Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsComplicationsTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Complications
Treatment
Prevention
Smegmais the harmless accumulation of skin oils, skin cells, sweat, and other fluids within folds of the genitals. It is commonly found under the foreskin of apenis, around theclitoris, or in the folds of thelabia. Smegma has a crumbly, cheese-like consistency and a generally unpleasant odor.
While smegma serves as a natural lubricant, aiding with sexual intercourse, the excessive build-up can causeinflammationand other complications. Smegma is not an infection but can lead to one if proper hygiene is not maintained.
Mohd Hafiez Mohd Razali / EyeEm / Getty Images
What Causes Smegma?
Smegma is a naturally occurring combination of oils, fluids, and dead skin cells that form into a whitish, clumpy mass. The accumulation mainly occurs in parts of the genitals that are constantly moist and situated near sweat- and oil-producing glands.
In females, apocrine and sebaceous glands are found in the external genitals called thevulva. These fluids move from the outer portion of the vulva, including the labia majora, to the inner portion consisting of the labia minora and clitoris.
In males, apocrine glands are found under the foreskin along with a special type of sebaceous gland, called Tyson’s glands, found under the rim of the penis head.Whilecircumcision(the surgical removal of the foreskin) can greatly reduce smegma production, it doesn’t stop it entirely.
The production of smegma, while low in childhood, increases from adolescence through sexual maturity, providing natural lubrication that aids with sexual intercourse. From middle age onward, production declines until virtually no smegma is produced in older adults.
What Does Smegma Look and Smell Like?
The word “smegma” is derived from the Latin word for soap or detergent. This characterizes the general appearance of these white, clumpy masses which may appear softish and gooey at first but increasingly become crumbly and cheese-like.
Smegma generally accumulates in the ridges and folds of female and male genitals.
In males, smegma is commonly found:
In females, smegma is commonly found:
The moist environment within these skin folds provides the ideal environment for bacteria. Within a relatively short time, bacterial growth within the clumpy masses can cause fermentation, leading to an unpleasant, sour milk-like smell.
Complications of Smegma
Smegma occurs naturally and isn’t something to worry about if you practice daily hygiene. However, it can contribute to certain health conditions if allowed to accumulate.
Six common and uncommon complications associated with smegma include:
Clitoral Adhesions
Smegma that accumulates around the clitoris can harden and cause the clitoral hood to stick to the shaft, causing a clitoral adhesion. “Adhesion” is the medical term describing the sticking together of tissues.
When this occurs, a person may experience:
Severe cases may require a type of surgery, known as surgical lysis, to separate the hood from the shaft.
Smegma Pearls
A smegma pearl, also known as asmegmomaor keratin pearl, is a harmless condition affecting uncircumcised boys in which a ball of smegma gets trapped between the foreskin and penis head.
Young boys are affected because the foreskin and penis head are stuck together at birth and will only gradually separate during childhood. If smegma becomes trapped before separation, a firm, white lump can be seen through the skin of the foreskin.
Balanitis and Balanoposthitis
Treatment of balanitis and balanoposthitis includes improved penile hygiene,topicalororal antibiotics, and, for severe or recurrent cases, circumcision.
Urinary Tract Infections
Symptoms of UTIs include:
Mild UTIs often resolve on their own with rest and plenty of fluids, but severe, persistent, or recurrent cases may require a course of oral antibiotics.
Phimosis
Balanoposthitis can sometimes lead to a condition calledphimosiswhere the foreskin cannot be pulled back (retracted) from the head of the penis. When this occurs, a person may experience:
Phimosis may benefit from treatment withtopical steroidslike betamethasone or hydrocortisone. Severe or recurrent cases may require circumcision.
Paraphimosis
In rare cases, balanoposthitis can lead to a medical emergency calledparaphimosisin which the foreskin is retracted but gets “stuck” behind the head of the penis. This can cut off blood flow to the penis head, leading to tissuenecrosis(tissue death).
Symptoms of paraphimosis may include:
How to Get Rid of Smegma
Smegma is not inherently harmful but can be if you don’t practice good hygiene. Good hygiene involves washing the genitals and surrounding skin daily with gentle, unfragranced soap and plain water. Avoid scented soaps or alcohol-based cleansers that can cause irritation and inflammation.
The approach differs slightly if you are female or male:
In addition to proper hygiene, there are things you can do to prevent the unhealthy build-up of smegma and the risk of complications associated with smegma:
Summary
If smegma continues to accumulate and is left untreated, it can lead to potentially serious complications like clitoral adhesion, balanitis, balanoposthitis, urinary tract infection, phimosis, and paraphimosis.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Chung JM, Park CS, Lee SD.Microbiology of smegma: prospective comparative control study.Investig Clin Urol.2019 Mar;60(2):127–132. doi:10.4111/icu.2019.60.2.127UC San Diego Health.Anatomy of the vulva.Ozbey H.The facts and misconceptions in glans penis anatomy.Differentiation. 2020 May-Jun:113:27. doi:10.1016/j.diff.2020.03.005Young T, Gutierrez D, Zampella JG.An overview of penile and scrotal dermatoses.Urology. 2020;142:14-21. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2020.04.023International Society of Sexual Medicine.What are clitoral adhesions?Almutawa YM, Bava Aa, Najeeb SS.Smegma pearl in a circumcised patient: a case report.Cureus. 2022 Aug;14(8):e28491. doi:10.7759/cureus.28491Sonthalia S, Jha AK.Smegma pearl.Indian Dermatol Online J.2017 Nov-Dec;8(6):520. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_384_16Pandya I, Shinojia M, Vadukul D, Marfatia YS.Approach to balanitis/balanoposthitis: current guidelines.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS.2014 Jul-Dec;35(2):155–157. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.142415Office on Women’s Health.Urinary tract infections.Rosato E, Miano R, Germani S, Asimakopoulos AD.Phimosis in adults: narrative review of the new available devices and the standard treatments.Clin Pract.2024;14(1):361-376. doi 10.3390/clinpract14010028Harvard Medical School.Phimosis and paraphimosis.MedlinePlus.Paraphimosis.BMJ Best Practice.Paraphimosis.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Chung JM, Park CS, Lee SD.Microbiology of smegma: prospective comparative control study.Investig Clin Urol.2019 Mar;60(2):127–132. doi:10.4111/icu.2019.60.2.127UC San Diego Health.Anatomy of the vulva.Ozbey H.The facts and misconceptions in glans penis anatomy.Differentiation. 2020 May-Jun:113:27. doi:10.1016/j.diff.2020.03.005Young T, Gutierrez D, Zampella JG.An overview of penile and scrotal dermatoses.Urology. 2020;142:14-21. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2020.04.023International Society of Sexual Medicine.What are clitoral adhesions?Almutawa YM, Bava Aa, Najeeb SS.Smegma pearl in a circumcised patient: a case report.Cureus. 2022 Aug;14(8):e28491. doi:10.7759/cureus.28491Sonthalia S, Jha AK.Smegma pearl.Indian Dermatol Online J.2017 Nov-Dec;8(6):520. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_384_16Pandya I, Shinojia M, Vadukul D, Marfatia YS.Approach to balanitis/balanoposthitis: current guidelines.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS.2014 Jul-Dec;35(2):155–157. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.142415Office on Women’s Health.Urinary tract infections.Rosato E, Miano R, Germani S, Asimakopoulos AD.Phimosis in adults: narrative review of the new available devices and the standard treatments.Clin Pract.2024;14(1):361-376. doi 10.3390/clinpract14010028Harvard Medical School.Phimosis and paraphimosis.MedlinePlus.Paraphimosis.BMJ Best Practice.Paraphimosis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Chung JM, Park CS, Lee SD.Microbiology of smegma: prospective comparative control study.Investig Clin Urol.2019 Mar;60(2):127–132. doi:10.4111/icu.2019.60.2.127UC San Diego Health.Anatomy of the vulva.Ozbey H.The facts and misconceptions in glans penis anatomy.Differentiation. 2020 May-Jun:113:27. doi:10.1016/j.diff.2020.03.005Young T, Gutierrez D, Zampella JG.An overview of penile and scrotal dermatoses.Urology. 2020;142:14-21. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2020.04.023International Society of Sexual Medicine.What are clitoral adhesions?Almutawa YM, Bava Aa, Najeeb SS.Smegma pearl in a circumcised patient: a case report.Cureus. 2022 Aug;14(8):e28491. doi:10.7759/cureus.28491Sonthalia S, Jha AK.Smegma pearl.Indian Dermatol Online J.2017 Nov-Dec;8(6):520. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_384_16Pandya I, Shinojia M, Vadukul D, Marfatia YS.Approach to balanitis/balanoposthitis: current guidelines.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS.2014 Jul-Dec;35(2):155–157. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.142415Office on Women’s Health.Urinary tract infections.Rosato E, Miano R, Germani S, Asimakopoulos AD.Phimosis in adults: narrative review of the new available devices and the standard treatments.Clin Pract.2024;14(1):361-376. doi 10.3390/clinpract14010028Harvard Medical School.Phimosis and paraphimosis.MedlinePlus.Paraphimosis.BMJ Best Practice.Paraphimosis.
Chung JM, Park CS, Lee SD.Microbiology of smegma: prospective comparative control study.Investig Clin Urol.2019 Mar;60(2):127–132. doi:10.4111/icu.2019.60.2.127
UC San Diego Health.Anatomy of the vulva.
Ozbey H.The facts and misconceptions in glans penis anatomy.Differentiation. 2020 May-Jun:113:27. doi:10.1016/j.diff.2020.03.005
Young T, Gutierrez D, Zampella JG.An overview of penile and scrotal dermatoses.Urology. 2020;142:14-21. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2020.04.023
International Society of Sexual Medicine.What are clitoral adhesions?
Almutawa YM, Bava Aa, Najeeb SS.Smegma pearl in a circumcised patient: a case report.Cureus. 2022 Aug;14(8):e28491. doi:10.7759/cureus.28491
Sonthalia S, Jha AK.Smegma pearl.Indian Dermatol Online J.2017 Nov-Dec;8(6):520. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_384_16
Pandya I, Shinojia M, Vadukul D, Marfatia YS.Approach to balanitis/balanoposthitis: current guidelines.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS.2014 Jul-Dec;35(2):155–157. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.142415
Office on Women’s Health.Urinary tract infections.
Rosato E, Miano R, Germani S, Asimakopoulos AD.Phimosis in adults: narrative review of the new available devices and the standard treatments.Clin Pract.2024;14(1):361-376. doi 10.3390/clinpract14010028
Harvard Medical School.Phimosis and paraphimosis.
MedlinePlus.Paraphimosis.
BMJ Best Practice.Paraphimosis.
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