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An Antimicrobial Fabric Using Nano-Herbal Encapsulation of Essential Oils
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Does female ejaculation serve an antimicrobial purpose?

Sharon Moalem1, Joy S Reidenberg

  • 1Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Mail Box 1007, 1 Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA. sharon.moalem@utoronto.ca

Medical Hypotheses
|September 22, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Female ejaculation, a secretion from Skene's glands, contains compounds similar to male seminal fluid. This study hypothesizes it protects against urinary tract infections (UTIs) and offers evolutionary advantages.

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Urology
  • Evolutionary Medicine

Background:

  • Women possess glandular tissue homologous to the male prostate, known as Skene's glands.
  • Sexual stimulation can cause these glands to release a white secretion from the urethra, termed "female ejaculate."

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the composition of female ejaculate and compare it to urine.
  • To investigate the potential functional significance of female ejaculation, particularly its role in protection against urinary tract infections (UTIs).
  • To explore the evolutionary advantages of retaining prostatic tissue and ejaculation capabilities in women.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of female ejaculate composition.
  • Comparison of ejaculate with pre-coital urine samples from the same individuals.
  • Biochemical assays to identify specific components like prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and antimicrobial elements.

Main Results:

  • Female ejaculate composition differs significantly from urine, containing components found in male seminal fluid (excluding sperm).
  • Elevated levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), prostatic acidic phosphatase, and glucose were observed in female ejaculate compared to urine.
  • Lower levels of creatinine were noted in female ejaculate relative to urine.

Conclusions:

  • Female ejaculate may play a role in protecting the urethra from infections, potentially due to antimicrobial compounds like zinc.
  • The retention of prostatic tissue and ejaculation in women might be an evolutionary adaptation conferring advantages such as reduced UTI incidence, increased receptivity to intercourse, and enhanced reproductive success.