Semen (ejaculate) is produced by the male reproductive system. The sperm in semen carry DNA and are able to travel to a woman’s egg for fertilization.
What is sperm?
Semen is the white-gray fluid that is released through the penis during orgasm. Semen contains sperm cells and seminal fluid.
Where is semen located?
Sperm are produced in the seminal tubules and stored in the testicular appendages. The process of sperm release begins when the penis is filled with blood and becomes erect.
Stimulation of the penis causes ejaculation. Sperm move from the testicular appendages to the vas deferens, mixing with the secretions of the prostate gland and seminal vesicles. The resulting translucent semen is ejaculated from the penis through the urethra.
What does semen consist of?
Semen contains citric acid, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, ascorbic acid, glutathione, fats, proteins, glucose, fructose, vitamin B12, and water. Micronutrients in the composition of semen:
- sulfur;
- chlorine;
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- potassium;
- titanium;
- iron;
- nickel;
- copper;
- zinc.
Semen also contains testosterone, estradiol, transferrin, triglycerides, and cholesterol. The concentration of individual components can be determined by taking semen tests.
What is the usefulness of semen?
Semen helps to normalize serotonin and oxytocin levels, and can also strengthen the immune system. According to research conducted by the State University of New York at Albany:
“Semen absorbed into the vagina may alleviate symptoms of depression. Women who have sex without a condom have reduced symptoms of depression. The effect of semen is proportional to the frequency of sexual intercourse.”
Is it okay to swallow semen?
Ingestion of semen is not a health hazard if there is no risk of infection or allergic reaction. The body digests swallowed semen in the same way as food.
What determines the taste of semen?
There have been no studies to discover ways to change the taste of semen. However, some scientific work confirms that diet can improve the quality (composition) of sperm. According to research led by Jaime Mendiola:
“Consuming greens, tomatoes, fruits and other foods high in antioxidants have been found to have a positive effect on sperm quality.”
How to improve sperm flavor?
Semen flavor varies from man to man and can be neutral, sweet, sour or bitter. Research findings on semen characteristics do not provide information on ways to improve semen flavor. Scientific works study methods of increasing concentration, sperm motility and other (not taste) parameters of semen.
Is there a semen allergy?
A semen allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to protein, drug or food allergens in semen. Symptoms of a semen allergy are:
- skin discoloration;
- burning and swelling where semen comes in contact with the skin or vaginal tissues;
- hives, itching;
- difficulty breathing.
To diagnose semen allergy, symptoms that occur after protected and unprotected intercourse are compared. If the allergic manifestations disappear when using a condom, the diagnosis is confirmed.
How long does sperm live?
Ejaculated sperm that have entered the female genitalia can remain viable (do not lose the ability to fertilize an egg) for up to five days. In the vagina, sperm lives no more than one or two hours, and in the cervix or fallopian tubes – up to seven days.
Frozen (preserved) sperm is stored in special sperm banks for several decades, retaining its original properties. Men can use sperm preservation to conceive a child at any time, regardless of the state of health at an older age. If necessary, the material can be collected and frozen even after the man’s death (within 24-36 hours).
How to improve sperm quality?
Improving sperm quality involves increasing the concentration, motility and structure of sperm. Edita Suliga and Stanislav Glushe analyzed several dozen scientific papers and studies from 2008 to 2018. It was found that in order to improve the quality of sperm, it is necessary to consume foods rich in antioxidants and get rid of excess weight.
A study led by Pavel Yuzhkov, which analyzed data from 2000 to 2016, confirmed that regular exercise and avoiding smoking and alcohol helps to improve sperm quality. Ways to improve sperm quality:
- Prevention of sexually transmitted infections (use of condoms);
- avoiding toxic substances in the body;
- regular ejaculation (every two to three days);
- revision of the list of taken medications, the components of which may affect the quality of sperm (discontinuation of medications or change of dosage should be agreed with a doctor).
Among the factors that reduce the quality of sperm, include chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Sperm freezing may be considered before undergoing treatment courses.
What does the amount of semen depend on?
When a man reaches orgasm, an average of two to six ml of semen is released. Doctor-urologist, andrologist explains:
“A healthy man has an average ejaculate volume of 2 to 6 ml. If less than 1 ml is released, it may be a signal of endocrine diseases, pathology of the seminal tract or testicles. The maximum volume of semen can reach the mark of 15 ml. This is a normal phenomenon and if a man after sexual intercourse is observed abundant semen discharge, you should not be afraid. Everything is individual.
The amount of semen is affected by the frequency of sexual intercourse. In the first days after abstinence from ejaculation, there is an increase in the volume of semen. Causes of decreased sperm count:
- Psychogenic anorgasmia (inability to achieve orgasm);
- retrograde ejaculation (pathology, which is accompanied by semen entering the bladder instead of exiting through the penis);
- undergone surgery, trauma;
- low testosterone level.
The amount of semen is reduced due to the absence or obstruction of the ejaculatory ducts. Anatomical anomalies can be congenital or acquired.
How to increase the amount of sperm?
To increase the amount of sperm produced, it is necessary to treat infectious and other diseases (if any), stop smoking and drinking alcohol. To increase the number of sperm, you should also reduce the consumption of products that cause an increase in blood cholesterol (dairy products, fatty meat, meat by-products, fast food, industrial baked goods containing trans fats).
What does healthy semen look like?
Healthy semen is a thick, yellowish-white, creamy gray or grayish-white viscous liquid secretion. A urologist said:
“When semen has a color other than white-grayish (for example, yellowish, greenish, pinkish), men need to rush to the doctor. This can indicate inflammation, the presence of blood in the semen and, as a result, can lead to impotence and infertility.”
Changes in color or consistency (for example, if semen is released with lumps) can indicate the presence of diseases. Very thick semen, characterized by increased viscosity, reduces sperm motility. Jelly-like semen can be a sign of prostatitis.
Yellow semen
The natural yellowing of semen can result from eating foods with yellow dyes. Other causes of yellow semen are:
- Infectious diseases (such as orchitis or prostatitis);
- urinary retention in the urethra;
- jaundice (elevated bilirubin levels);
- taking antibiotics, vitamins.
Slight yellowing of semen can be conditioned by aging of the body. Another reason for the yellow color of semen is prolonged abstinence from ejaculation.
Semen with blood
Blood in semen is found in prostatitis, urethritis, prostate tumors, infections affecting the urinary tract or sexually transmitted. Also, the presence of blood in semen that turns pink may be associated with undergone surgeries or procedures (such as prostate resection, cystoscopy or vasectomy). In order to avoid impotence, infertility when blood appears in semen, it is necessary to consult a urologist.
Brown semen
Brown shade of semen is observed with bleeding, spinal cord injuries, oncology, infections. The factors that provoke reddening of semen or change of semen color to brown may coincide.
What should I do if my semen is of an unhealthy color or is not present at all?
Normally, semen should be yellowish-white, creamy-gray or grayish-white in color. If the semen color is different from the natural color, or if semen is missing, you should see a urologist-andrologist and undergo a diagnostic test. Causes of absence of semen (dry orgasm):
- surgeries to remove the bladder, prostate gland, surrounding lymph nodes;
- testicular tumors;
- radiation therapy;
- retrograde ejaculation;
- blockage of the vas deferens;
- spinal cord injury;
- diabetes mellitus;
- testosterone deficiency.
Another cause of absent or stagnant semen is taking medications to lower blood pressure, relieve symptoms of depression. Also, ejaculation may be absent after multiple orgasms in a short period of time.
