Swallowing Semen: What You Should Know

What is semen made of?

Semen consists of several fluids which are produced by various glands. Actual sperm cells make up only a very tiny portion of semen volume. The bulk of semen is made up of prostatic fluid, secreted from the prostate gland, seminal fluid which contains fructose, proteins and fatty acids and bulbourethral fluid from the bulbourethral glands. Semen contains protein and a multitude of other components such as fructose, citric acid, zinc, cholesterol etc. 

What is the usual color and consistency of semen?

Normal semen may have an off-white or slightly yellow tint. It is usually jelly-like in consistency, but may be slightly clumpy or more liquid in nature. But semen with a pronounced yellow or green colour may indicate an infection and a visit to your doctor is warranted. If there is blood in your semen (red or brown) please see a doctor as well.

Is semen safe to ingest?

All the components in semen are fully edible and digestible, so semen is generally safe to ingest. However, swallowing semen could prove dangerous if you suffer from a rare allergy to semen (known as “human seminal plasma hypersensitivity”), in which case you could develop a bad or potentially even life-threatening reaction. 

What happens if you swallow semen?

Swallowed semen is digested by the digestive enzymes in your gastrointestinal tract, the same as any other food which you ingest. Contrary to some urban myths, there is no risk of pregnancy from swallowing semen. 

What does semen smell or taste like?

Semen has been said to normally smell like ammonia, bleach, or chlorine due to the alkaline nature of semen. Semen can taste mildly sweet, salty or bitter. But the smell and taste can differ from person to person, and even from week to week, depending on your hydration status, hygiene, health and your recent food consumption.

However, if the semen smells or tastes abnormally strong, and is associated with discomfort on ejaculation or other urinary symptoms, it could be a sign of an infection, please see a doctor then.

Is it true that semen has dietary health benefits?

While semen does have a high percentage of protein for its weight, it is likely that you have to consume a large quantity in order for it to have dietary health benefits.

Semen also contains other components like sugar, sodium, citrate, zinc, chloride, calcium, lactic acid, magnesium, potassium and urea, but due to the small volume of semen, the dietary health benefits are likely insignificant.

Semen as a mood booster?

While there are no studies that can definitively make the link between ingesting semen and better mood, it is known that semen does contain trace amounts of endorphins, estrone, prolactin, oxytocin, thyrotropin-releasing hormone and serotonin, which can potentially affect your mood.

Rather than looking at semen as a mood booster, it is known that engaging in sexual activity in general is linked to a decrease in depression.

Will swallowing semen make you gain weight?

The amount of calories in semen is likely to be insignificant – containing less than 10 calories.

Does swallowing increase your risk of an STI?

When it comes to the risk of contracting STIs, it doesn’t matter whether you spit or swallow. Exposure to body fluids like pre-ejaculate fluid, semen, vaginal fluids or skin lesions like genital ulcers places one at risk of contracting STIs. This risk is further amplified if you have poor oral hygiene or wounds like cuts or ulcers in your mouth. 

What are the common STIs that can be transmitted through oral sex?

STIs can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, which includes oral-to-genital contact, or through contact with infected mucosa membranes and body fluids. Here are some of the common STIs which one may be at risk of contracting through oral sex.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are two common bacterial infections that can be transmitted through oral. Someone with throat Chlamydia or Gonorrhea may experience a sore throat but some individuals may have no symptoms at all and can continue to spread this infection to sexual partners. 

Syphilis can be transmitted during oral through contact with infected ulcers and if left untreated, can potentially affect multiple organs in the body including the brain and eyes.

Herpes (caused by the herpes simplex virus) can be transmitted either from an infected genital ulcer or oral cold sore or by skin-to-skin contact in an infected but asymptomatic individual. Genital herpes causes painful blisters and ulcers in the genital region. 

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) can be transmitted as well. Some strains of HPV cause genital warts, while others increase the risk of various cancers such as cervical cancer, oral cancer or penile cancers.  

Many people tend to worry about HIV but the risk of HIV transmission through oral sex is actually extremely low, although unique circumstances like the presence or wounds or blood may increase this. 

Is it possible to be allergic to semen?

Yes. Semen allergy or seminal plasma hypersensitivity is a rare allergic reaction to proteins found in a man’s semen. While it usually affects the person exposed to it, it can also been shown to affect the person producing it.

Some common symptoms of sperm allergy are redness, swelling, pain, itching, and a burning sensation in the vaginal area. Symptoms usually start about 10-30 minutes after contact with semen. They may not be confined to the vaginal area; they can occur in any area that has contact with semen, including the skin and the mouth. Symptoms can last for a few hours or a few days.

This allergy is rare. However, if you do experience such symptoms, speak to your doctor about it.

This article is written by: Dr Grace Huang & Dr Chester Lan

Also on this site: STD check, HIV Clinic Singapore