Don’t know what smegma is? We’ve got the info. Source: Shutterstock.com

Last week, we talked about what amenorrhea is and how it’s kind of tricky to say and spell, but very important to know. Today, we’re continuing talking about health topics with terms that may be less familiar. In fact, I’ll admit that this is a word that even I’d never heard used until quite recently.

The subject of the day: “smegma.” So what is it? Well, smegma is a bodily substance that comes out of your sebaceous glands.

The substance is a mix of something called “sebum” (a mix of fats, cholesterol and more) and also old cells. The term smegma is typically the word used to describe the secretions and gathering of this substance in the genital area.

Both men and women can have smegma. For women, smegma can gather around the clitoris and labia. For guys, it gathers between the head of the penis and the foreskin.

Guys who are uncircumcised (meaning that their foreskin is intact) may have a hard time cleaning under the foreskin and thus smegma could accumulate.

The adjective that I saw dictionary definitions and medical sites often use to describe smegma is “cheesy,” and it also is characterized by a specific odor. Besides having a scent, how else does it really impact the body?

Well, smegma is a lubricant for guys. That said, a gathering of smegma could actually cause irritation and inflammation of the penis known as balanitis.

If you notice that you have smegma accumulating, it can generally be addressed by rinsing it with water and then just making sure you stay on top of your down-there hygiene. If you have general questions or concerns, as always, you should reach out to your doctor so that she can address your specific needs.

Had you ever heard of smegma before? What other health topics would you want us to cover? Tell me in the comments!

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