Smegma (Greek smēgma) is a combination of shed skin cells, skin oils, and moisture. It occurs in both male and female mammalian genitalia. In female bodies, it collects around the clitoris and in the folds of the labia minora; in males, smegma can collect under the foreskin.
The accumulation of sebum combined with dead skin cells forms smegma. Smegma clitoridis is defined as the secretion of the apocrine glands of the clitoris, in combination with desquamating epithelial cells. Glands that are located around the clitoris and the vulva majoris secrete sebum.
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. 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. Parkash et al. found that smegma contains 26.6% fats and 13.3% proteins, which they judged to be consistent with necrotic epithelial debris. Newly produced smegma has a smooth, moist texture. It is thought to be rich in squalene and contain prostatic and seminal secretions, desquamated epithelial cells, and the mucin content of the urethral glands of Littré. Smegma contains Cathepsin B, lysozymes, chymotrypsin, neutrophil elastase and cytokines, which aid the immune system.
According to Wright, little smegma is produced during childhood, although the foreskin may contain sebaceous glands. She also says that production of smegma increases from adolescence until sexual maturity when the function of smegma for lubrication assumes its full value, and from middle-age production starts to decline and in old age virtually no smegma is produced. Øster reported that the incidence of smegma increased from 1% among 6- to 7-year-olds and 8- to 9-year-olds to 8% among 14- to 15-year-olds and 16- to 17-year-olds (an overall incidence of 5%).
There is no evidence that smegma causes penile cancer, but its presence over a long period of time may irritate and inflame the penis, which may increase the risk of cancer. It may also make it harder to see very early cancers.
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. 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. Some equine veterinarians have recommended periodic cleaning of male genitals to improve the health of the animal.
- Merriam-Webster. Websters dictionary definition for smegma [Retrieved 2017-03-02].
- Medilexicon. Medical Dictionary.
- Wright J.. How smegma serves the penis: Nature's assurance that the uncircumcised glans penis will function smoothly is provided by smegma.. Sexology (New York). September 1970;37(2):50–53.
- Van Howe RS, Hodges FM. The carcinogenicity of smegma: debunking a myth. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. October 2006;20(9):1046–1054. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3083.2006.01653.x. PMID 16987256.
- Fleiss PM, Hodges FM, Van Howe RS. Immunological functions of the human prepuce. Sexually transmitted infections. October 1998;74(5):364–367. doi:10.1136/sti.74.5.364. PMID 10195034.
- McGregor TB, Pike JG, Leonard MP. Pathologic and physiologic phimosis: Approach to the phimotic foreskin. Canadian Family Physician. 2007;53(3):445–8. PMID 17872680. PMC 1949079.
- Parkash S, Jeyakumar. Human subpreputial collection: its nature and formation. J Urol. August 1973;110(2):211–212. PMID 4722614.
- O'Neill HJ, Gershbein LL. Lipids of human and equine smegma. Oncology. 1976;33(4):161–166. doi:10.1159/000225134. PMID 1018879.
- Frohlich E, Schaumburg-Lever G, Klessen C. "Immunelectron microscopic localization of cathepsin B in human exocrine glands.". J Cutan Pathol 1993;: 20: 54–60.
- Chukwuemeka A, Lofty J, Kashibu. Microbiology of smegma in boys in Kano, Nigeria. J Surg Research. 2012;173(1):21–25. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2011.04.057.
- Øster J. Further fate of the foreskin. Incidence of preputial adhesions, phimosis, and smegma among Danish schoolboys. Arch. Dis. Child.. April 1968;43(228):200–3. doi:10.1136/adc.43.228.200. PMID 5689532.
- American Cancer Society. What are the risk factors for penile cancer? [Retrieved 14 February 2014].
- Increasing the sensitivity of PCR detection in bovine preputial smegma spiked with Tritrichomonas foetus by the addition of agar and resin. Parasitol Res. 2001;87(7):556–558. doi:10.1007/s004360100401. PMID 11484853.
- 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.
- Michael Lowder (September 1, 2001). "A Clean Sheath Is A Healthy Sheath Archived 2005-09-14 at the Wayback Machine.". Horse City. Retrieved on September 4, 2008.
- Media related to Smegma at Wikimedia Commons