MotherNurture
17-08-2007, 12:16
"The animal kingdom would probably cease to exist without smegma."
Thomas J. Ritter, MD
I decided to put this together because in a previous thread someone stated, "An uncircumcised penis can be very dirty compared to a circumcised one that has not been cleaned there is no comparison, not that I would really know but by what I read. Because of all the SMEGMA accumulating."
I hope it will increase knowledge and allay unjustified fear of a very normal, healthy substance produced by the genitals of both genders. Feel free to discuss. :)
"Smegma, a transliteration of the Greek word ?????? for soap, is a combination of exfoliated (shed) epithelial cells, transudated skin oils, and moisture, and can accumulate under the foreskin of males and within the vulva of females"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smegma
SEXOLOGY (New York), Volume 37, Number 2: pages 50-53,
September 1970.
HOW SMEGMA SERVES THE PENIS
by Joyce Wright, M. D.
Nature's Assurance That the Uncircumcised Glans Penis
Will Function Smoothly is Provided by Smegma
http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/wright1/
Smegma, a Misunderstood & Very Useful Substance
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/126509/smegma_a_misunderstood_very_useful.html
"When the sebum or oily substances are not regulary cleaned or bathed away, it accumulates, and then it is called smegma. Smegma has a white cheesy appearance, that becomes sticky and begins to adhere to the skin surrounding the vulva with greater, the longer it is not cleaned or washed away." (emphasis added, we can say the same things about smegma for females as we can for men)
Probably repeat some of the stuff in other threads but Smegma is Beneficial Not Bad and Cleaning is Easy
by Mary G. Ray, ©1997, All Rights Reserved
http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/inspect.htm
"However, this accumulation can easily be avoided simply by moving the foreskin back and washing the area daily. Thus, circumcision can seem like a rather extreme remedy purely for the avoidance of smegma."
Discovery Health (http://health.discovery.com/centers/sex/sexpedia/circumcision.html)
Main Entry: smeg·ma
Pronunciation: 'smeg-m&
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, detergent, soap, from Greek smEgma, from smEchein to wash off, clean
: the secretion of a sebaceous gland; specifically : the cheesy sebaceous matter that collects between the glans penis and the foreskin or around the clitoris and labia minora
-webster.com
Smegma, a transliteration of the Greek word for soap, is a combination of exfoliated (shed) epithelial cells and transudated skin oils and moisture that collects in the recesses of the body. Smegma is common to all mammals, male and female. Women usually have more smegma than men.
Smegma is the natural emollient which builds in crevices and folds of skin and mucosa of both males and females. It usually only builds to noticeable levels behind the ears, in the folds of the genitals, and between the toes. Infants are born covered by smegma from all of the dead skincells accumulated on their skin before birth. The color varies with the skin color of the individual being near white in light-skinned persons and darker in dark-skinned persons
Smegma is a healthful non-carcinogenic substance. Adult humans, both female and male, should rinse smegma away periodically.
Smegma may be washed away with warm water. Soap is best avoided because it depletes natural skin oils and may cause non-specific dermatitis. Men who have a non-retractile foreskin may flush out the preputial cavity with a bulb syringe. Women can do likewise around their external genitals. The mucosa of genitals of both men and women are sensitive, so it is important to use only water.
External links
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) 1970;37(2):50-53. URL: http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/wright1/
Parkash S, Jeyakumar K, Subramanya K, et al. Human subpreputial collection: its nature and formation. J Urol 1973;110(2):211-12. URL: http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/parkash/
Fleiss P, Hodges F, Van Howe RS. Immunological functions of the human prepuce. Sex Trans Inf 1998;74:364. URL: http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/STD/fleiss3/
http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/sm/smegma.html
Infant Smegma: Skin cells from the glans of the penis and the inner foreskin are shed throughout life. This is especially true in childhood; natural skin shedding serves to separate the foreskin from the glans. Since this shedding takes place in a relatively closed space--with the foreskin covering the glans--the shed skin cells cannot escape in the usual manner. They escape by working their way to the tip of the foreskin. These escaping discarded skin cells constitute infant smegma, which may appear as white "pearls" under the skin.
Adult Smegma: Specialized sebaceous glands--Tyson's Glands--which are located on the glans under the foreskin, are largely inactive in childhood. At puberty, Tyson's Glands produce an oily substance, which, when mixed with shed skin cells, constitute adult smegma. Adult smegma serves as a protective, lubricating function for the glans.
-American Academy of Pediatrics pamphlet
www.foreskin.org/smegma.htm
(Indirect link: C&P into browser window, hit "enter".)
Daily cleaning will prevent buildup
http://www.drdaveanddee.com/secretion.html
Smegma in Females...
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/2546.html
www.the-clitoris.com/n_html/adhesio.htm
(Indirect link: C&P into browser window, hit "enter".)
Similarities in Attitudes and Misconceptions toward Infant Male Circumcision in North America and Ritual Female Genital Mutilation in Africa. (http://www.fgmnetwork.org/intro/mgmfgm.html)
By Hanny Lightfoot-Klein
Clitoridectomy and Infibulation in Africa: "Female circumcision protects the health of a woman. Infibulation prevents the uterus from falling out . It keeps her smelling so sweet that her husband will be pleased. If it is not done, she will stink and get worms in her vagina."
[U]Infant Male Circumcision in North America: "An uncircumcised penis causes urinary infections and penile cancer. It generates smegma and smegma stinks. A circumcised penis is more hygienic and oral sex with an uncircumcised penis is disgusting to women."
Thomas J. Ritter, MD
I decided to put this together because in a previous thread someone stated, "An uncircumcised penis can be very dirty compared to a circumcised one that has not been cleaned there is no comparison, not that I would really know but by what I read. Because of all the SMEGMA accumulating."
I hope it will increase knowledge and allay unjustified fear of a very normal, healthy substance produced by the genitals of both genders. Feel free to discuss. :)
"Smegma, a transliteration of the Greek word ?????? for soap, is a combination of exfoliated (shed) epithelial cells, transudated skin oils, and moisture, and can accumulate under the foreskin of males and within the vulva of females"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smegma
SEXOLOGY (New York), Volume 37, Number 2: pages 50-53,
September 1970.
HOW SMEGMA SERVES THE PENIS
by Joyce Wright, M. D.
Nature's Assurance That the Uncircumcised Glans Penis
Will Function Smoothly is Provided by Smegma
http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/wright1/
Smegma, a Misunderstood & Very Useful Substance
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/126509/smegma_a_misunderstood_very_useful.html
"When the sebum or oily substances are not regulary cleaned or bathed away, it accumulates, and then it is called smegma. Smegma has a white cheesy appearance, that becomes sticky and begins to adhere to the skin surrounding the vulva with greater, the longer it is not cleaned or washed away." (emphasis added, we can say the same things about smegma for females as we can for men)
Probably repeat some of the stuff in other threads but Smegma is Beneficial Not Bad and Cleaning is Easy
by Mary G. Ray, ©1997, All Rights Reserved
http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/inspect.htm
"However, this accumulation can easily be avoided simply by moving the foreskin back and washing the area daily. Thus, circumcision can seem like a rather extreme remedy purely for the avoidance of smegma."
Discovery Health (http://health.discovery.com/centers/sex/sexpedia/circumcision.html)
Main Entry: smeg·ma
Pronunciation: 'smeg-m&
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, detergent, soap, from Greek smEgma, from smEchein to wash off, clean
: the secretion of a sebaceous gland; specifically : the cheesy sebaceous matter that collects between the glans penis and the foreskin or around the clitoris and labia minora
-webster.com
Smegma, a transliteration of the Greek word for soap, is a combination of exfoliated (shed) epithelial cells and transudated skin oils and moisture that collects in the recesses of the body. Smegma is common to all mammals, male and female. Women usually have more smegma than men.
Smegma is the natural emollient which builds in crevices and folds of skin and mucosa of both males and females. It usually only builds to noticeable levels behind the ears, in the folds of the genitals, and between the toes. Infants are born covered by smegma from all of the dead skincells accumulated on their skin before birth. The color varies with the skin color of the individual being near white in light-skinned persons and darker in dark-skinned persons
Smegma is a healthful non-carcinogenic substance. Adult humans, both female and male, should rinse smegma away periodically.
Smegma may be washed away with warm water. Soap is best avoided because it depletes natural skin oils and may cause non-specific dermatitis. Men who have a non-retractile foreskin may flush out the preputial cavity with a bulb syringe. Women can do likewise around their external genitals. The mucosa of genitals of both men and women are sensitive, so it is important to use only water.
External links
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) 1970;37(2):50-53. URL: http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/wright1/
Parkash S, Jeyakumar K, Subramanya K, et al. Human subpreputial collection: its nature and formation. J Urol 1973;110(2):211-12. URL: http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/parkash/
Fleiss P, Hodges F, Van Howe RS. Immunological functions of the human prepuce. Sex Trans Inf 1998;74:364. URL: http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/STD/fleiss3/
http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/sm/smegma.html
Infant Smegma: Skin cells from the glans of the penis and the inner foreskin are shed throughout life. This is especially true in childhood; natural skin shedding serves to separate the foreskin from the glans. Since this shedding takes place in a relatively closed space--with the foreskin covering the glans--the shed skin cells cannot escape in the usual manner. They escape by working their way to the tip of the foreskin. These escaping discarded skin cells constitute infant smegma, which may appear as white "pearls" under the skin.
Adult Smegma: Specialized sebaceous glands--Tyson's Glands--which are located on the glans under the foreskin, are largely inactive in childhood. At puberty, Tyson's Glands produce an oily substance, which, when mixed with shed skin cells, constitute adult smegma. Adult smegma serves as a protective, lubricating function for the glans.
-American Academy of Pediatrics pamphlet
www.foreskin.org/smegma.htm
(Indirect link: C&P into browser window, hit "enter".)
Daily cleaning will prevent buildup
http://www.drdaveanddee.com/secretion.html
Smegma in Females...
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/2546.html
www.the-clitoris.com/n_html/adhesio.htm
(Indirect link: C&P into browser window, hit "enter".)
Similarities in Attitudes and Misconceptions toward Infant Male Circumcision in North America and Ritual Female Genital Mutilation in Africa. (http://www.fgmnetwork.org/intro/mgmfgm.html)
By Hanny Lightfoot-Klein
Clitoridectomy and Infibulation in Africa: "Female circumcision protects the health of a woman. Infibulation prevents the uterus from falling out . It keeps her smelling so sweet that her husband will be pleased. If it is not done, she will stink and get worms in her vagina."
[U]Infant Male Circumcision in North America: "An uncircumcised penis causes urinary infections and penile cancer. It generates smegma and smegma stinks. A circumcised penis is more hygienic and oral sex with an uncircumcised penis is disgusting to women."