes more thought than a simple affirmative or negative. Women were confirmed to possess glands equivalent to male Prostates. But female prostate cancer cases are nearly nonexistent. Learning more about the female reproductive system and how this works can reduce misunderstanding and encourage more diagnosis and treatment for reproductive health issues in women.

Do Women Even Have Prostates?

Women don’t possess a prostate identical to the male version. They do, however, contain a small grouping of glands, called the Female prostate gland. The “female prostate,” as some refer to it, are located along the urethra and are nearly identical to the male glands in structure and functionality.

Following the discovery that these female glands also produce Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), which is produced by male Prostates, the “female prostate” label has gained traction. These are equivalent to the male Prostate. While those are much smaller than the male Prostate, they do influence female sexual and urinary function.

What Is The Function Of The Female Prostate?

The female prostate, or Skene’s glands, has a number of functions. Firstly, it provides fluid for lubricating the urethra. Others think that the glands may be involved with female ejaculation during sexual intercourse.

The female prostate may also aid enteric antimicrobial secretions to reduce the chance of infection in the urinary tract. Female prostate gland, being located close to the urethra, put them into the picture of urinary health and comfort.

Although small, the female prostate is important. It has a supportive biological function and there is the potential for much more. Understanding the female prostate and its functions will provide insight into the complex female anatomy.

Can Females Get Prostate Cancer?

Technically speaking, females can get cancer of the Skene’s glands or the female prostate. This type of cancer is extremely rare and only a tiny number of cases are documented in the literature.

Because female prostate cancer is so rare, for many doctors, this is a never seen case in their lives. This cancer is formed in the tissues surrounding the urethra where the Female prostate gland are present.

Unfortunately, the symptoms may look like other cancers of the urinary tract or gynecology and this creates a problem in the diagnosis. In some cases, the only way to identify the cancer is by doing a thorough, detailed analysis of tissue samples. This disease is rare, but it is real.

How Common Is Female Prostate Cancer?

Female prostate cancer is exceptionally rare. Each year, millions of men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, while only a handful of female prostate cancer cases have ever been documented.

This rarity can be attributed to:

• Female prostate tissue is smaller and less developed than male prostate tissue.
• Female Sex Hormonal differences decrease the probability of developing a disease of the prostate.
• Female prostate conditions may be more undiagnosed due to their similarity to other urinary conditions.

Because of their rarity, female prostate cancer cases are primarily documented as single case studies due to the lack of large scale medical studies.

Even though female prostate cancer may be rare, awareness is critical. Detection of unusual symptoms of any disease is pertinent to improving the chances of successful treatment.

Which Symptoms Suggest A Problem In The Female Prostate?

While issues of the female prostate, or Skene’s glands, may not be as common, they can still present noticeable symptoms.

These common symptoms can be:

• Painful urination
• Frequent urinary tract infections
• Painful intercourse
• Swelling near the urethra
• Difficulty urination
• Pelvic pain
• Abnormal discharge

These symptoms are unlikely to represent female prostate cancer as they are typically linked to more benign conditions.

Issues of the female prostate can include the following:

1. Infection

Female prostate gland can become infected. This may be caused by the bacteria of an infected urinary tract. Infections may cause swelling and urinary discomfort.

Symptoms of an infection may include burning during urination, pelvic pain, redness and swelling around the urethra, and in some severe cases, a fever. Doctors treat these infections with antibiotics. Future infections can be prevented by drinking plenty of water and practicing good hygiene.

2. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS does not affect the female prostate directly. However, the hormonal changes of PCOS may affect the activity of Skene’s glands. The androgens of PCOS are sometimes referred to as “male hormones” and will affect the female prostate as the prostate responds to hormones.

Some of the symptoms of PCOS are:

• Irregular periods
• Weight gain
• Acne
• Hair growth
• Fertility problems

The female prostate and PCOS are connected through the hormonal system, which is important to reproductive health.

3. Cysts

Cysts can develop around Skene’s glands. Cysts are generally noncancerous, but can be uncomfortable if large or infected. The symptoms of cysts can include:

• Pain during urination
• Pressure in the pelvic area
• Swelling around the urethra
• Pain during sexual intercourse

Cysts that are large may need to be surgically removed.

4. Adenofibroma

Adenofibroma is a rare tumor that can develop in the female prostate and glandular tissue that is benign. These tumors are generally noncancerous.

Symptoms can manifest as pelvic pain, urinary problems, and the formation of a mass.

Adenofibroma is typically diagnosed via imaging and biopsy. Treatment is highly variable and is contingent on the size and degree of symptoms.

What’s the Purpose of the Female Prostate?

The female prostate is theorized to have multiple urinary and sexual health related functions. Research is still being conducted to determine the functions of the female prostate, but some functions of the female prostate and the female urethral glands are thought to be:

• Protection against urinary tract infections
• Lubrication of the urethra
• Facilitation of the sexual response
• Production of PSA

The female prostate and Skene’s glands may be less discussed than the male prostate, but they are a significant and crucial part of female anatomy involved in sexual health.

With the advancement of the medical field, more and more functions of the female prostate and Skene’s glands are being discovered and better understood.

Bottom Line

Do women get prostate cancer? The short answer is yes, but the cases are extremely rare and the female prostate does not have many tissues. The female prostate is not completely devoid of cancerous tissues and while cases will be even rarer, there are likely to be cases of cancer.

The more likely scenarios are non cancerous and benign conditions affecting the female prostate. These include cysts and infections. Discomfort and pain in the pelvic and urinary systems should not be ignored and warrant a visit to a medical professional.

Going over the significance of the female prostate helps to destigmatize almost hidden elements and almost forgotten aspects of female health. Even if female prostate cancer will continue to be rare, awareness of the condition will help create a better medical environment for early diagnosis and more proactive care.