Is swallowing semen good for you?

Sex has lots of health benefits. Having an active, stimulating sex life can improve heart health and mental health, and decrease overall stress.

But sex may have more health benefits than you might think.

Sex can be messy, with lots of body fluids getting in all sorts of places. Specifically, it is very common for people to get semen in their mouth, especially during oral sex. So, it makes sense for people to wonder if swallowing semen, whether on purpose or by accident, is good or bad for their health.

In this blog, we will describe what semen is, the pros and cons of swallowing it, and whether this is good for your health or not.

Are you worried about STIs after giving or receiving a oral sex? Get Better2Know’s Oral Screen Home Test Kit.

ORDER YOUR ORAL SCREEN HOME TEST KIT

Sperm vs semen

Let’s start with the basics.

The words sperm and semen are often used interchangeably, but they technically refer to two different things.

A sperm, or spermatozoa, is the microscopic male reproductive cell. Sperms are made up of oval-shaped heads and long tails that they use for mobility. The purpose of a sperm is to fertilize a female egg after ejaculation.

Semen, on the other hand, is the seminal fluid designed to carry the sperm toward the egg. Semen contains many nutrients that keep the sperm alive.

Precum

Just as there is a difference between semen and sperm, there is a difference between semen and precum.

Precum, or pre-ejaculate, is a clear fluid secreted from the penis during arousal but before orgasm. This fluid is a lubricant and is designed to facilitate vaginal sex.

Precum tends not to contain very many sperm. However, in some men precum will contain sperm so adequate protection should be used to prevent pregnancy. Also, if you orgasm and engage in sex soon afterward, precum may contain some remnants of sperm from the previous ejaculation.

What is semen made of?

Semen is made up of fluids from the testes, seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral glands. These fluids contain:

• Proteins
• Ascorbic acid
• Amino acids
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Chloride
• Lactic acid
• Fructose
• Citrate
• Calcium
• Zinc
• Magnesium
• Urea

Are you worried about STIs? Book a test or screen today.

BOOK NOW

Is swallowing semen good for my health?

For the most part, semen is safe to ingest and may provide some health benefits.

Semen contains a few calories – about five to seven calories per teaspoon.

One study from 2002 suggests ingesting semen can improve your mood, since it has natural antidepressant properties, including:

• Endorphins
• Estrone
• Prolactin
• Oxytocin
• Serotonin

However, these findings should be taken with a grain of salt, as very little follow-up research was conducted.

Another study conducted in 2003 found that females who were exposed to semen for longer periods, both before and after pregnancy, were less likely to develop preeclampsia. However, more research on this subject is needed.

The risks of swallowing semen

While swallowing semen is generally safe, there can be some risks. Some people can develop allergies to seminal fluid. You may have a semen allergy if you experience the following symptoms after exposure:

• Inflammation
• Burning sensations
• Swelling
• Hives
• Difficulty breathing
• Itching

Swallowing semen also carries the risk of contracting an STI.

The risk from swallowing semen results from the fact that, in most cases, oral sex will have taken place first. The repeated and direct contact between an infected penis and the throat is the main way that Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, and Syphilis are transmitted. If there is a Herpes infection on the genital skin, this can also be transmitted to the mouth in oral sex.

If you want to have oral sex, you should get tested beforehand to make sure no infections can be passed on.

Final thoughts

While swallowing semen is generally safe and may provide marginal health benefits, there are also some risks involved. You should only swallow semen if you and your partner have discussed your sexual health and after both of you have been tested for STIs. If you are engaging in casual sex, you should use oral contraception, such as condoms or dental dams, to prevent the spread of STIs.

You can book an STI screen with Better2Know to test yourself and your partner(s) for various STIs.

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Steve Chapman, 11/06/2024.

---