It’s completely natural to feel a wave of concern when you find a lump or experience discomfort in a sensitive area. I’ve had many patients come into the clinic, a little worried, a little unsure, after noticing something “down there” that wasn’t there before. Often, the unknown is the scariest part. So, let’s talk about something called a Skene’s gland cyst.
First off, take a breath. While hearing “cyst” can sound alarming, these are generally nothing to lose sleep over.
What Exactly is a Skene’s Gland Cyst?
Alright, so what are we dealing with here? Your Skene’s glands are tiny glands located on either side of your urethra – that’s the little opening where urine, or pee, comes out. Their job is to produce a bit of fluid, mostly for lubrication. A Skene’s gland cyst is simply a small, fluid-filled sac that forms near this opening.
The good news? These cysts are benign, which is just a medical way of saying they aren’t cancerous. And honestly, they’re not very common. Many times, they’re so small and don’t cause any fuss (we call this asymptomatic) that you might not even realize you have one. If it’s not causing problems, we often don’t need to do anything at all. You might also hear them called paraurethral cysts or Skene’s duct cysts.
Just to give you an idea, these are considered rare. We don’t see them very often in adults. There’s some research suggesting they might pop up in about 1 out of every 2,000 to 7,000 newborn babies – these are called congenital Skene’s gland cysts.
Signs You Might Notice (Or Not!)
Many times, as I said, there are no signs at all. But if a Skene’s gland cyst does decide to make itself known, you might experience:
- Feeling like you need to pee more often (frequent urination)
- A bit of stinging or pain when you pee (dysuria)
- Trouble starting to pee, or not being able to pee at all (urinary retention) – this is less common, but can happen.
- Pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)
- Getting urinary tract infections (UTIs) more often than usual
- A small lump you can feel near the opening of your urethra, on either side.
Most of these cysts are pretty tiny, usually less than half an inch, kind of like a small pea. Very, very rarely, they can get bigger, but that’s not typical.
So, What Causes Them?
For those cysts present at birth, well, we’re not entirely sure why they form. It’s just one of those things.
In adults, a Skene’s gland cyst can develop if the duct (the little tube that lets fluid out from the gland) gets blocked. What can cause a blockage? Often, it’s due to bacterial infections or inflammation in the area.
Any Complications to Worry About?
It’s rare, but sometimes bacteria can sneak into the cyst and cause an infection. This can lead to an abscess, which is a collection of pus. If that happens, we’d need to treat it with antibiotics and likely drain the pus. But again, this isn’t the usual scenario.
Getting a Diagnosis: How We Figure It Out
If you’re having any of those symptoms, especially in your private areas, it’s always a good idea to come in and have a chat. Most of the time, I can get a good idea if it’s a Skene’s gland cyst just by talking about your symptoms and doing a gentle pelvic examination.
What Tests Might Be Needed?
Sometimes, it can be a little tricky to tell the difference between a Skene’s gland cyst and something called a urethral diverticulum. A urethral diverticulum is like a little pouch that forms next to the urethra. They can have similar symptoms.
So, to be sure, we might suggest some imaging tests:
- An Ultrasound: This uses sound waves to create a picture.
- An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): This gives us a more detailed look.
These tests just help us confirm what we’re dealing with.
Treatment: What Are Our Options?
Here’s some reassuring news: many Skene’s gland cysts don’t need any treatment at all.
If it’s a tiny cyst in a baby and it’s not causing any issues, we often take a “watch and wait” approach. Sometimes, they just resolve on their own. Same goes for adults – if it’s not bothering you, we usually don’t need to intervene.
Getting Rid of a Bothersome Cyst
If the cyst is causing pain or other uncomfortable symptoms, then we’ll talk about removing it. This is usually a straightforward procedure. The main ways we do this are:
- Therapeutic fine-needle aspiration: This sounds scarier than it is. We use a very tiny needle to drain the fluid from the cyst. Simple as that.
- Marsupialization: This is a bit more involved. A surgeon makes a small cut in the cyst and then uses tiny stitches to keep the edges open. This allows the fluid to drain out freely, and eventually, the cyst sort of disappears.
You might feel a bit sore or bruised after a needle aspiration, but it usually settles in a few days. If you have marsupialization, recovery is typically a couple of weeks, maybe up to four.
What’s the Outlook?
The outlook for a Skene’s gland cyst is generally very good. Remember, they’re benign (not cancer). Having one doesn’t increase your risk of other problems like vulvar or vaginal cancer. And once they’re treated, they rarely come back.
Can We Prevent Skene’s Gland Cysts?
For babies, there’s currently no known way to prevent them.
For adults, one of the best things you can do is try to avoid bacterial infections, and that includes sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Some simple steps here:
- Using condoms consistently if you’re sexually active.
- Getting regular STI check-ups if you have new partners.
- If you think a partner might have an STI, it’s best to avoid sexual contact until they’re checked and treated.
Good hygiene also plays a part:
- Gently clean your vulva (the outer genital area) with plain water or a mild, unscented soap.
- Avoid harsh, scented products down there – things like scented tampons, toilet paper, or soaps can cause irritation. Same with tight, synthetic underwear.
- Steer clear of douching. Your vagina is self-cleaning, and douching can actually disrupt the natural balance and potentially lead to issues like cysts or infections.
- If you use lubricants, water-based ones are usually a good choice.
When to Reach Out to Your Doctor
Definitely give us a call if you’re having:
- Trouble peeing
- Pain when you pee
- Pain during sex
- Or if you notice a lump near your baby’s urethral opening, or if their pee seems to come out at an odd angle instead of a straight stream.
And, if you suddenly can’t pee at all, or you’re in severe pain, it’s best to head to the nearest emergency room.
Questions You Might Want to Ask
When you see your doctor, don’t hesitate to ask questions! It’s your body, and you deserve to understand what’s going on. You could ask:
- How will you know for sure if it’s a Skene’s gland cyst?
- How big is my cyst?
- Is there any sign of an abscess?
- Do I actually need treatment, or can we just keep an eye on it?
- If I do need surgery, which way do you think is best for me?
- What are the possible risks or downsides of any treatment you suggest?
A Few More Common Questions
Can Skene’s glands get clogged?
Yes, they can. Repeated infections can sometimes cause the Skene’s glands to get blocked, and that’s when a cyst or even an abscess might form. Practicing safe sex is a good way to help prevent those initial infections.
What’s the difference between a Skene’s gland cyst and a urethral diverticulum?
They can feel similar, causing things like pain when peeing, pain during sex, UTIs, or a noticeable lump. But they are different structures. A urethral diverticulum is a pouch that forms along the urethra itself and can trap urine. It’s not part of the Skene’s gland.
How is a Skene’s gland cyst different from a Bartholin gland cyst?
Another type of cyst that can happen in the genital area is a Bartholin gland cyst. These also affect the female reproductive system and can cause pain, especially during sex. The main difference is location: Skene’s gland cysts are near your urethra (pee hole). Bartholin glands are on either side of your vaginal opening. You might feel a Bartholin cyst inside your vagina, and sometimes they can get big enough to make one side of your labia (vaginal lips) look larger.
And what about a Gartner cyst versus a Skene’s gland cyst?
A Gartner cyst forms in what’s called the mesonephric duct (or Wolffian duct) along the side walls of the vagina. These can sometimes cause abdominal discomfort, pain with sex, or issues with peeing or pooping. Gartner cysts happen when these ducts don’t quite develop fully when a baby is forming. They’re usually benign, just like Skene’s gland cysts. However, very rarely, a Gartner cyst could be cancerous, which is different from Skene’s gland cysts. We usually find these during a pelvic exam or with imaging tests.
Take-Home Message for Skene’s Gland Cyst
Let’s quickly recap the main things to remember about a Skene’s gland cyst:
- It’s a small, fluid-filled sac near your urethra (pee hole).
- These are benign (not cancerous) and generally not common.
- Many cause no symptoms; if they do, it might be pain with peeing, frequent UTIs, or a noticeable lump.
- Diagnosis often involves a pelvic exam, sometimes with an ultrasound or MRI.
- Treatment isn’t always needed. If it is, options include draining the cyst or a minor surgical procedure.
- The outlook is good, and they rarely come back after treatment.
- Preventing infections, including STIs, can help reduce the risk in adults.
