Unveiling the facts: Can women get prostate cancer?

When discussing prostate cancer, it's often assumed to be a male-only issue. This assumption leads many women to wonder: Can women get prostate cancer? This question might seem straightforward, but the answer is a bit more complex and involves understanding some anatomy and medical nuances. In this article, Zextrasure will explore whether women can develop prostate cancer, how similar conditions manifest in women, and what the implications are for female health.

1. What is the prostate gland?

To fully answer the question, “Can women get prostate cancer?” it's essential to understand what the prostate gland is and why it’s typically associated with men. The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland located just below the bladder in men. It surrounds the urethra and plays a crucial role in the production of seminal fluid, which nourishes and transports sperm.

However, women don’t have a prostate gland in the same anatomical sense as men. This doesn’t mean the concept of prostate-like tissue doesn’t exist in females. To answer, can women get prostate cancer, we need to delve into what’s often referred to as the Skene’s glands or paraurethral glands.

The prostate is a small gland below the bladder in men

2. What are Skene’s glands?

Although women don’t have a prostate gland, they have something called the Skene’s glands, or paraurethral glands, located near the front of the vaginal wall and around the lower end of the urethra. Skene’s glands are usually known as the G-spot.

These glands are thought to be the female equivalent of the male prostate. They produce a fluid that is similar to prostate fluid and contains prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a marker commonly associated with prostate health.

When discussing whether women can get prostate cancer, it is these Skene’s glands that come into focus. In rare cases, cancer can develop in these glands, which some medical experts might refer to as “female prostate cancer”. 

3. Can women get prostate cancer? The short answer

The straightforward response to “Can women get prostate cancer symptoms?” is no, not in the traditional sense. Because women do not have a prostate gland, they cannot develop prostate cancer as men do.

However, they can get cancer in the Skene’s glands, which is extraordinarily rare. In these cases, it’s sometimes referred to as female prostate cancer, even though it differs from the typical prostate cancer seen in men.

Can women get prostate cancer?

4. Understanding cancer in Skene’s glands

If you're still wondering “Prostate cancer can woman get it?”, let's break down what happens when cancer forms in the Skene’s glands. These cases are so rare that there is limited research on them. However, the symptoms and treatments can somewhat parallel those of male prostate cancer, given the similarities in tissue and function.

Note: Older research from 1994 suggests that Skene’s gland cancer made up approximately 0.003% of all reported cancer cases in the female urinary.

Symptoms of Skene’s gland cancer

The symptoms may include pain urination, difficulty emptying the bladder, blood in the urine, or an unusual vaginal discharge. These symptoms can mimic other urinary tract or gynecological conditions, so diagnosis is difficult.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis often involves imaging studies, biopsies, and checking PSA levels. Since the Skene’s glands produce PSA, an elevated level could be an indicator, similar to how PSA levels are used in detecting prostate issues in men.

Diagnosis of cancer in Skene's glands is important for early treatment

Treatment

Treatment may include surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy and depends on the cancer's stage and severity. Because cases are rare, treatments are typically adapted from more common urological and gynecological cancers.

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5. Other prostate-related conditions women can experience

Even if the answer to “Can women get prostate cancer?” is generally no, women can experience conditions related to the Skene’s glands. Here are some examples:

Skene’s gland cysts

Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can develop in the Skene’s glands and cause discomfort or urinary issues. While not cancerous, they can still be problematic and require medical attention.

Infections

Infections of the Skene’s glands can occur, leading to pain, swelling, and symptoms similar to a urinary tract infection. These are treated with antibiotics. In some cases, they need surgical drainage.

Skene’s gland adenocarcinoma

An adenofibroma is a benign growth that can form in glandular or fibrous tissue, including the Skene’s glands. A 2010 study highlighted a 62-year-old woman with pain during sex and a reddish tumor, which was diagnosed as an adenofibroma on a Skene’s gland.

PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) involves hormonal imbalances, including elevated male hormones. Research suggests people with PCOS may have larger Skene’s glands and higher PSA levels.

In summary, the answer to the question “Can women get prostate cancer?” is no. Because women don’t have a prostate gland like men. However, they have Skene’s glands which can develop cancer.