Semen: 10 questions and curiosities you need to know

Semen, also known as sperm, is a viscous, whitish liquid that is composed of different secretions, produced in the structures of the male genital system, which mix at the moment of ejaculation.

This liquid has the main function of transporting sperm from the male's testicles to the woman's egg, allowing fertilization to occur and, consequently, pregnancy, which ensures the reproduction of the human race.

The following are the top 10 questions and curiosities about semen:

1. How is it produced?

Semen consists mainly of a mixture of 3 different types of secretions, which are produced in different parts of the male reproductive system:

• Fluid and sperm, from the vas deferens and testicles, Seminal fluid, produced in the seminal vesicles, Prostate secretion, produced in the prostate;

In addition, it is still possible to find very low amounts of fluids produced by the mucous glands, especially by the bulbourethral glands.

These fluids collect in the urethra and are then eliminated during ejaculation.

2. How long does it take to produce?

Semen is in constant production, so it is not possible to know precisely how long it takes to produce.

However, it is known that sperm take several days to mature before being eliminated during ejaculation, and it can take up to 2 months to obtain a sperm considered "mature". The testicles produce, on average, 120 million sperm per day.

3. What is its composition?

In the composition of the sperm, it is possible to find amino acids, fructose, enzymes, flavins, prostaglandins, iron and vitamins B and C. In addition, because it contains liquid produced in the prostate, the semen also contains proteins, acid phosphatase, citric acid, cholesterol, fibrinolysin, proteolytic enzymes and zinc.

4. What are its functions?

The main function of semen is the transport of mature sperm from a man's testicles to a woman's egg, allowing for fertilization and pregnancy. However, in order to successfully perform this task, semen also has other important small functions such as facilitating the mobility of sperm, keeping them nourished and protecting them from the vaginal environment.

5. Why does it smell strange?

The smell of semen is often compared to that of bleach or chlorine and is related to its components, since, in addition to sperm, semen also contains various types of proteins, enzymes and minerals. These substances normally have an alkaline pH, that is, higher than 7, which is the same type of pH as bleach and chlorine, which is the main reason for having similar smells.

6. Why does it change consistency?

Over time the semen can undergo several changes in consistency, and may be more fluid on some days and thicker on others. This is not an alarm signal and is quite common in healthy men.

What happens is that the semen can have more or less water, according to the hydration of the organism. In addition, there are studies that also indicate that the thicker sperm normally contains a higher concentration of altered sperm which, although it may appear to be an undesirable alteration, is relatively frequent, since more than 90% of the sperm released by man have some type of alteration.

7. Is it bad to swallow?

Most constituents of semen are tested and are completely safe for health. Therefore, swallowing semen is not considered to be harmful.

However, there are a small number of people who suffer from hypersensitivity to seminal plasma, which is a rare type of allergy that can appear after coming in contact with sperm.

8. Is it possible to change the flavor?

The taste of semen generally remains constant over time. However, some studies indicate that a man's diet may slightly influence taste, as does most body fluids.

Some of the foods that seem to affect semen knowledge more directly include cinnamon, celery, parsley, nutmeg, pineapple, papaya or orange, for example.

9. How to know if the semen is normal?

Normal and healthy semen has a whitish and viscous appearance, which becomes more liquid after being ejaculated. If the man is not ejaculating for a few days, the color of the semen may vary slightly, becoming more yellow.

There are cases in which the man can notice the appearance of blood in the semen, which lasts for more than 3 days, can be a sign of some health problem such as vesiculitis, prostatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, use of some medications, prostate hyperplasia or as a result of an injury, for example. In these cases it is best to go to a urologist to make a diagnosis and an appropriate treatment. Find out what are the most common causes.

10. How to produce healthy semen?

To produce healthy semen, man must:

• Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly; Eat a balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants; Avoid getting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis.

In addition, reducing stress and avoiding alcohol and cigarette consumption is also important to help in the production of hormones that regulate sperm production.

Check out how to correctly use the male condom to avoid STI transmission.