Smegma Explained

Smegma (from Ancient Greek grc|σμῆγμα|smêgma|soap|label=none)[1] is a combination of shed skin cells, skin oils, and moisture. It occurs in both male and female mammalian genitalia. In females, it collects around the clitoris and in the folds of the labia minora; in males, smegma collects under the foreskin.

Females

The accumulation of sebum combined with dead skin cells forms smegma. Smegma clitoridis is defined as the secretion of the apocrine (sweat) and sebaceous (sebum) glands of the clitoris in combination with desquamating epithelial cells.[2] Glands that are located around the clitoris, the labia minora, and the labia majora secrete sebum.

If smegma is not removed frequently it can lead to clitoral adhesion which can make clitoral stimulation (such as masturbation) painful (clitorodynia).[3] [4] [5] [6]

Males

In males, smegma helps keep the glans moist and facilitates sexual intercourse by acting as a lubricant.[7] [8] [9]

Smegma was originally thought to be produced by sebaceous glands near the frenulum called Tyson's glands; however, subsequent studies have failed to find these glands.[10] Joyce Wright states that smegma is produced from minute microscopic protrusions of the mucosal surface of the foreskin and that living cells constantly grow towards the surface, undergo fatty degeneration, separate off, and form smegma.[7] Parkash et al. found that smegma contains 26.6% fats and 13.3% proteins, which they judged to be consistent with necrotic epithelial debris.[10]

Newly produced smegma has a smooth, moist texture. It is thought to be rich in squalene[11] and contain prostatic and seminal secretions, desquamated epithelial cells, and the mucin content of the urethral glands of Littré.[9] Smegma contains cathepsin B, lysozymes,[12] chymotrypsin, neutrophil elastase and cytokines, which aid the immune system.[13]

According to Wright, the production of smegma, which is low in childhood, increases from adolescence until sexual maturity when the function of smegma for lubrication assumes its full value. From middle-age, production starts to decline and in old age virtually no smegma is produced.[7] Jakob Øster reported that the incidence of smegma increased from 1% among 6- to 9-year-olds to 8% among 14- to 17-year-olds (amongst those who did not present with phimosis and could be examined).[14]

Clinical significance and hygiene

The production of smegma, which increases during puberty, can only be of limited significance, as males and females learn to practice good genital hygiene.

Men with smegma can cause irritation and inflammation, which can increase the risk of penile cancer. In the past some experts used to be concerned smegma itself might cause cancer.[15]

Other animals

In healthy animals, smegma helps clean and lubricate the genitals. In veterinary medicine, analysis of this smegma is sometimes used for detection of urogenital tract pathogens, such as Tritrichomonas foetus.[16] Accumulation of smegma in the equine preputial folds and the urethral fossa and urethral diverticulum can form large "beans" and promote the carriage of Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative agent of contagious equine metritis.[17] Some equine veterinarians have recommended periodic cleaning of male genitals to improve the health of the animal.[18]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. 2017-03-02.
  2. Web site: Medical Dictionary . Medilexicon.
  3. Aerts . Leen . Rubin . Rachel S. . Randazzo . Michael . Goldstein . Sue W. . Goldstein . Irwin . Retrospective Study of the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Clitoral Adhesions: Women's Health Providers Should Routinely Examine the Glans Clitoris . Sexual Medicine . June 2018 . 6 . 2 . 115–122 . 10.1016/j.esxm.2018.01.003 . 29559206 . 5960030 .
  4. Rubin . Rachel . Minton . Julea . Gagnon . Catherine . Winter . Ashley . Goldstein . Irwin . PD25-02 Taking Responsibility for Female Prepucial Disorders: Urologic Management of Phimosis-Based Clitorodynia . Journal of Urology . April 2017 . 197 . 4S . 10.1016/j.juro.2017.02.1197 . 78573467 .
  5. Parada . Mayte . D'Amours . Tanya . Amsel . Rhonda . Pink . Leah . Gordon . Allan . Binik . Yitzchak M. . Clitorodynia: A Descriptive Study of Clitoral Pain . The Journal of Sexual Medicine . August 2015 . 12 . 8 . 1772–1780 . 10.1111/jsm.12934 . 26104318 .
  6. Shafik . A. . The Role of the Levator Ani Muscle in Evacuation, Sexual Performance and Pelvic Floor Disorders . International Urogynecology Journal . November 2000 . 11 . 6 . 361–376 . 10.1007/pl00004028 . 11147745 . 29636705 .
  7. Wright . J. . September 1970 . How smegma serves the penis: Nature's assurance that the uncircumcised glans penis will function smoothly is provided by smegma . Sexology . 37 . 2 . 50–53 . vanc.
  8. Van Howe . R. S. . Hodges . F. M. . October 2006 . The carcinogenicity of smegma: debunking a myth . Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology . 20 . 9 . 1046–1054 . 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2006.01653.x . 16987256 . 22840346 . vanc.
  9. Fleiss . P. M. . Hodges . F. M. . Van Howe . R. S. . October 1998 . Immunological functions of the human prepuce . Sexually Transmitted Infections . 74 . 5 . 364–367 . 10.1136/sti.74.5.364 . 1758142 . 10195034 . vanc.
  10. Parkash . Satya . Jeyakumar . S. . Subramanyan . K. . Chaudhuri . S. . August 1973 . Human subpreputial collection: its nature and formation . Journal of Urology . 110 . 2 . 211–212 . 10.1016/s0022-5347(17)60164-2 . 4722614 . vanc.
  11. O'Neill . H. J. . Gershbein . L. L. . 1976 . Lipids of human and equine smegma . Oncology . 33 . 4 . 161–166 . 10.1159/000225134 . 1018879 . vanc.
  12. Frohlich . E. . Schaumburg-Lever . G. . Klessen . C. . 1993 . Immunelectron microscopic localization of cathepsin B in human exocrine glands . Journal of Cutaneous Pathology . 20 . 1 . 54–60 . 10.1111/j.1600-0560.1993.tb01250.x . 8468418 . 1326013 . vanc.
  13. Chukwuemeka Anyanwu . Lofty-John . Kashibu . Emmanuel . Edwin . Chinagozi Precious . Mohammad . Aminu Mohammad . 2012 . Microbiology of smegma in boys in Kano, Nigeria . Journal of Surgical Research . 173 . 1 . 21–25 . 10.1016/j.jss.2011.04.057 . 21872267 . vanc.
  14. Oster . J. . vanc . April 1968 . Further fate of the foreskin. Incidence of preputial adhesions, phimosis, and smegma among Danish schoolboys . Archives of Disease in Childhood . 43 . 228 . 200–3 . 10.1136/adc.43.228.200 . 2019851 . 5689532 . "The production of smegma increases from the age of 12-13, but our actual figures of the incidence of smegma can only be of limited significance, as the boys received regular instruction about preputial hygiene.".
  15. Web site: . Risk Factors for Penile Cancer . 25 June 2018 .
  16. Chen . X. G. . Li . J. . 2001 . Increasing the sensitivity of PCR detection in bovine preputial smegma spiked with Tritrichomonas foetus by the addition of agar and resin . Parasitology Research . 87 . 7 . 556–558 . 10.1007/s004360100401 . 11484853 . 7671511 . vanc.
  17. Primary Industries Ministerial Council of Australia and New Zealand (2002). Disease strategy: Contagious equine metritis (Version 1.0). In: Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN), Edition 3, PIMCANZ, Canberra, ACT.
  18. Web site: Michael . Lowder . 1 September 2001 . A Clean Sheath Is A Healthy Sheath . https://web.archive.org/web/20050914114048/http://www.horsecity.com/stories/090101/hea_beans_ML.shtml . 14 September 2005 . Horse City .

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