What Does The Prostate Gland Do And Why Is It Important
The prostate is responsible for producing prostatic fluid, which is full of enzymes, proteins, and minerals that are vital for the proper functioning of sperm.
During climax, smooth muscle fibers of the stroma contract, forcing the prostatic fluid through the ejaculatory ducts and into the urethra.
In the urethra, the prostatic fluid mixes with fluid from the seminal vesicle, sperm from the testes, and secretions from the bulbourethral gland, a pea-sized gland below the prostate.
In all, prostatic fluid makes up 20 to 30 percent of semen .
Aside from producing prostatic fluid, the prostate is responsible for closing up the urethra during ejaculation so that semen doesn’t enter the bladder. During urination, the muscles of the central zone close the prostate’s seminal ducts so that urine cannot enter the prostate.
What Does The Prostate Do
The prostate produces a fluid that mixes with sperm to make semen. The fluid is kept in a tube-shaped gland that sits behind the bladder. This gland is called the seminal vesicle. During sex, the muscle tissue helps force prostate fluid and sperm into the urethra.
The sex hormone testosterone controls how the prostate works. Testosterone is responsible for things like your sex drive, getting an erection, and muscle development.
The prostate also produces a protein called prostate-specific antigen . This helps to make semen more watery. A blood test can measure PSA. This is called a PSA test. Doctors use it to help diagnose different prostate problems, including cancer.
Descriptions Of The Male Orgasms
Unlike the female orgasm, where a number of competing descriptions for induced orgasms exist , those for the male are limited . Surprisingly, neither Masters and Johnson , Zilbergeld , Margolis , or Bancroft in their books on human sexual arousal mention those obtained from prostate stimulation in the male while even in the book on orgasm by Komisaruk et al. has only a single, very short paragraph of but two sentences.
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Similarities Between Female Prostate And Male Prostate
According to the research that has been going on about do women have prostates, there are few similarities in the male prostate gland and female Skenes glands and this is why these skenes glands can be known as the female prostate. The major similarity is the presence of the prostate-specific antigen in the prostate glands of male and in the Skenes glands of the female.
Another reason is the presence if the prostate-specific antigen phosphatase in the both of these glands. Apart from the presence of the PSA and PSAP, there is yet another similarity which is the opening of these glands ducts in the urethra. The ducts of the prostate glands open in the urethra while the ducts of the Skenes glands in the women also open in the urethra near the region of G spot. So these findings somehow answer our question of do women have prostates or not?
Is Female Prostate Cancer Possible
The question is that if the females skenes glands and male prostate glands share similarities, can female also develop prostate cancer or any other similar cancer?
Cancer of the female prostate that is of skene s gland is rare. According to a study, cancer of the Skenes glands accounts for 0.003 percent of cancers in the female genital-urinary tract. There is a possibility of the cancer of a nearby organ, such as urethra, can extend to the Skenes glands. The cancer of female prostate is also called adenocarcinoma of Skenes gland.
Sometimes, cysts, inflammation and infections can occur in these glands and may be misdiagnosed as other urinary condition or disease. If a woman notices unexplained symptoms such as frequent urge of urination, painful urination, pain in the lower urinary tract, sexual dysfunction etc, she should meet her health care provider for a diagnosis and know if these glands are responsible for the problem.
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Understanding The Anatomy Of The Prostate
Despite its importance, the prostate gland in an adult man is only about the size and shape of a walnut and weighs less than 1 ounce .
It is located below the bladder, above the pelvic floor muscles, and in front of the rectum.
The prostate reaches its mature size during puberty and will keep its walnut size until the man is in his late forties or early fifties. After this age, it slowly begins to enlarge.
The prostate, which surrounds the urethra, is made up of glandular, stromal tissue, and smooth muscles fused within a capsule.
Though the prostate gland is often referenced as a singular entity, it is actually made up of a number of tubular or saclike glands that secrete fluids into the urethra through the ejaculatory ducts.
The prostate is divided into three histologically and anatomically separate glandular areas: The transition zone, the central zone, and the peripheral zone.
Transition Zone This surrounds the part of the urethra that passes through the prostate . This zone only represents about 5 percent of the gland, but is the primary origination of benign prostatic hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate. That is, the transition zone is the region of the prostate that grows as men age.
Central Zone Making up quarter of the prostate, this area surrounds the transition zone, as well as the ejaculatory ducts that stretch from the seminal vesicles which produces the majority of the fluid of semen to the prostatic region of the urethra.
Pde5 Inhibitors: Viagra Levitra And Cialis
Approved by the FDA in 1998, sildenafil revolutionized the way we think about and treat erectile dysfunction, largely because it is so easy to use and effective. Since then the FDA has approved three closely related drugs, vardenafil , avanafil and tadalafil .
All four drugs work in a similar fashion, by affecting the normal physiology of the penis. In particular, they block PDE5, an enzyme that breaks down the erection-producing chemical cyclic guanosine monophosphate. This enables the penis to fill with blood and to stay erect long enough for intercourse. Of course, its important to realize that none of these drugs is an aphrodisiac. Youve got to feel sexually stimulated in order for them to work.
The main differences between the drugs have to do with timing: how quickly they begin to work, and how long their effects last . Levitra may start working slightly faster than Viagra although the FDA says that like Viagra, it should be taken about an hour before sexual activity. Some studies suggest that Levitra may help some men who dont respond to Viagra. And while some doctors are skeptical about this claim, theres no harm in trying Levitra or Cialis if Viagra doesnt work for you.
Cialis has also been approved to treat men with both erectile dysfunction and BPH. The dose is lower, usually 5 milligrams per day.
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What Does The Prostate Gland Actually Do
The prostate gland isn’t essential for life, but it is vital for reproduction and is part of the male reproductive system.
The function of the prostate is to produce a slightly alkaline fluid called the prostatic fluid that makes up part of the seminal fluid, or semen.
The rest of semen is composed of sperm cells from the testicles, fluid from the seminal vesicles, and secretions from the pea-sized bulbourethral gland.
The prostatic fluid contains substances that are important to the functioning and survival of sperm cells, such as the enzyme prostate-specific antigen , which thins or loosens up semen, helping the tadpole-like sperm cells swim freely to reach the egg.
Diagnosis And Treatment Of Female Prostate Cancer
Due to the challenges of diagnosis, the signs of female prostate cancer are often mistakenly attributed to underlying conditions in the urinary tract or reproductive system.
Unfortunately, the initial stage of cancer in the Skene glands is asymptomatic. Once your menstrual cycle is disrupted, sex becomes painful, or youre always feeling sick, the disease is quite advanced.
Treatment of female prostate cancer follows a similar strategy to that of other reproductive cancers. If chemical and radiation therapies arent successful in eradicating tumors, then surgery will likely be required to excise them. Frequently, the surgical removal of larger tumors and the chemical destruction of smaller tumors happen simultaneously.
In more severe cases, the organ or organs containing the cancerous growths must be removed as well. This could include your Skene glands, uterus, ovaries, or your entire reproductive system . Whenever cancer in the Skene glands goes undiagnosed and untreated, bladder cancer may follow.
Medical experts have theorized that female prostate cancer could be linked to a history of sexually transmitted infections. The Skene glands, like the male prostate, act as guardians against infections that travel throughout the reproductive system.
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Is It Common To Have Prostate In Women
You might have heard few people talking about female prostate issues. But the real fact is that female body does not include prostate gland. The glands that women often talk about are actually small glands that can be observed at front portion of vagina whereas corresponding ducts to these glands are well recognised as Skenes Glands/Ducts.
The researchers have defined few specific terminologies related to this condition. It is observed that Phosphatase and Prostate Specific Antigen use to stay present in both Skenes glands as well as in male prostate.
But the fact is that it is still not clear during researches that whether female prostate glands turns into small ducts on every side of urethra or it is urethra itself. You must be aware about function of urethra, it use to carry urine out of body so it is definitely a functional part for genital of females and for the urinary system.
Female urinary system
Here is an important thing to know for all worried people that as prostate gland in females share same functionality as that of male prostate gland so we cannot say that it will always lead to a prostate cancer.
What We Really Mean By Female Prostate
Leaving the story at the technical definition of the prostate gland gets at the literal wording of the question vs. the spirit of it.
When we hear people talk about the female prostate, they usually mean the g-spotalso known as the Gräfenberg spot.
In fact, there’s some organizations and academic papers that even advocate to accept the “female prostate” terminology for the g-spot. For example, an aptly named academic letter in AJOG called “The G-spot is the female prostate”.
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Do Women Have Prostates Skenes Glands Use In Girls
Wondering do women have prostates? and what does it do in females? Skenes paraurethral glands in girls are homologous to the male prostate glands. But most of the people believe that the prostate gland is a just male organ, and women dont have prostates.
Generally, when you hear somebody says the prostate of the women, you simply believe that they mean the G-spot. However this is not exactly valid, there is an important difference. Lets dig into the question, do women have a prostate gland? Whats more, on the off chance that they do, is it the same as G-spot or they are distinctive.
In this article, you will know do women have prostates? what is the women prostate? what is skenes gland in girls and what does it do?
Prostate Gland
First thing first. Lets have a quick clarification about what is prostate gland in the men and its functions. The prostate gland is an imperative part of the male reproductive system. It is a gland that is located in the lower abdominal cavity, just below the bladder and behind the pubic bone. It surrounds the urethra to some extent.
Prostate gland in men is responsible for regulating bladder control and sperm release. They are prone to a variety of disorders and infections, and the worst among the frequent prostate diseases is prostate cancer.
So What Is The Prostate Anyway
Let’s cut to the chase. Technically speaking, biological females don’t have prostates.
The prostate is, by definition, a walnut-sized gland between the bladder and penis. In biological males, this location places it just in front of the rectumhence all of the anal toys out promising prostate stimulation.
Now that THAT’s clarified, end of story, right? Not quite.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Prostate Problems In Trans Women
Most early prostate cancer doesnt usually have any symptoms, but some people might have urinary problems. These can also be a sign of a benign prostate problem, such as an enlarged prostate or prostatitis.
Trans women who have had feminising hormones and therefore have a smaller prostate might be less likely to have symptoms but if they do have symptoms they might be similar to those of cis men. Read about the possible symptoms of prostate problems in cis men.
Genital reconstructive surgery can cause urinary symptoms and pain so this could be confused with symptoms of prostate problems.
If you have any urinary symptoms as a trans woman or non-binary person assigned male at birth you should speak to your doctor so that they can find out whats causing them.
How To Locate Your Prostate
This article was medically reviewed by Erik Kramer, DO, MPH. Dr. Erik Kramer is a Primary Care Physician at the University of Colorado, specializing in internal medicine, diabetes, and weight management. He received his Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012. Dr. Kramer is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and is board certified.There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 194,296 times.
The prostate is a walnut-sized organ in males that plays a major role in the production of semen. The easiest way to access the prostate is by way of an index finger carefully inserted into the rectum. The processes for accessing the prostate as part of a medical exam or for sexual pleasure are the same, and the same precautions should be taken. You should also keep an eye out for signs of potential prostate problems and contact your doctor as needed.
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So What Does This All Mean
If there’s anything to take away from all of this, it’s that there’s still a lot we don’t know about the g-spot .
Nonetheless, lots of people talk about g-spot orgasmsusually meaning non-clitoral orgasms. There are some things to keep in mind about that to make your journey achieving this “female prostate” or g-spot orgasm easier.
Urinary Tract Infections In Men: Symptoms Diagnosis And Treatment
Nonbacteria microbes may cause a different type of chronic prostatitis, known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome, which may also develop as a result of chemicals in the urine, a urinary tract infection, or pelvic nerve damage.
Affecting 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. male population, chronic pelvic pain syndrome is the most common type of prostatitis, but also the least understood.
Symptoms vary depending on the type of prostatitis, but can include urination problems, pain , fever, and body aches, among other things.
Some people develop asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, in which the prostate is inflamed but doesn’t produce any symptoms or require treatment.
Bacterial prostatitis is most often treated with antibiotics. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome may require drugs, surgery, and lifestyle changes.
Over time, prostatitis may cause sexual dysfunction, abscesses in the prostate, inflammation of nearby reproductive organs, and infection of the bloodstream.
Learn More About Prostate Problems and Complications
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Why Erectile Dysfunction May Result From Prostate Disease
In the past, it was thought that most cases of erectile dysfunction were psychological in origin, the result of such demons as performance anxiety or more generalized stress. While these factors can cause erectile dysfunction, doctors now think that 70% of the time the problem can be traced to a physical condition that restricts blood flow, hampers nerve functioning, or both. Such conditions include diabetes, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, vascular disease, and alcoholism.
However, some types of prostate disease and treatments may also be responsible.
Are You Sure Youre Not Just Peeing Really Sure
The landscape of research shifted slightly after this case study, as the goal was no longer to prove or disprove the existence of the female ejaculation, but now to classify its composition and source.
To do this, several more studies were conducted in the 1980s that either definitively classified urine and ejaculate as two distinct fluids or came to no conclusion at all. The only studies opposing this conclusion were performed by Goldberg et al. in 1983, and Alzate in 1985. Goldberg tested six women, Alzate only one. While Goldberg concluded that the ejaculate and urine seem to be one and the same, Alzate only wrote that the ejaculate and urine were chemically indistinguishable. Nonetheless its Alzates study that was cited again and again as proof that female ejaculate was urine.
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What Symptoms Indicate An Issue With The Female Prostate
Because this type of cancer is rare, there arent a lot of case studies. That means recognizing symptoms of this type of cancer may be difficult.
If you experience bleeding out of your urethra, you should see a doctor. That may be a symptom of cancer of the Skenes glands. Or its more likely a symptom of another issue with your urethra. The bleeding may not be accompanied by any pain, and it may happen on and off over a period of time.
Its always best to see a doctor if you notice any abnormal symptoms, especially if they recur. Early diagnosis can help improve your outlook for most conditions. You should see your doctor if you have any of these symptoms, which could indicate other conditions:
- painful or frequent urination, or if its difficult to pass urine
- blood in your urine, or passing blood from your urethra
- painful sexual intercourse
- feeling of pressure behind the pubic bones
- abnormal menstrual cycle, or sudden changes to your menstrual cycle
There are conditions other than cancer that may be related to the Skenes glands, and which may cause noticeable symptoms.
female prostatitis has been diagnosed as an infection of the urethra, but may actually be an infection of the Skenes glands. In the past this has been diagnosed as infection of the urethra. Doctors are increasingly aware that the female prostate can be a separate site of infection that should be treated separately.
Symptoms of infection of the Skenes glands may include: